Business Cash Advances and Working Capital Financing

Business cash advances have become an increasingly valuable and necessary working capital financing strategy for most small businesses. As with any complex business financing, it is critical to avoid certain common problems that occur when credit card processing is used to obtain needed short-term cash.

It is not necessary for business owners to experience any of the credit card financing problems described in this article. We are identifying ten key difficulties that can be avoided with credit card processing and working capital business cash advances.

Business owners should not overlook the substantial working capital benefits which will accrue to their business by effectively coordinating credit card factoring and processing. These benefits will increase measurably if a number of common business cash advance problems can be successfully avoided.

One of the most important commercial financing needs for any business is ensuring that short-term cash requirements are successfully met. The use of a viable business cash advance strategy has become an increasingly important small business finance tool for many businesses faced with a potential short-term cash shortfall.

Most merchants can document their recent credit card processing activity. Short-term cash can typically be obtained via a business cash advance based on future sales volume.

Before employing this strategy for business cash advances, businesses should realize that there are several significant problems that they need to anticipate. Ten common credit card receivables problems that business owners should avoid when employing this working capital strategy are highlighted below.

First, many lenders for these services charge up-front fees. This is a transaction cost that can and should be avoided, and with the best programs there will not be any up-front fees.

Second, many lenders will attempt to charge closing costs. Business owners should realize that this is also an unnecessary transaction cost for business cash advances when dealing with a truly reputable provider of working capital financing based on credit card factoring.

Third, a number of business cash advance programs require collateral. This is an unnecessary requirement to be avoided by business owners seeking credit card financing.

Fourth, monthly fixed payments to repay merchant cash advances are imposed by some providers. The preferred approach is to avoid such fixed payment requirements.

Fifth, some lenders will require financial statements and tax returns for all business cash advances. Such additional documentation requirements should only be necessary for larger working capital advances.

Sixth, some providers impose a fixed term for repayment. This requirement to pay off the business cash advance over a fixed term should be avoided.

Seventh, most business cash advance providers require credit scores of at least 680. In today's difficult economic climate, this can be a challenging requirement. It is feasible to obtain this kind of working capital financing with scores around 500.

Eighth, many programs for working capital business cash advances require that a business have at least two years of operating history to qualify. While many business owners can meet such a requirement, a more practical standard for newer businesses is a minimum of one year in business.

Ninth, many providers will require up to 24 months of documented credit card sales of $25,000 or more. A more practical possibility for business owners will involve a transaction history with six months of $5,000 or more.

Tenth, for merchants needing larger business cash advances, it is important to know that many programs are limited to a maximum of $25,000 to $50,000. Providers that are better capitalized for this business finance strategy will be able to accommodate an advance of $300,000 and higher.

Can all ten credit card finance problems discussed above be avoided? There are indeed viable credit card receivables programs which avoid all of the obstacles described.

It is not likely that all ten of the obstacles described above will be pertinent for all small business owners. Business borrowers are likely to experience several of these problems if they are considering a business cash advance that uses credit card factoring and credit card processing. For any business owner considering this approach to working capital financing, please remember that it is not necessary to accept any of the ten problems described in order to obtain business cash advances based on future sales.