Home: Message List - Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

amspcs — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:36:37 GMT

Let's tell it like it is:

Is cc receivable funding cheap? No.(although all are not created equally. It pays to shop. That's
why we solicit proposals for our merchants from many sources, not just one).)

Is cc receivable funding a much better alternative to losing one's business when funds from less expensive sources are unavailalbe due to tough times, poor credit, or whatever? Yes, of course !

They are what they are. If other lending solutions are available, they should be sought out first obviously
If there are no other solutions, then they are a viable solution.

You can't generalize and blanket categorize something as good or bad. It all depends on the situation.
I know of many a business who is still IN business thank only to the CC receivable advance that allowed
them to survive and live to fight another day.

AMSPCS
amspcs@juno.com
www.MerchantServices-help.com.

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

wilfin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:33:11 GMT

Phanio.......excellent points!

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

phanio — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:45:29 GMT

You are right - expensive but some times the best option for businesses that don't have a lot of other choices (especially in times like these.)

Most Business Cash Advance financiers require at least a year in business and over $5,000 per month in monthly credit card volume (from Visa/Mastercard). However, there are other advancers that only require 4 months accepting credit cards and $2,500 on average per month. They also take into account how much your accept in debit payments, checks and cash - in determining your advance limit.

Business Cash Advances can be a great way for growing business to expand - but they have to be used properly. They should not be long-term financing vehicles. If your business is having a slow period or has an opportunity to grow right now - these are great - use them, pay them back and move on. If you try to use them as long-term financing - they get really expensive and easy to abuse.

Business Money Today

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

MMMThree — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:04:24 GMT

Business cash advance can be a good way for a business to get the funds they need - when other sources have said no. They are expensive. Business cash advances are not really loans but advance against future sales. The financier advances funds then takes a small portion of your future sales - say 5% - until the advance is paid back. - One good option is that if you have a slow month - you are not set with a fixed payment. They still only take a small portion of your sales - leaving you with some working capital to move forward.

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

cashprior — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:37:51 GMT

Merchant loans (AKA merchant cash advance) are more expensive than traditional bank loans, but they have some advantages, like:

no great credit required
fast funding process
no collateral required (you won't risk your assets)

you can read more about merchant loans in this website: http://www.mymerchantloans.com

-Dave

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

MoneyforBiz — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:42:09 GMT

In your type of business it is a great tool based on not taking out additional loans and it being based off your future credit card sales....give me a call @ 866-283-5198 ....we do about 300 of these deals a month.....

Jason
www.greyco.com

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

LUCKIEST — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:44:13 GMT

Lighthouse, Really great answer. Using your illustration and the doing the math shows great insight.
LUCKIEST

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

mlebovits — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:07:24 GMT

Two things to think about...

First, the effective cost of merchant loans is typically in the range of over 30% per annum.

Second, you might want to confirm whether or not the blanket lien your SBA lender likely has on your business assets precludes you from using merchant loans.

Marshall

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

Lighthouse24 — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:33:07 GMT

For all the "others" then, this seems like a real life math "story problem."

Business A nets $5,000 a month. Business A could increase net profits to $7,200 a month by expanding its operation. The necessary expansion will cost $17,500. The owner of Business A, who is unable to secure a traditional loan, approaches a local "investor" who is willing to loan him the $17,500 provided the owner pays back $1,000 a month for the next two years (an annual percentage rate on the loan of 32.38 percent!). Should the owner accept the loan?

If the owner doesn't accept it, his cumulative net profit two years from now will be $120,000.
($5,000 x 24 months = $120,000)

If the owner does accept it, his cumulative net profit two years from now will be $131,300.
($7,000 x 24 months = $172,800, less $17,500 spent on the expansion, less $24,000 in payments to the "investor")

So even while paying outrageous interest, the owner would achieve 5 percent annual growth. Over a five year period, the business would net $390,500 with the loan, compared to $300,000 without it. (I obviously didn't calculate the tax consequences of the loan interest or the additional profit).

I don't think a business owner who has few other options can automatically dismiss a high interest loan just because it's a high interest loan. If you KNOW that an influx of cash will produce a tangible business return, then this is one of those cases where, "do the math" really is the right answer!

Re: Merchant Loans - Are they any good?

AcuteHT — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:11:47 GMT

Yes, we've done a business plan and successfully been approved previously for a SBA so we've thought the business through and worked the plan, but I wanted to get this question out there for others as well.