Working Capital Business Loans - Think Outside the Bank

Business borrowers have more commercial mortgage and business loan alternatives than they realize. We can refer to these commercial loan alternatives as "Thinking Outside the Bank" because a typical commercial borrower probably believes that a bank is the best source for a commercial real estate loan and business financing.

Traditional lenders providing competitive commercial financing for special purpose commercial real estate loans and business cash advances are becoming increasingly rare. "Thinking Outside the Bank" means that non-traditional (non-bank) lenders should be evaluated for commercial mortgage and working capital loan situations.

When commercial borrowers "Think Outside the Bank", it is of critical importance that they are prepared to avoid a wide variety of problematic traditional as well as non-traditional commercial lenders in their search for viable business financing, especially when it involves business cash advance (credit card receivables and credit card factoring) programs, credit card processing services and commercial real estate financing.

Borrowers should realize that they have more commercial loan options than they think in order to take advantage of "Thinking Outside the Bank". These business financing options are referred to here as "Thinking Outside the Bank" because most commercial borrowers believe that a bank is the best source for a commercial loan.

Here are two brief examples about how a commercial borrower is likely to benefit by "Thinking Outside the Bank". In many situations a traditional bank will provide a commercial mortgage but will include non-competitive covenants and terms. In other cases a traditional bank will decline the business loan because they do not provide commercial financing to the commercial borrower's particular type of business.

Some borrowers are likely to feel that a traditional bank is their best source for a commercial mortgage or commercial loan. However, because most traditional banks focus on a small number of established industries, non-traditional (non-bank) and non-local commercial lenders should be actively considered for most business financing situations. As discussed in this article, the suggested business loans strategy is "Thinking Outside the Bank".

As described in a prior commercial loan report, in many business financing scenarios it is typical for a traditional bank to require more business loan covenants than would normally be seen in a competitive commercial mortgage situation. Traditional banks can unfortunately take advantage of a shortage of commercial lenders in their local market area.

An effective response by borrowers is to emphasize business financing options other than the traditional ones. It is not wise for business borrowers to depend only upon local and regional banks for commercial loan possibilities. For common commercial financing circumstances, a non-local business lender can frequently provide the best business loan terms because of competition with other business lenders.

There are three business loan scenarios in which borrowers will commonly discover that non-traditional lenders will offer terms that are better for the business owner: commercial real estate financing and SBA loan programs, working capital business loan programs and business management programs for credit card processing.

Two of the worst commercial real estate financing problems for business owners can be eliminated by "Thinking Outside the Bank". The first commercial mortgage business loan problem is the typical bank practice to eliminate most special purpose business properties such as golf courses and funeral homes from their lending portfolio.

A second business loan possibility is the frequent practice of many commercial banks to add recall and balloon conditions to their commercial loans. The bank can then require early payoff of the commercial real estate loan under stipulated conditions. The use of a non-traditional lender can prevent both of these commercial financing problems.

Most businesses accepting credit cards will be able to obtain a business cash advance with credit card financing. If a business needs to use credit card factoring, a traditional bank will typically be of little help.

Because even the most successful merchants usually need more financial resources than they can get from a conventional commercial business loan, it is essential for a business to "Think Outside the Bank" and find non-traditional lenders to coordinate this commercial financing requirement.

A credit card processing service can be a key function in improving the bottom line of merchants with high volume credit card activity. The analysis of credit card processing providers can be efficiently combined with credit card receivables and credit card financing.

In coordinating a business cash advance and working capital business loan program, it is usually possible to achieve improvements in the business owner's credit card processing services. Traditional banks are usually not competitive in providing assistance with a business cash advance using credit card receivables. So it is likely that a non-traditional lender will be the major source of help with these complex business needs.

Business Loans and Real Estate Mortgage Finance

More residential real estate investors are exploring commercial real estate and business loan alternatives as a result of the increasingly chaotic investment environment for residential financing. In these circumstances prospective commercial property owners, business investors and business owners should educate themselves about choices for the business opportunity financing and commercial loan climate that currently prevails throughout the United States.

Environmental requirements for business finance will be a complex issue for numerous business investments. When addressing environmental issues for business loans, these will vary widely based on both the type of business as well as the specific commercial lender. More extensive requirements can impact both the cost and timing for a commercial mortgage loan.

Tax returns and financial statements for a business loan are likely to be a concern for all commercial borrowers. In comparison to residential loans, business financing usually involves lender analysis of business tax returns in addition to personal tax returns. Business financial statements and personal financial statements will be required for certain kinds of business opportunity financing and commercial real estate financing.

Secondary financing will often be a means of acquiring desired commercial loans. The use of seller financing or secondary financing is a prudent business financing strategy to reduce capital requirements for the borrower. Secondary financing will not be accepted by all commercial lenders.

An unexpected requirement for many commercial loans involves sourcing and seasoning of funds. When purchasing a business, some lenders will require that borrowers document where the down payment is coming from (sourcing) and how long the funds have been in that location (seasoning). If a borrower cannot adequately provide this documentation, the choice of commercial lenders will be more restricted.

Collateral and cross-collateralization for business loans will be an insurmountable obstacle for some commercial borrowers. Collateral requirements for business financing will depend on many factors such as down payment, type of business, credit scores and the type of financing needed. Cross-collateralization refers to lender requirements involving personal collateral such as a home used as collateral for a business loan.

Any requirement for a business plan when obtaining commercial mortgages is likely to be expensive and time-consuming. A business plan is not always required for a business loan, but when one is required this will add significantly to the cost and length of the loan process.

An increasing problem for commercial borrowers seeking refinancing is an unreasonable limitation for getting cash out of the new loan. Commercial lenders differ significantly regarding restrictions imposed on the amount of cash out to the borrower when refinancing. Some lenders will not permit any cash out whatsoever while others will limit cash received by the borrower to a particular amount. The preferred approach is to use a lender that will allow cash to be paid out up to an agreed loan-to-value (frequently 75%).

It is important to to thoroughly analyze business financing lockout penalties. A lockout penalty is much more severe than a prepayment penalty in that such penalties can effectively prevent a commercial borrower from selling or refinancing during a prescribed period (often two to five years).

In addition to the issues noted above, numerous other key business finance and real estate mortgage issues will also be important to evaluate. Commercial mortgage requirements are very different from residential financing requirements in the United States. Additional business finance reports include a discussion of many other significant financing factors. Separate report topics include SBA loan refinancing, business opportunity financing, stated income business loans and commercial appraisals.

Unsecured Business Start Up Loan and Commercial Mortgage Solutions

Many business borrowers do not prepare adequately for the commercial mortgage business loan problems that are common in most business financing scenarios. By anticipating typical commercial loan difficulties, business owners are more likely to avoid potentially disastrous business finance consequences.

With rapidly deteriorating financing for residential investment property, overcoming business loan and commercial mortgage problems is even more important. This summary provides an introduction to four critical commercial loan factors and should assist commercial borrowers to better anticipate key business financing difficulties.

It is not unusual to find that business investment lenders and business loan brokers are not as forward-looking about business financing and investing difficulties as most borrowers would expect, and I have published another article about commercial lenders to avoid. The focus here is on four typical commercial mortgage loan and SBA business loan difficulties often overlooked by commercial lenders and borrowers.

Unanticipated circumstances can lead to unexpected problems with a commercial loan, and borrowers should be ready for these business financing scenarios. With business financing there are several key commercial mortgage problems which should be avoided. Business loan problems are more serious and prevalent than many borrowers would imagine.

Some of these commercial mortgage business loan difficulties might be unavoidable, but in most cases these business financing and SBA loan challenges can be successfully overcome. Commercial borrowers will be poised to take proper corrective action if they are aware of common commercial loan difficulties.

Avoidable Commercial Real Estate Investment Property Financing Scenario Number One: Use of secondary business financing -

Many commercial borrowers want the flexibility to use subordinated debt (a seller second or other secondary financing) in order to acquire a commercial property or business opportunity investment with a smaller down payment. Many forms of business investing will not permit a seller second or other forms of subordinated debt. With a commercial loan via non-traditional business lenders, a commercial borrower can use subordinate business financing (including seller seconds) to reduce the amount of their down payment.

Commercial Mortgage Example Number Two: Sourcing-seasoning assets and seasoning of ownership -

Some commercial lenders will require borrowers to document the source of the down payment for a purchase (sourcing). Commercial lenders will also frequently require that business financing down payment funds be substantiated, most commonly for 1-12 months (seasoning). Seasoning of ownership is based on the minimum time a commercial property must be owned before refinancing can occur.

Such a problem will probably not deter all borrowers. When it does apply, business borrowers should insist on a lender without seasoning and sourcing requirements.

Business Financing Example Number Three: Commercial mortgage recall terms -

Business loan recall conditions will often allow the commercial lender to force the borrower to repay their loan before the normal loan expiration. If a commercial loan agreement does not include recall terms, such a possibility is not of immediate concern to a borrower.

Commercial lenders will routinely include recall conditions in a business loan agreement. The provisions which will prompt a recall will vary and typically include annual business lender monitoring of financial statements, tax returns and credit history. Without agreed income, tax returns and credit standards, the lender can choose to require the borrower to pay off the commercial loan within a very short period of time.

Contingency Plans for Business Finance Recalls: What to do about a commercial loan recall -

To avoid an unanticipated recall scenario, commercial borrowers would be wise to consider only commercial loans which do not have recall terms. For commercial borrowers who have recall provisions in their business financing agreement, it will be equally wise to consider refinancing their business loan or commercial mortgage before a recall occurs so that refinancing is accomplished when it is most appropriate for the borrower.

When borrowers receive a business financing recall, they must quickly obtain refinancing assistance. When reviewing commercial loan choices for refinancing, borrowers should attempt to exclude potential lenders that require recall terms.

Business Loan Example Number Four: Business financing that needs a long-term commercial loan -

Is long-term investing and financing really possible for a business loan? Some business investment lenders will only offer 5 years (or less) before commercial real estate financing will expire with a balloon payment due.

If that sounds like short-term investment business financing instead of long-term, there are business lenders that can arrange 30-year commercial mortgage loans. Longer-term commercial real estate financing will often be the critical difference that facilitates a successful business investment because a new business loan will not be required for many years and commercial loan payments will also be reduced.