It should go without saying that small businesses are a vital part of the American economy. Both consumer and retail companies make up an important part of the small business community. Currently, there are over 500,0000 consumer and retail businesses that have revenues of less than $10,000,000 a year. Many of these small business will seek to expand at some point by hiring new people, opening new stores, or launching new products. All of these things take capital and most business will need to borrow or raise equity to finance these expenditures. For larger and more profitable businesses, a loan from a bank may be a viable option, for others, a loan from an alternative lender may be more feasible.
There are a variety of lenders in the market today that offer a wide array of financing options. With all these options available to consumer packaged goods companies, there some strategies these companies should consider when seeking a loan. Here are the top five things businesses should keep in mind before they try to secure a loan, whether it’s from a hundred year old bank or a five year old alternative lender.
Many lenders will mask their APR by quoting a low “interest rate”. But fees and charges add up and should be included in the overall cost of borrowing. Everything from an origination fee to the fee the lender charges you to wire your business money should be included in your total cost of borrowing.
Know what you’re getting yourself into and ask questions. Best place to start is in the negative covenants section, work your way around the document and make sure you understand it all.
It should go without saying, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure you exhaust your options and look for different types of lenders that offer different structures. If your assets are growing quickly an Asset Based Lender could be a good fit. If you sell Direct to Consumer (DTC) a cash flow lender might be advisable.
Too often we see companies that say they “need the money yesterday.” Don’t wait until the last minute to start finding the right lender. If you’re expecting a large Purchase Order from a big retailer, start looking for help immediately. There’s no harm in having a plan and a backup plan.
Just as you would ask for a reference from a manufacturer or new hire, treat your lender like a partner. Make sure you do the due diligence on them, just as they would you.
There are a lot of lenders out there who are looking for borrowers. Some may have flashy technology or websites but lackluster products. Others may try to bury their real rates in paperwork they hope you never read. It is worth taking your time when you consider credit options. Ask a lot of questions and make sure that your lender looks at you as a partner and not just a business they are trying to make a quick buck from.