Archive for October, 2011
2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 in Columbus, OH 43228
Is scarcity of funds obstructing your venture? Are you looking for ways to finance your new business but dread the thought of monthly loan installments? If you said yes to the above, equity financing is what your business needs. Equity financing helps you raise funds without having to shoulder the burden of repayment.
It ain’t money for nothing. Sure, equity financing is not a loan, but it isn’t a gift either! When you raise equity funds, you part with an ownership interest in your company. This ownership takes the form of common stock or preferred stock. If the company makes a profit, investors receive a part of it in the form of dividend. Apart from taking a stake in the company, investors may also participate on the company’s board of directors and take an active role in managing the business. Bet that’s stuck in your throat!
While informal sources such as family and friends can provide equity financing, the most important source of professional equity funding are venture capitalists. These are deep-pocketed financial wizards in the business of investing in new or riskier businesses in exchange for very large returns.
So, what do equity investors look for?
Growth potential: Equity investors are usually aiming for the stars, and their only concern is how soon there can get there. That is why companies on a high growth path, capable of delivering solid returns on investment are more likely to get financing.
Exit strategy: Venture capitalists in particular, look for companies that have a clear exit strategy. They don’t want to hang around till it’s time to walk into the sunset. Five to seven years is all they’ll give you, and in that time they’ll expect to have trebled their investment at a minimum. If they can’t find a way of pulling out by way of a strategic sale, they won’t play ball.
Management quality: Since equity financing is all about investors climbing aboard, you can bet they’ll want to know who is captain of the ship. They pay more attention to the capabilities of the management team than anything else.
While interest payments won’t loom large over your head with equity financing, it will make a different set of demands on your business. Weigh the pros and cons before you take a decision.
The best part is that you pay back your investors only if the business does well. That way, you’re not the only one bearing financial risk. The right venture capitalist can bring in valuable skills, experience, contacts and assist you with strategy and decision making. What’s more, if the business does well, you are likely to secure further equity financing from existing investors.
On the flip side, you will have to accept a dilution in your shareholding. Also, some investors can be very high maintenance – so be prepared to be answerable to a bunch of hawks! This is the hardest for independent minded entrepreneurs.
Once you have decided to go in for equity financing, get cracking on your business plan. Talk to your financial and legal advisers before you reach out to potential investors. Be clear in your mind on the following:
a) How much funding is needed and for what purpose?
b) For how long would you need these funds?
c) How much stake are you are willing to part with?
It’s best to answer these questions in your business plan and tailor the information according to the specific investors you plan to approach. Equity financing can be a boon for new entrepreneurs if it is used appropriately with targeted goals. Do refer to books like “Financing Your Small Business” and “How to Raise Early Stage Private Equity Financing” from and “Financing Your Small Business” from to find out how it can work for you.
Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special “Freebie of The Month” at http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html
If you are a small business owner, you should acquire as much knowledge as you can about small business bankruptcy. If you find yourself in debt, overcoming.
Madoff Whistleblower: No One Would Listen
While studies show that technology spending is once again on the rise, there’s a reason you haven’t heard a collective sigh of relief from the software industry. While many budgets are once again allowing for the purchase of enterprise software, hardware and peripherals, there’s no question that today’s purchasers are smarter, savvier and more selective than ever.
Even though the purse strings have loosened, competition is at an all-time high. It’s no longer enough to provide a software solution that meets the potential customer’s needs, or even to provide it at the best price. Today, smart vendors are constantly looking for ways to stay one step ahead of the competition.
While increasing sales is always part of a competitive business strategy, software development companies often overlook a simple method of accomplishing this objective – making it easier for customers to buy.
One option increasing in popularity among software vendors is to establish a customized finance program that provides no-hassle financing solutions for your prospective clients. In addition to “one-stop shopping,” your customers can reap the other benefits of financing that make it easier for them to commit to technology purchases, including:
100 percent financing — Many finance companies offer 100 percent financing for the cost of software and maintenance contracts, which requires no down payment. Because customers don’t have to come up with a down payment, they can make a purchase immediately, rather than hold up the sale with a “wait and see” mentality that often accompanies a dip into cash reserves. It also allows your customers to invest more capital in revenue-generating activities.
Improved cash flow management – With software financing, your customers can conserve capital for reinvesting in their business and improve budgeting accuracy through fixed monthly payments. Financing also makes it easy for customers to access multiple-year budgets by paying for the benefit of your software over its useful life.
Flexible payment structures – Customers can optimize project budgets by taking advantage of the flexible payment structures available through financing to maximize the return on their investment. For example, with software financing, customers can ramp up payments to match the revenue generation of a new technology project that is utilizing the software being financed.
While financing provides a clear advantage for the buyer, when a program is well planned, the list of advantages for software developers, distributors and resellers can be even more beneficial.
Improved Customer Relations
As noted above, financing packages add value for the customer by enhancing their buying power, offering greater flexibility and providing convenience. It also increases their satisfaction through the ability to leverage their budget to acquire the total technology solution – which could include software, hardware, service, support, integration and training – rather than only the parts and pieces they could afford through an outright purchase.
Shorter Sales Cycles
On the sales side, any customer who expresses some interest in a product seems like a good lead. However, there are many times when the question of how to pay for the new software prevents the sale from happening. Time lost on dead-end deals can be eliminated when financing is part of the sale, as the ability to pay is immediately considered in the equation. In addition, many finance companies now offer fast, easy credit and documentation processes, so you can complete a sale quickly and avoid costly processing delays.
Another benefit is that as software needs are being discussed in the sales process, the finance specialist can work with the chief financial officer or accountant to determine which financing option and payment plan best suits business needs and cash flow.
Direct customer financing can also save software vendors millions of dollars each year by reducing the number of days a sale is outstanding. Consider a company with quarterly cash sales of $50 million. On average, it can take 45 days to collect payment. Assuming a borrowing rate of 6 percent, the 45-day lag in payment results in a carrying cost of $371,204. If the same numbers are run with a leasing finance program that generates payment within 2 days, the carrying cost drops $82,253, saving the company more than $288,951 in one business quarter.
The Big Picture
Overall, equipment financing programs can:
Generate larger, more profitable sales faster;
Increase account control;
Improve sales efficiency and productivity;
Lower days-sales-outstanding;
Improve cash flow;
Differentiate your company from its competition; and
Provide complete solutions for your customers.
Taking the Next Step
After identifying an interest in offering flexible financing as part of the sales process, the next step is to develop a finance program. By partnering with an experienced leasing company to develop a finance program for your customers, you can transfer all of the uncertainties of extending terms to your customer to the finance company.
Partnering with an experienced finance company also means you can concentrate on what your company does best – developing software – while letting a finance expert handle the intricacies of a finance program. Put simply, by working with a third party, your company will receive all of the benefits with none of the risk.
Whether you choose to refer your clients directly to your financing program partner or to work with a third-party finance partner to develop an in-house program, it is essential to choose an experienced equipment finance partner. During the sales process, the finance expert will be working closely with your customers, and it’s important that his or her actions and service levels reflect your company’s ability to meet your customers’ expectations. When searching for a finance partner, look for a company that:
Is flexible and willing to work with your management team to develop a program that will meet your financial objectives;
Is experienced in the IT and software finance world, since the sales process, client-decision criteria, and revenue recognition issues are different than that of capital asset sellers;
Provides marketing support and materials to help you promote your financing program
Is willing and able to provide your sales team with materials and training to ensure sales team members are comfortable and easily able to raise financing as an option with their clients; and
Is a financially stable, long-term business partner.
Companies in search of a leasing partner can visit Choose Leasing (www.ChooseLeasing.org), a Web site developed by the Equipment Leasing Association, where you can find answers to commonly asked questions about leasing and search for an experienced leasing company specializing in vendor finance programs.
RJ Grimshaw is director of sales, vice president of Key Equipment Finance’s Information Technology Group. Key Equipment Finance (www.KEFonline.com) is one of the nation’s largest bank-affiliated equipment leasing companies. Grimshaw has more than 10 years of leasing industry experience. He can be reached for questions at 713.354.4545.
RJ Grimshaw is director of sales, vice president of Key Equipment Finance’s Information Technology Group. Key Equipment Finance (http://www.KEFonline.com) is one of the nation’s largest bank-affiliated equipment leasing companies. Grimshaw has more than 10 years of leasing industry experience. He can be reached for questions at 713.354.4545.
Know more about your credit report | 9DOWNSOFT Finance
Credit score is the factor that determines your finance. Your credit score can be divided into your credit history, payment history,
CRM Daily | Defense Finance Service Deploys Envision Centricity
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Finance companies shares mixed at the close of trading …
Shares of some top finance companies were mixed at the close of trading:
Finance Career – Finance Job
Many people are drawn to money. Not just to have more of it (who doesn’t?), but to actually participate in the finance industry and make a career out of it.
Did you know that some of the most successful people in finance and investments never pursued finance in college? Did you know many never even went to college? There are people who have built successful careers in investments or the financial industry grew and learned on the job.
Like I said, there are many branches to this tree. Accountants, CPA’s, and analysts must go through significant educational requirements before finding finance jobs. While these careers are built on heavy education and commitment, there are other areas of finance that do not require stringent or specialized education before entering the job market.
Stockbroker and Financial Advisor jobs
Stockbrokers, Registered Representatives and financial advisors are basically salesmen in the finance industry. That is not to demean what they do, it’s actually true. Once you are a licensed stockbroker and working for a firm, you are a phone broker. Many of the top firms will require 2 or 4 year degrees before hiring you for a job, but a finance or investment related degree is usually not required. Many smaller firms do not require college at all. They are looking for brokers with talent, drive and the ability to communicate and persuade. If you can convince the firm that you can earn money, you can get in. There are successful stockbrokers and advisors who make $200,000 or more and many of them were car salesmen, insurance agents, collections salesmen, real estate agents etc. Training is ongoing and most should decide after 6 months or one year whether this is the finance career or job they want.
The downside to this career, is the compensation you earn. It is largely, if not exclusively – commission or fee based. It’s a sink or swim finance career. It is not for everyone, but the requirements are easier, so if you are good at it – you’re all set!
Mortgage Broker Career
When Wall Street began losing jobs in late 2000 and for several years after, many brokers and advisors began careers as mortgage processors or mortgage brokers. The mortgage finance industry was booming. With interest rates low and the economy slower, homeowners were looking to take advantage of the equity in their homes or looking to refinance. People who were in these jobs at mortgage companies made a lot of money. People had needs and the environment was ripe for big business.
The problem with mortgage finance jobs is that it is a very cyclical business and it relies on constant new business and referrals for the brokers to earn money. If I had my choice overall, getting a job in the mortgage broker business would be one of my last choices. Good times are real good. Bad times are real bad.
Insurance Jobs and Retirement Finance Careers
With the population of the country living longer and the trend of big companies providing attractive retirement plans on the decline, insurance agents, retirement and estate planners are doing well. Building a finance career and getting jobs in these areas can be very rewarding and the trends are on your side.
There are many areas of finance and investments. You may end up being a bond broker, a trader, a mutual fund broker or something else. The quickest way into a good investment or finance job or career is to get a job as a financial advisor or broker. You have to put in the time and effort, but the openings are there and the experience you gain working with client investments will serve you very well going forward. Either you make a great career doing just that, or you platform that job into another area that better suits you.
The finance industry can be tough, it is competitive and you must stand out, but it’s better than digging ditches – usually!
Good Luck!
Nick Hunter is the President of American Investment Training (AIT) http://www.aitraining.com and the owner of http://www.brokerjobs.com – a finance career information site with job links and educational resources.
Pranabda on empowering citizens
Is My Blog Going To Make Some Money?I’m not beholden to any forex brokers. I don’t sell advertising to forex brokers; I’m not engaged in any sort of introducing broker role with a single forex broker. So I can afford to tell you the truth about forex brokers.
I’ve seen firsthand some extremely troubling statistics of the failure rates of forex traders. There’s a number that’s floating around the industry. It’s 95 percent! Can you believe it? Upwards of 95 percent, plus or minus a few percent, of forex traders fail. That’s an astonishing figure.
There are many reasons why so many forex traders fail. It’s partly due to the misconception that forex trading is easy, that the forex market is like an ATM, just sitting there waiting for you to withdraw money. If you have any experience at all trading forex, you know this is flat out wrong!
These misconceptions stem from the vast amounts of marketing online and in print, marketing that is pushing trading systems, buy and sell signals, and forex “education”. This marketing comes from system designers, portals, but even a lot of the forex brokers. There’s definitely a land grab going on in the forex industry, one that started about five years ago and has since accelerated. Retail forex trading will continue to grow like crazy in the coming years, judging by the recent entrance into the space by some big time Wall Street banks.
A lot of the retail forex brokers have taken a “churn ‘em and burn ‘em” attitude towards their customers. These brokers want to gather as many new accounts as possible and as quickly as possible. The mentality among many of these forex brokers is very much short-term, focusing on generating quick commissions and profits for themselves. This attitude has, in part, led to a tremendous failure rate among individual forex traders.
There’s something even more sinister that contributes to the failure of so many individual forex traders. It’s the bucket shop operating tactics that many forex brokers employ. Some forex brokers actually trade against their clients. Can you believe it? A lot of forex traders complain about having stops mysteriously hit only to see the market go right back to where it was trading. It’s called running stops, which many of today’s forex brokers do to their own clients!
The reason that some of the bucket shop brokers have been able to get away with this practice is because the spot forex market is loosely regulated at best, and not regulated at all at worst. Regulation of spot forex trading varies from country to country but, for the most part, it’s not regulated. This has led to a lot of fraud and the deceptive marketing and tactics that many forex brokers use on their unsuspecting clients.
The good news is that there are more reputable and honest forex businesses rising to the top, including brokers. Moreover, some regulation is coming to the market in the near-term, which should help to stem some of the predatory tactics employed by forex brokers.
Still, it’s extremely important for you, the individual forex trader, to carefully research your broker before trading real money. There are some really good forex brokers out there, especially those that offer an ECN-like service that essentially matches orders and provides liquidity via the interbank market.
Another step you can take to protect yourself is to avoid the overactive, hyper trading that so many system vendors and online forex “education” providers promote. Day trading the forex market is an incredibly expensive and, for the most part, futile attempt at making money. Moreover, it increases your risk of a bucket shop broker trading against you.
A better, smarter approach is to take advantage of the forex market for one of its biggest benefits: big, long-lasting trends. There are huge moves in the forex market every year, trends that are relatively easy to identify and trade with the right knowledge. You can make a lot of money over the long-term riding these trends in currency pairs if you know what you’re doing. By using a common sense approach to identifying these trends, trading the right position size, and staying diversified, you can minimize the risks of a bucket shop forex broker taking advantage of you. Most importantly, you can realize the wonderful benefits of the forex market in their fullest.
Visit http://www.fxpnf.com to learn more about how to take advantage of the benefits of the forex market.
finance budgeting software | Financial Budgeting Software
Budgeting as a college student.? I am 21 years old and I live with my girlfriend in an apartment. I am currently attending school full time majoring in.
Payback Time by Phil Town | Finance, credit, debt, insurance …
Categorized | 2010, Cash, HMO, Mortgage, Object, PPI, Phil Town, Product Reviews, SEC, Value Investing, Warren Buffett, finance, investing, investment, irs, lenders, money, move, personal finance, rate, rule, sep, stock, value, ways, …
Finance is for Everyone | Caffeinated Buzz !
People who know how to make a dollar or two to ease into the world of finance, which is the business of managing your money and other assets. If you have an.
Customer Finance Programs Key to Increasing Sales
While studies show that technology spending is once again on the rise, there’s a reason you haven’t heard a collective sigh of relief from the software industry. While many budgets are once again allowing for the purchase of enterprise software, hardware and peripherals, there’s no question that today’s purchasers are smarter, savvier and more selective than ever.
Even though the purse strings have loosened, competition is at an all-time high. It’s no longer enough to provide a software solution that meets the potential customer’s needs, or even to provide it at the best price. Today, smart vendors are constantly looking for ways to stay one step ahead of the competition.
While increasing sales is always part of a competitive business strategy, software development companies often overlook a simple method of accomplishing this objective – making it easier for customers to buy.
One option increasing in popularity among software vendors is to establish a customized finance program that provides no-hassle financing solutions for your prospective clients. In addition to “one-stop shopping,” your customers can reap the other benefits of financing that make it easier for them to commit to technology purchases, including:
100 percent financing — Many finance companies offer 100 percent financing for the cost of software and maintenance contracts, which requires no down payment. Because customers don’t have to come up with a down payment, they can make a purchase immediately, rather than hold up the sale with a “wait and see” mentality that often accompanies a dip into cash reserves. It also allows your customers to invest more capital in revenue-generating activities.
Improved cash flow management – With software financing, your customers can conserve capital for reinvesting in their business and improve budgeting accuracy through fixed monthly payments. Financing also makes it easy for customers to access multiple-year budgets by paying for the benefit of your software over its useful life.
Flexible payment structures – Customers can optimize project budgets by taking advantage of the flexible payment structures available through financing to maximize the return on their investment. For example, with software financing, customers can ramp up payments to match the revenue generation of a new technology project that is utilizing the software being financed.
While financing provides a clear advantage for the buyer, when a program is well planned, the list of advantages for software developers, distributors and resellers can be even more beneficial.
Improved Customer Relations
As noted above, financing packages add value for the customer by enhancing their buying power, offering greater flexibility and providing convenience. It also increases their satisfaction through the ability to leverage their budget to acquire the total technology solution – which could include software, hardware, service, support, integration and training – rather than only the parts and pieces they could afford through an outright purchase.
Shorter Sales Cycles
On the sales side, any customer who expresses some interest in a product seems like a good lead. However, there are many times when the question of how to pay for the new software prevents the sale from happening. Time lost on dead-end deals can be eliminated when financing is part of the sale, as the ability to pay is immediately considered in the equation. In addition, many finance companies now offer fast, easy credit and documentation processes, so you can complete a sale quickly and avoid costly processing delays.
Another benefit is that as software needs are being discussed in the sales process, the finance specialist can work with the chief financial officer or accountant to determine which financing option and payment plan best suits business needs and cash flow.
Direct customer financing can also save software vendors millions of dollars each year by reducing the number of days a sale is outstanding. Consider a company with quarterly cash sales of $50 million. On average, it can take 45 days to collect payment. Assuming a borrowing rate of 6 percent, the 45-day lag in payment results in a carrying cost of $371,204. If the same numbers are run with a leasing finance program that generates payment within 2 days, the carrying cost drops $82,253, saving the company more than $288,951 in one business quarter.
The Big Picture
Overall, equipment financing programs can:
Generate larger, more profitable sales faster;
Increase account control;
Improve sales efficiency and productivity;
Lower days-sales-outstanding;
Improve cash flow;
Differentiate your company from its competition; and
Provide complete solutions for your customers.
Taking the Next Step
After identifying an interest in offering flexible financing as part of the sales process, the next step is to develop a finance program. By partnering with an experienced leasing company to develop a finance program for your customers, you can transfer all of the uncertainties of extending terms to your customer to the finance company.
Partnering with an experienced finance company also means you can concentrate on what your company does best – developing software – while letting a finance expert handle the intricacies of a finance program. Put simply, by working with a third party, your company will receive all of the benefits with none of the risk.
Whether you choose to refer your clients directly to your financing program partner or to work with a third-party finance partner to develop an in-house program, it is essential to choose an experienced equipment finance partner. During the sales process, the finance expert will be working closely with your customers, and it’s important that his or her actions and service levels reflect your company’s ability to meet your customers’ expectations. When searching for a finance partner, look for a company that:
Is flexible and willing to work with your management team to develop a program that will meet your financial objectives;
Is experienced in the IT and software finance world, since the sales process, client-decision criteria, and revenue recognition issues are different than that of capital asset sellers;
Provides marketing support and materials to help you promote your financing program
Is willing and able to provide your sales team with materials and training to ensure sales team members are comfortable and easily able to raise financing as an option with their clients; and
Is a financially stable, long-term business partner.
Companies in search of a leasing partner can visit Choose Leasing (www.ChooseLeasing.org), a Web site developed by the Equipment Leasing Association, where you can find answers to commonly asked questions about leasing and search for an experienced leasing company specializing in vendor finance programs.
RJ Grimshaw is director of sales, vice president of Key Equipment Finance’s Information Technology Group. Key Equipment Finance (www.KEFonline.com) is one of the nation’s largest bank-affiliated equipment leasing companies. Grimshaw has more than 10 years of leasing industry experience. He can be reached for questions at 713.354.4545.
RJ Grimshaw is director of sales, vice president of Key Equipment Finance’s Information Technology Group. Key Equipment Finance (http://www.KEFonline.com) is one of the nation’s largest bank-affiliated equipment leasing companies. Grimshaw has more than 10 years of leasing industry experience. He can be reached for questions at 713.354.4545.
Making Energy Efficiency Easy to Finance : Greentech Media
Efficiency Services Agreement: Metrus Energy offers industrial and commercial customers a PPA-like solution to finance and implement EE projects with repayment based on a cost per avoided unit of realized energy savings. …
AU-ECA joint media advisory / Ministers of Finance to hold their …
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 2, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/
Is this the start of a Sterling crisis?
The idea that a hung parliament could be disastrous for the pound is not a new one. For some months, commentators have been writing as much – that the policy stasis it might imply would potentially derail any difficult political …
Personal Finance Project