2M7 Celebrates Canadian Entrepreneurs at the 2022 Small Business Summit

And The Winner Is...

The results are in. This year’s winner of the 2M7 Forward Thinkers Scholarship is Claire O’Brien. As a member of The University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, Claire was able to overcome stiff competition in this year’s contest. To do so, Claire not only demonstrated a strong performance in her academic journey thus far, but also clearly  communicated a keen interest to harness the knowledge she acquired to this point, to succeed in the world of business as she moves toward her professional goals. Claire exhibited the enthusiasm, and aptitude that 2M7 Financial Solutions’ CEO, Avi Bernstein was looking to reward, and intended to encourage with the creation of this scholarship opportunity.

“Each year, university students face multiple challenges in their pursuit of their academic goals; and these stretch far beyond the classroom. Post-secondary schooling is extremely expensive and places a significant financial burden on those who attend, which can potentially negatively impact the studies of these students as they see to the financial obligations that arise with school funding. That is why I made it one of my goals to help lessen this burden: these students have enough “on their plate”; I want them to focus on what they are paying to study not on how they are going to pay for it. Claire’s essay not only exhibited her potential for business success, but also showed me a character that the 2M7 team strives to promote when we do business. Congratulations, Claire.

The 2M7 Forward Thinkers Scholarship is an annual scholarship that is available for post-secondary students studying in a business related field; and offers the winner a reward of $2,500 so they can better manage the expenses of their schooling. This year we had another strong applicant pool; and we encourage those not selected this year, to re-apply during next year’s contest, for their chance to get a generous amount of financial assistance. We at 2M7 would like to thank all those who participated in this year’s contest; and we wish all those that did decide to vie for this scholarship all the best in their future endeavours.

A business in its prime has sufficient cash flow to carry out all the operations of the firm. When sales and profits are high, companies can take their guard off by increasing the expenses. When records are left unchecked and minimal attention is given towards the cash, bankruptcy becomes the fate of the business. When companies are progressing exceedingly, they need to pay extra attention to their affairs and the cash flow. Sustaining cash is one of the most common challenges that firms face. Therefore, they must exhibit vigilance in the maintenance of cash flow to progress optimally. So, if you’re looking to boost your cash flow and, in turn, boost your business, here are five ways to do just that.

Lease

Real estate, automotive, and machinery can be more expensive on full payment leading to delirious prospects. Lease payments are an effective approach for business. They can spare a portion of the total income and designate it to the lease payments.

Avoiding Complete Purchases

In the case of complete payments, companies may end up compromising their other practices. If profit exceeds the usual amount, then companies can use it for other developmental strategies instead of paying the entire purchase. They can open up further avenues from the supplementary profits.

Improving Receivables

On certain occasions, payables can exceed the receivables. When the payables are due before receivables, then cash flow becomes affected. In such a scenario, the probability of bankruptcy is high. Companies should analyze accounts payable and receivables. They should garner the receivables before the payables to pay off the debts, carry out the purchases, and stock the inventory.

Early Notifications

Notify the customers and clients of their payments and plan a strategy to manage the payables. Send out the invoices early and conduct electronic payments to ensure safety and accessibility.

Merchant Cash Advance

Merchant Cash Advances are one of the most underrated and efficient ways of maintaining the cash flow. It doesn’t just enable companies to sustain cash but also enhance their prospects. The principle of MCA dictates that certain companies give out money to those business that require investments. Such companies can use it to raise capital and execute payables. They can utilize the cash flow to function productively. The companies have to pay a certain percentage each month they generate revenue. In case of lower cash flow, they can skip the payment and release them later when they gain sufficient cash flow. Moreover, MCA providers also hand out funding to businesses with low credit scores. So, if a bank is turning you down for a loan, you still quality for an MCA and will receive the funds regardless of your credit score.

Conclusion

Maintaining cash flow can be daunting but specific protocols and funding options like MCA ensure that companies retain handsome amounts of cash in their organization. If you run a business and require MCA, then 2M7 is here to help you out. We’re a financial organization that was designed to help small to medium-sized businesses scale in the market. Give us a call today at 1-844-932-0418, and we’ll have your MCA sent to your account within the week!

Managing a small business is challenging. One of the common challenges for business owners is financing. Your company might not have a lengthy credit history or collateral to apply for a bank loan. Whether you want to grow your business or cover unforeseen expenses, you have come across other financing options. Merchant cash advance and cheques factoring are some of the available options for small businesses.

What Is Merchant Cash Advance?

A merchant cash advance is an alternative financing option for small businesses. You can take the funds upfront and pay them off with a percentage of future sales. The MCA is an ideal solution for businesses that need fast funding and might not be eligible to take a bank loan. The availability of funds is another excellent advantage. If your business needs the funds fast to proceed with the operations, the cash advance will be approved within a day or two.

PROS

Fast access to funds

When timing is crucial and you can't go through the lengthy bank approval process, the MCA is your solution. Small businesses can get funds within a day or two from submission. Unlike the traditional bank process, the financial institutions that issue MCAs don't do rigorous checks. They will check the business's past sales to determine whether they qualify for a cash advance.

Ideal for businesses that work with cash and credit cards

Retail and restaurant businesses rely on a high volume of credit card sales, making them ideal for obtaining MCA. If your business depends on cash or credit cards, a cash advance is the ideal financing method. This opportunity is perfect for the ones that don't rely on invoices. Instead, they take a percentage of the credit card sales to repay the loan.

CONS

High-interest rates

Merchant cash advance comes with higher interest rates than traditional bank loans. The convenience of having the funds fast will cost more. However, the price is worth paying when you need urgent funds to proceed with the business operations.

What Is Cheques Factoring?

A post-dated cheque is a cheque that can be cashed on the indicated date on the document's face. It is a form of advance payment and can be cashed on a specific date. According to Canadian laws, a cheque can't be cleared before this date. If you still need cash to keep your business's liquidity, you can sell the cheque to a factoring company.

PROS

Fast approval

Depending on the date indicated on the check face, you might have to wait long to receive the payment. If you need to meet your business needs urgently, factoring your cheques will provide you with funds quickly. They will pay off a particular value of the face value while keeping a specific percentage as a fee.

No credit score checks

When applying for a traditional bank loan, they will do a rigorous check on your financial history. When your small business is relatively new and doesn't have a credit history, you might be restricted from obtaining such loans. Your ability for cheque factoring isn't assessed with credit history, and you aren't required to disclose collateral. This is very important, as you don't need to put your property or equipment at risk. The factoring company will check the check for authenticity.

Not deal with cheques

Having to deal with cheques is a tedious job. Passing this responsibility to a third party means less time spent sorting out cheques so that you can focus on the more important aspects of your business.

CONS

Higher cost

The factoring company will charge fees to provide you with the cash in advance. They will usually pay 80% of the amount indicated on the face. However, the high cost might pay off if you need money urgently.  

Requirements

Cheques factoring companies might have specific requirements for cashing out your document. For example, the check drawer should be a reputable entity. Also, the factoring company might have particular requirements on the cheque's active time.

Merchant Cash Advance vs. Cheques Factoring

For cheques factoring, you will pay a fee to the factoring company expressed as a percentage of the total amount. On the other hand, you will pay off your MCA as a percentage of your future sales. When choosing the suitable financing method for your company, select the one that is a better fit for your needs. We at 2M7 are dedicated to providing the needed funds to enhance your business's liquidity without restrictions on how to use them. Get in touch with us, and we will answer your specific needs!