Tag: working capital

Small business owners have plenty of things to manage to keep their business growing. From a budget standpoint, there are many factors to consider in terms of equipment costs, inventory, payroll expenses, and other financial considerations. When you’re caught in the middle of these financial matters, consider applying for a working capital loan.

Working capital ensures that you will have enough cash flow to successfully run your business. Small business loans are often the best solutions if you suddenly find yourself in a tight situation financially.

With that in mind, here are things to consider before applying for a working capital loan.

The Amount of Funding You Need

Some lenders offer a maximum loan amount in the range of $150,000 to $200,000. Before you apply for one, evaluate your available funds, determine the amount you need, and finalize the purpose of the loan.

Borrowing not enough or too much can hurt your business. Instead of dealing with debt or fund shortages in the future, consult with a lender before moving forward. A lender will talk about your business’ needs before recommending loans and rates, as well as help you determine the loan amount that works best for your current financial situation.

When Do You Need the Funds?

If you need immediate funding, perhaps a traditional bank loan or an SBA loan is not the way to go. These loans can take weeks of processing before you receive any funds. The shortest waiting time for these types of loans is three days to a week.

Instead, look for a lender that can give you money within a few days, or even on the same day. These types of loans, however, may require applicants to offer collateral before they get funding.

Settle Unpaid Debt

Having unpaid debt could prevent you from getting approval for a working capital loan. If you have financial concerns like credit card loans or debts, lenders may be hesitant to work with you. Generally, it’s a good idea to pay off your debt first to improve your chances of approval.

Determine Your Lender’s Expectations

Every lender has a different set of requirements. You may work with a traditional bank that prefers bank statements, excellent credit, and a business plan. Other lenders may require you to earn a specific amount of revenue tied to the length of time you’ve been in business. Here are other requirements lenders may ask from you:

• Invoice history
• Tax records
• Credit score
• Business plan
• Bank statements
• Collateral
• Personal guarantee
• Annual revenue

Determine the Loan’s Specifics

It’s important to know the length of time you’ll need the funds. Most small business owners need short-term funding to draw a check or to bridge a gap between jobs. Most lenders, however, do not offer short-term financing solutions. If you need a custom solution, get in touch with a lender immediately to discuss your options.

Once you’ve settled these considerations, you can have a good chance of getting that much-needed working capital loan. It’s best to work with a lender who can help determine your needs. They can help you sort through your options, work out a payment plan, and make sure you get the capital you need ASAP.

When you need funds fast, Probably has got your back. We make quick small business loans easy with our flexible options and simple processes.

Get started with your loan today.

The working capital is one of the biggest points of concern for any business. Big or small, enterprises need to maintain a healthy flow of working capital. Although business experts say that negative working capital doesn’t necessarily mean the business is doomed, it should at least keep the sales and account managers on their toes. 

What Is Working Capital?

Working capital is the cash fund that sustains your everyday operations. It is a measure of a company’s liquidity: higher working capital means a company’s earnings are greater than its liabilities. Working capital is used to pay off short-term debts, buy inventory, and pay for everyday operating expenses.

When the working capital is running short, businesses apply for working capital loans from banks or non-institutional lenders. 

If you look up working capital loan definitions and uses, you’ll notice that many consider it a short-term remedy to cover the costs of daily operating expenses. It’s mainly because working capital loans must be repaid in less than a year. Businesses, therefore, cannot depend on working capital loans for long-term funding needs.  

Manage Your Working Capital to Maximize Working Capital Loans

Businesses that get approved for working capital loans must work doubly hard to regain their financial health. They need to maximize their loans and generate revenue from them so that they can pay the loan on time and have a net income. 

For business owners and entrepreneurs who want to avoid risks, the goal regarding working capital should always be to avoid deficits.

How do you manage your working capital loan? Here are some tips:

1. Be smart in stocking inventory

You have to closely examine if the cost-savings from bulk-buying a raw material is more beneficial than equally distributing resources for purchasing all materials needed for production, for example. If you are a retailer, you’ll want to increase the inventory of your in-demand products to make sure that you don’t run out of stocks and potentially shake the confidence of long-established partners and customers. Similarly, you don’t want to waste money on stocks that don’t sell well. 

2. Prioritize your key suppliers and pay them on time

This is to ensure that your business relationship stays strong. If you have a good relationship with your vendors, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate for more favorable contracts later.

3. Follow-up on your receivables

Make sure you’re sending invoices on time and take note of delinquent payments. Not to say that you must be aggressive in collecting delinquent payments, but neither should you be too lax that others are taking advantage of your generosity. Draw the line between gestures of good faith and savvy business management. 

4. Increase your working capital

Look for other ways for your business to increase its income besides improving your process for receivables. Some options you can consider are selling long-term assets, refinancing debts, making personal investments (i.e., put your personal money into the business), and getting equity funding by inviting investors to your business.

Contact Probably Yes for More Information on Our Working Capital Loans

Managing your working capital, especially the funds you receive from a working capital loan, is crucial for ensuring your business’s success. 

If you need to increase your working capital as soon as possible, consider applying for a working capital loan from Probably. We specialize in financing startups and expansion plans of small businesses. 

Explore our funding options. Apply for a working capital loan today.

So, you got approved for a working capital loan. Congratulations! Many small businesses struggle to get approved for loans because of various reasons (e.g., lack of a substantial track record to prove their profitability, low business, or personal credit scores). Getting the much-needed funds for your business has no doubt removed a huge burden off your shoulders. But don’t let your relief lull you into a false sense of security.

‘Working Capital Loan’ Definition

In a nutshell, a working capital loan is a loan that provides working capital for a business – easy, right? It is usually awarded as a line of credit. It isn’t, however, ideal for solving recurring, long-term financial problems.

A working capital loan is meant to keep a business running by funding its day-to-day expenses and help keep it keep money in the bank — that is, have profit left after paying off bills and overhead costs.

Here are some tips on how you can make the most of your working capital loan:

1. Strategize the order of priority for your payables. Working capital loans are never intended to solve long-term problems, as you cannot use it to pay off massive debts at once. This is especially true if you receive the loan as a line of credit: there’s a limit to how much you can borrow over a specified period.  Are there suppliers with whom you cannot afford to have a sour business relationship? Prioritize settling your bills with them, then propose an alternative repayment scheme for other suppliers who’re willing to give you an extension on your payments.
2. Now that we’re on the subject, prioritize paying your people their salaries. The cash flow might be the lifeblood of a small business, but it’s the people in your organization who keep things running. Having said that, you may have to reevaluate your employment structure for redundancies and teams that are not generating income. If it comes down to it, you’ll want to keep the people who are making a profit for your business.
3. Do better on securing your receivables. Given that you don’t have a limitless line of credit, you need to draw cash flow sources from other, more sustainable places as well. Your receivables are the first things you should look into. Review your invoicing process. Are you sending them out on time? Do you follow-up with your customers regarding their payments, or are you too lenient on delinquencies? Do you often make billing errors? If you can correct the flaws in your invoicing, your cash flow will improve, and you’ll be less inclined to max out your line of credit each month.
4. Increase your capital by exploring other income sources. Many small businesses that seek working capital flows are seasonal: they depend on the influx of income for the months when their services are needed to sustain them during the off-season months. When the revenues fall short, however, businesses will be under massive strain during the slow months. A working capital loan can help weather this period, but it could backfire when payments are due and revenues are still trickling in. A better solution would be to explore other ways to generate income even as you tap on your line of credit. This way, you can increase your working capital and stay afloat until you’re back in season.

Probably is Here to Help Get You the Small Business Working Capital Loan You Need + Use it to the Fullest!

Don’t let your working capital loan do all the work when your business is struggling to stay afloat. Maximize it, increase your capital, and allocate your resources where you can get returns as quickly as possible.

If you need a lifeline to keep your small business’s doors open, you can find a solution here at Probably. We are a financing company offering flexible, innovative, reliable, and transparent funding options for small businesses.

Contact us to apply for your small business working capital loan.