In today's market of tight credit,banks and other institutional lenders are holding back on lending to even some of the most qualified borrowers. We all know that this is happening. It certainly does not help the business owner who just does not have the liquid cash flow to meet their daily operational expenses or those who could benefit through expansion.

 

Business owners must consider all areas affecting their cash flow and deal with it. These cash flow problems can stem from late paying clients, contracting issues, contract payment terms that might be too long, sales forecasting or pricing issues, or any other mitigating circumstances that might affect that business' cash flow.  These cash flow issues will certainly cause the business owner a lot of sleepless nights.  When you have business owners having to make the choice between what bills they must pay certainly does not help to relieve the strain of whatever they are going through. When they can get the necessary assistance to move their small business forward, they will certainly be able to sleep better and meet their daily business needs.

 

This is where collaboration through a financial network can be a major asset for any business owner. When the banker, CPA, attorney, or other key business contact, can assist the business owner and guide them toward alternatives that can be a benefit to them, it makes fora win-win-win for all involved. Often times, I find that bankers or even CPAs do not know of alternative financing options or just does not understand how these options could benefit their clients. These individuals sometimes seem taken aback with the number of options that are available.  Imagine what it would be like for the business owner who gets turned down by their banker, who is then directed by that banker to contact an alternative financing source that can help them.

 

When a CPA is reviewing a client’s file and realizes that this client is in need of financing alternatives, and knowing that this business owner cannot easily access institutional lending,they can then assist their client through their knowledge of and access to alternative financing options.  Many small business owners have no idea where to go to access capital except their banks, so it is important that those who work closely with these enterprises be aware of and are connected to sources that provide such options.

        

To a business owner, Cash Flow is KING.

Everyone knows this. You know this. Unfortunately, for some of you, your cash flow is now dwindling. Accessing your cash reserves for a short period is one thing, but going back to it numerous times leaves you in a precarious position.

When you do  not replenish your cash reserves or see a way in the near future to do so, you are walking a tight rope with the likelihood of falling on your face. With all that is happening, you have got to determine ways to help you during times like these.

Ways to Assist You During Cash Flow Crunch Time

1. Assess your current business position.
2. Assess how you use your current resources.
3. Assess what you pay for the goods and services you need.
4. Determine if  you need all the supplies, machinery, and/or equipment you purchase or services you use.
5. Assess your clients against your outstanding receivables.
6. Assess your growth potential into new markets.
7. Be sure to assess the added skills you and/or your staff can bring to the business.
8. Assess your borrowing power. 
9. Assess whether it is time to seek Alternative Financing even before you exhaust all other avenues.
10. Assess alternative sources and funding programs that can get you to where you want to be.

Once you have run through this exercise, you can then communicate with a source qualified to assist you. You can then access Alternative Financing in a variety of ways that can benefit your company. Once you get back on track, be sure to model this process so that you do not end up in the same situation again.

Let me know if this information was useful to you.

        

When you decide to seek financing for your business, you are primarily going to head to your bank. That's obvious. Well, some of you are aware of other financing options to help your business but not necessarily how to access them. Then again, you might not be aware of any option outside the banks. This is where Alternative Funding can be of great value to you and your business.

How do you decide what is the best alternative funding option for your business? Well, first start with your business. Take a look at what you do, who your clients are, and what it is you are trying to do. Let's call them Key Points. Are you looking to buy new equipment, do renovations, buy inventory, or be able to meet your payroll needs? Are you going for larger contracts, such as government (Federal, State, or Local), commercial, or residential? Are you looking to expand into new markets? All of these questions and more should be factored into your Key Points.

Once you have determined what the Key Points are to your business, this can then be assessed against the alternative funding options available. For example, let's check out Factoring. Factoring is the sale of an invoice at a discount. Here are a few points on Factoring:

• Factoring is easy and fast.
• Factoring allows you to offer better and more competitive credit terms to your customers.
• You don't incur any new debt.
• Factoring help you meet increasing sales demands.
• Factoring allows you to can concentrate on growing your own business.
• You can use your customer's good credit as leverage.
•  You don't give up equity.

So, if any of the above fits what you are looking for and works with your Key Point list, then you should consider checking out this alternative funding option for your business.

Once again, DO NOT wait till it is too late to access alternative funding.

        

UPCOMINGRADIO INTERVIEW

JULWELKENNEY'S LIVE RADIO TALK SHOW

- Achieving Greatness ThroughLife Challenges

Date: Monday, April 12,2010                   Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.               

Topic: "The Small Business Owner's Guide to AlternativeFunding"

Guest Speaker: Karlene Sinclair-Robinson, Author

Tune in, call in, join in, and tell a friend about the show. Let’s talkso that you can transform your thinking in order to excel and achievebeyond your own expectations.  Stay anonymous if you desire…

DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!   Call in to Listen: 347-838-8815 (to speak hit1)

Send us a Chat or email with your questions or comments: julwelkenney@jkpartners.org

Log In: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/julwelkenney

        

Innovative, Alternative Funding for Small Business in New Guide Published by Outskirts Press

In her new guide to alternative funding for small business owners,Karlene Sinclair-Robinson shows how to alleviate the financial woes oftoday’s business world by accessing capital like big businesses do.

Denver, CO, and Alexandria, VA – In her new release, The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Alternative Funding, published by OutskirtsPress, veteran business consultant Karlene Sinclair-Robinson shares heryears of experience with small business owners to educate them in newavenues of alternative funding and in the basic business strategiessometimes overlooked by even the most seasoned small business owner.

Subtitled What the Small Business Owner MUST Know to Get through These Financial Times, Sinclair-Robinson’s book chronicles how thefinancial mess of Wall Street has trickled down to the world of smallbusinesses and turned things upside down for them financially. Newgovernment regulations have done nothing to increase the availabilityof capital for these entities.

Using the principles and resources in this guide, many smallbusinesses that have been crippled by these financial times can nowexplore alternative forms of funding so that they can not only stayopen, but also gain access to innovative sources of much needed workingcapital and add new clients and even hire more employees. Thisknowledge will also help prevent otherwise healthy businesses fromsimilar financial woes in the future.

The book leads all small business owners through the myriad offinancial options available to them so they can understand not only howto access both start up and expansion capital or credit, but also knowwhen to do so. Peer-to-peer lending, microloans, factoring, accountsreceivable financing and merchant cash advances are only some of theavenues explained and explored.

Many small business owners have only been familiar with the workingsof their day-to-day conventional banking institutions.Sinclair-Robinson’s book provides needed solutions for them to step outof their box, discard their fears, and gain the additional knowledgebig businesses use to access capital.

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Alternative Funding is availableon-line in paperback through Amazon and Barnes and Noble and at www.outskirtspress.com/buybooks for a maximum trade discount in quantities of ten or more.

ISBN: 978-1-4327-4809-8 Format: 6.14 x 9.21 paperback SRP: $24.95
Genre: Business and economics/finance

About the author:

Karlene Sinclair-Robinson resides in northern Virginia with herhusband and two wonderful children. After working for more than eightyears as a business consultant and witnessing the inability of smallbusiness owners to access capital through banks, she decided to writethis book in order to make them aware of alternative funding options.

Sinclair-Robinson is also the Managing Member for the business andfinancial consulting firm, KPR Funding Solutions LLC based in NorthernVirginia.

For more information or to contact the author, visit www.outskirtspress.com/smallbusinessalternativefun...

About Outskirts Press, Inc,: Outskirts Press, Inc. offersfull-service, custom self-publishing and book marketing services forauthors seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish anddistribute their books worldwide while retaining all their rights andfull creative control. Available for authors globally at www.outskirtspress.com and located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, Outskirts Press represents the future of book publishing, today.
# # #
Outskirts Press, Inc., 10940 S. Parker Rd. - 515, Parker, Colorado 80134
http://outskirtspress.com 1-88P-BOOKS

Press Contact:
Kelly Schuknecht
Outskirts Press, Inc., 10940 S. Parker Rd. - 515, Parker, Colorado 80134
media@outskirtspress.com
1-88P-BOOKS
http://outskirtspress.com

        

NEW BOOK ...

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Alternative Financing
by Karlene Sinclair-Robinson, CCFC

Read The Reviews!

"Your topic is a very timely one. With the state of our nation’s economy, people are starting their own business more frequently and are in need of alternative funding. You offer your reader a wealth of knowledge. I have to tell you that even with the serious nature of your subject matter, I really enjoyed your approach and outlook. You do a nice job of expressing your ideas through a narrative voice that is both very familiar and friendly.

Your book is nicely put together and filled with information I am sure many people will find interesting and thought-provoking. It is obvious that you have done your homework and put much thought and preparation into your work. I am certain your work will be well received by a wide audience. Your book is well written."

Lisa Conner, Manuscript Review Team
Outskirts Press, Inc., Parker, CO
http://outskirtspress.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I've been in business financing for 20 years and even I learned some things from Karlene's book.  It's an easy, concise read that I would recommend to all entrepreneurs.  Karlene is the new Queen of business financing!"

 

Kevin S. Clark, "Mr. Big Mortgage", Managing Member, Clark Capital Group, LLC, NJ

www.HardMoneyCentral.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“In these tough economic times of “tight credit”, Karlene has delivered an answer for those struggling with the common problem of how to access capital for their business. Soak in from her this advice, this counsel, this plan. Take it back with you and implement it.”

Bill Bartmann, Billionaire Business Coach
WWW.billbartmann.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Karlene Sinclair-Robinson has written a brilliant, comprehensive guide that will assist all business owners whether first time or seasoned, on how to find and attract alternative financing. In today’s challenging economic times, all business owners deserve to own this book.”

 

Jeffery Combs, President & CEO,  Golden Mastermind Seminars, Inc., CA

www.goldenmastermind.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

"I have reviewed the book and I like it very much. It is very informative and educational for all walks of life. I feel it is long over due and hope it reaches all the people in need of this information."

Damien W. Madison, Financial Center Leader II
BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust Company),  VA

www.bbt.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Karlene, What a great read, outstanding job! Your unique approach, information packed publication really does a great job in explaining the alternative financing solutions that are available to the business owner. During this credit crisis, economic meltdown your book is a must read for the business owner that is seeking to access capital. I strongly endorse your publication."

Michael Ponomarew, Managing Director
Millennium Funding Inc. A Canfield Capital LLC Company, NY
www.millenniumfunding.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"A must read for anyone in business, about to be in business or struggling in business. Karlene’s straightforward approach to “teaching” the business owner the ins and outs of lending are an invaluable tool for anyone looking to improve their company in today’s rocky financial environment.

This book should be a must read for all commercial brokers that are soliciting business from alternative lenders."

Jeff Latham, Business Development Officer, Porter Bridge Loan Company, AL
www.porterbridgeloan.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Business owners would do well to invest their time in reading this book. I particularly like the section on myths and misconceptions which addresses the many mistaken beliefs and misunderstandings surrounding small business lending. A good resource offering sound, practical advice on where to find alternative financing.”

Pauline Leitch, Director
Business Finance Center, Community Business Partnership, VA
http://www.cbponline.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Anyone planning to start a business and looking for financing would be well advised to read this book and take its messages to heart. It's choc-full of truisms and sound advice and written in an engaging, down-to-earth style that anyone can easily understand and relate to. A great read on a very pertinent subject!"

Ralf Bieler, Author of "Marketing Magic - The Bigger Bang for the Smaller Budget"
Principal & CEO at Multiple Funding Solutions, Inc., FL
www.multiplefundingsolutions.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ever so often in an age overwhelmed with information and “how to books”, a resourceful individual will come out of no where and take what is difficult and simplify it in such a way that ordinary people are empowered to do extraordinary things. Karlene is such an individual.

This resource guide has been well thought out and prepared making it truly “lay-friendly for all readers”. I recommend it wholeheartedly to all pastors, religious leaders and educators as a tool to broaden their faith community’s understanding and knowledge of what it means to be a good steward.”

Dr. Darrell K. White, Pastor
Bethlehem Baptist Church, Alexandria, VA
http://www.bethlehemofalexandria.org

        

In today's financial market, many business owners are still being turned down by banking institutions. This does not bode well for the small business owner trying very hard to keep their business going.  Without the ability to access capital to grow your business or just to survive through these current economic times, we will continue to see a rise in business closings.

We can address all the negative aspects to more businesses closing or we can help entrepreneurs figure out a way to stay in business through Alternative Funding. While the banks take their time in loosing up credit to businesses, entrepreneurs need to be proactive and not get caught in this whirlwind.  To learn more, visit the links list below on each of the financing topic listed.

Read More On:

• Asset-Based Loans

• Equipment Financing

• Factoring

• Merchant Advance

• Purchase Order Financing

• Other: ARC Loan Program

        

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson, Entrepreneur, Author

 

In today’s financial market, start-up and seasoned business owners are still being turned down by most major banks. Are you wondering why? A report out last month showed that loans to small businesses by our top banks decreased even more during the last six months. This is not good! The report continues to show that only our smaller regional banking institutions increased their lending portfolios. 

 

The Small Business Administration defines “Small Business” based on number of employees, your gross receipts, and industry affiliation. Be sure to visit the SBA’s website for further clarification at http://www.sba.gov.

 

Most businesses in today’s market are hurting due to this financial debacle on Wall Street. As Warren Buffet once said,

"Wall Street is the only place that people ride to in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway."

So where do you go to get help for your business?

 

Why not access the alternative sources that are available to help you?  Alternative financing has always been available.  Many of our large businesses including many of our Fortune 1000 companies use these options.Accessing this market means knowing what is available for your type of business. 

 

Some areas of Alternative Financing include but are not limited to the following:

• Factoring – Selling your receivables to access capital
• Asset-Based Lending – Using your assets to secure capital
• Vendor Prompt Pay Financing – Accessing capital to pay your vendors early
• Purchase Order Financing – Using your PO’s to access upfront capital
• Equipment Leasing Financing – Using your equipment needs to secure capital
• Real Estate Hard Money Financing – Using your property or project as collateral to secure the capital you need

 

Once you know how a particular option best fits your business model, be sure to get moving on the opportunity to get your business back on track.  Many of these financial sources are in your local area and even if they are not, you can still get access to them.  If you do not know whereto go, ask your local area banker for a referral to one or more of these sources.  If they are still not as helpful, send me an email and I would be happy to forward you to one who fits your need.

 

Karlene Sinclair-Robinson is an entrepreneur, business and real estate financial consultant. She is also the author of the highly anticipated book soon-to-be published titled, “The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Alternative Funding”. Visit the book's website at http://www.SmallBusinessFundingGuide.com

        

IR-2010-1, Jan. 4, 2010

WASHINGTON –– The Internal Revenue Service kicked off the 2010 tax filing season today by issuing the results of a landmark six-month study that proposes new registration, testing and continuing education of tax return preparers. With more than 80 percent of American households using a tax preparer or tax software to help them prepare and file their taxes, higher standards for the tax preparer community will significantly enhance protections and service for taxpayers, increase confidence in the tax system and result in greater compliance with tax laws over the long term.

To bring immediate help to taxpayers this filing season, the IRS also announced a sweeping new effort to reach tax return preparers with enforcement and education. As part of the outreach effort, the IRS is providing tips to taxpayers to ensure they are working with a reputable tax return preparer.

Read more...

        

THE PRESSURE OF the recession hasn’t been all bad. It’s forced many small businesses across the country to reinvent themselves by developing new revenue streams and strategies to cope with dwindling resources.

The venture-capital firms that support those businesses have also had to make adjustments. Just as small retailers have had to devise new ways to pinpoint customers willing to spend but also able to pay, VC firms have had to seek out entrepreneurs ambitious enough to try starting a business in this environment but also smart enough to manage their risk.

READ MORE