Category: Banking

The two forms of capital you can employ to finance your small businesses are equity and debt capital. Debt gets used by businesses to build their capital structure since it offers some advantages over equity financing. Borrowing money ensures tax savings and keeps profits within the company. However, managing ongoing financial obligations could impact your cash flow.

• Lower Cost of Financing

Debt Capital takes less money to finance than equity. While equity does not require interest payments, its overall cost is often higher than that of debt capital. Due to your legal obligation to repay the debt and periodic interest payments, debt is a limited resource. Following that, the loan gets settled. On the other hand, equity is limitless. You will always pay a portion of your profit to the equity holder once you have sold a stake in the business, according to Joseph Stone Capital. Assume that your annual income will be $150,000. Would you rather forfeit 10% of your profits permanently or pay $15,000 in interest for a finite amount of time, say five years? A less risky debt investment needs less expense reimbursement.

• You Keep the Company’s Earnings

Utilizing debt lets a corporation retain more earnings than equity, even if it may put more strain on continuing operations because of the need to pay interest. That is so because equity requires that stockholders share in firm profits. Businesses that use debt only have to use their gains to pay the cost. In contrast, when a corporation uses stock, the more profits it generates, the more it must distribute to equity owners. Companies frequently utilize debt to finance solid business operations so they may more easily make continuous interest payments and, at the same time, keep the remaining earnings for themselves to benefit from this debt-financing characteristic.

• Make the Most of the Impact of Financial Leverage

Because of the impact of financial leverage, using debt is also advantageous to current owners. When businesses employ debt to raise additional funds for operating costs, equity owners are entitled to any additional profits created by the debt capital, net of interest payments. Due to the extra earnings generated by the loan capital, equity investors get a better return on equity while investing the same amount of stock.

Equity owners embrace some debt uses to support increasing their investment returns, so doing so does not jeopardize a company’s financial stability in trying times.

• Interest Deductions Result in Reduced Taxes

Because of permissible interest deductions, using debt lowers a company’s taxes. Tax laws allow interest payments to get deducted from income as a cost in calculating taxable income, according to Joseph Stone Capital Investor Expert. A firm pays fewer taxes the lower its taxable income is. Dividends paid to equity holders, on the other hand, must originate from after-tax income and are not tax deductible. As a result, tax benefits lower a company’s debt financing costs. It is a benefit that equity financing does not have.

Businesses can use any means possible to expand their company. One of the most effective ways to do so is by getting loans. Sometimes, those loans require a business to take on more risk than they’re comfortable with. Other times, the funds may not be available for investment as planned. For many small businesses, especially those operating out of their own home or office space, getting a loan from a bank or other financial institution is not an option.

A bridge loan is an extension of credit that’s provided to help get your company up and running as soon as possible after acquiring some equipment, setting up a new location, or starting production on your new product or service. The type of loan from a loan company you request will depend on your specific circumstances. However, knowing what types of bridges are available to help your business grow will go a long way toward making sure you get the right one for you.

What is a bridge loan?

A bridge loan is a short-term loan that allows you to get your feet wet with a new concept or market before diving into full force with a large-scale operation. This type of financing is often available from your local bank or credit union, though some states also offer them through a state-approved lender. Bridge loan information typically includes interest rates, loan terms, and required collateral. The loan term can range from as little as six months up to two years.

How to apply for a bridge loan?

To qualify for a bridge loan, your business must be in good financial standing and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This can include timely payment issues on past debts, as well as a current organic growth plan. If your business is struggling, you may not be able to qualify for a bridge loan. The following steps will help you apply for a bridge loan:

• Evaluate your financial situation by reviewing your current accounts and noting any unpaid balances.

• Obtain your current credit report and make sure it is up to date.

• Apply for a secured or unsecured line of credit with a lender.

• You can find a list of accredited lenders online.

• If you are approved for a line of credit, make sure you secure it.

Pros and cons of getting a bridge loan for small businesses

As with any type of loan, there are some pros and cons to getting a bridge loan. We’ll discuss these below, but first, we need to get into the nitty-gritty of what a bridge loan is and isn’t. Good for smaller businesses – Getting a bridge loan can be an effective way for a small business to get more capital when the need arises. Businesses with a history of late or missed payments – Some people may be hesitant to apply for a bridge loan because they have a history of late or missed payments. This could arise from a variety of things, including too much debt, a bad first business loan, or a messy personal life.