What Are Asset-Based Loans? Asset-based loans for manufacturers are financial tools that allow manufacturers to use their business assets as collateral to secure a loan. These assets can include inventory, equipment, and accounts receivable. Manufacturers can access funds based on the value of these assets, giving them the flexibility to finance their operations or growth initiatives. The main advantage of asset-based loans is that they provide manufacturers with a way to secure funding even if they have limited credit history or lower credit scores. Understanding the Benefits of Asset-Based ..read more

Seasonal manufacturers are all too familiar with business highs and lows. You experience an influx of cash during the busiest times of the year. The quieter months usually mean less revenue, forcing you to reduce spending and manage your budget. When business booms, spending more can be tempting, but leaves you cash-strapped the rest of the year. You must adopt financial strategies to manage your cash flow throughout the year. Keep reading to learn how to finance your seasonal business through the peak and off-peak seasons. How to Finance My Seasonal Business If you have a seasonal business, y ..read more

As the world changes, businesses must respond quickly and effectively to keep up with societal changes, customer needs and technological disruption. Resiliency applies to every aspect of a business — product development, supply chain, financial capital gains and employee development. It requires a holistic approach to keep up with the changes and avoid significant disruptions. Keep reading to learn more about how to build a resilient business model in the service industry. What Is Business Resiliency? Business resiliency is an organization’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances while mai ..read more

BIRMINGHAM, AL, December 14, 2023–Asset-based lending is an industry built on making deals, but at the heart of every one of those transactions is a financial solution for a business. To honor this fundamental pillar of the industry, ABF Journal is proud to present its second annual Deals of the Year listing to provide a more in-depth look at some of the most intriguing and impactful transactions of 2023. This year’s list features a swath of deals across multiple categories, including traditional asset-based loans, factoring facilities, purchase order funding, receivables financing and mo ..read more

Mergers and acquisitions can benefit businesses in many ways, as they can help companies drive growth, acquire new knowledge, improve their output and move into new markets. However, financing this type of deal can come with its challenges, resulting in the need for innovative funding solutions. Explore the different ways businesses can fund mergers and acquisitions to help you find the best solution for your enterprise. What Is M&A Financing? M&A financing is the process of funding the consolidation of two companies through various financial transactions. These transactions often requ ..read more

Learning about cash flow forecasting is as important as calculating your cash flow margin in any period. Cash flow forecasting provides insight into your financial status and helps you project how you can conduct operations in the future. While it’s integral, cash flow forecasting doesn’t eliminate the need for finding alternate funding solutions. Sometimes, even the most liquid businesses need help with flexible and swift payments. What Is Cash Flow Forecasting? Cash flow forecasting means projecting a business’s incoming and outgoing cash flow over a specific pe ..read more

Entrepreneurs need constant cash flow to stay competitive. However, the uncertainties in the current economic climate make conducting business even more challenging. Therefore, it’s essential to strategize your operations and take the initiative to create an agile enterprise. A credit crunch, also known as “credit tightening,” a “credit squeeze” or “credit contraction,” occurs when financial institutions, especially lenders, raise the standards for loan requests due to the need to protect themselves from the turmoil of the larger economic environment. Creditors may require more collateral o ..read more

In today’s challenging economic landscape, businesses are facing a significant tightening of credit, with limited access to essential financing from traditional sources. Small and mid-sized businesses are particularly affected by this shift, finding themselves in need of reliable financial solutions. However, amidst this uncertainty, Porter Capital has emerged as a trusted partner, offering a diverse range of alternative financing services to help companies weather the credit crunch. Understanding Your Financing Options As conventional lenders become more cautious, alternative financing soluti ..read more

Payroll is one of your most significant business expenses and one of the first things you struggle to pay during cash flow dips. You may need help paying employee payroll for several reasons, like unpaid client invoices or spikes in costs for the materials you need to run your company. Businesses can also struggle with payroll when they are low on staff and must cut operating hours. The best solution for making payroll is to keep a careful record of your business expenses to avoid situations where you can’t pay. On pay periods when this strategy doesn’t work, you can consider more extensive me ..read more

A loan from the Small Business Administration appeals to many business owners as a funding option. It often has more flexible interest rates and term lengths than other lending structures. You can qualify for it more easily and finance up to 80 to 90% of a project’s cost. One downside is that SBA financing typically has a lengthy approval process lasting about two to three months. An SBA loan takes so long to approve compared to other financing types because the government backs the funding, and it comes with more regulations. You must also complete more paperwork since these loans typically d ..read more