How to Attract Customers to Your Store in 2021

If you’re an entrepreneur seeking affordable funding options for your business without giving up equity or being burdened by debt, Revenue-Based Financing (RBF) might be just what you’re looking for! RBF has been steadily rising in popularity among growth-stage companies, and for good reason; the flexibility and unique blend of equity and debt financing is changing the game as it keeps you in control every step of the way.But that’s not all. A whole world of revenue-based avenues, such as Merchant Cash Advances and Factoring are entering the scene too!In this article, we will dive into the world of RBF, its alternatives, and provide you with valuable resources to help you make an informed decision about financing your business.

What is Revenue Based Financing?

Revenue Based Financing is a new type of funding that combines the convenience of a business loan with the peace of mind of flexible repayment options. Instead of a set monthly repayment, RBF allows your company to trade a percentage of sales for start-up capital. This allows you and the investor, as it provides the funds you need without tying up valuable equity or incurring debt. Your investor can rest easy knowing that they will receive regular payments (though the amounts may vary) under a legally binding contract.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Find an Investor

Venture capital firms, dedicated RBF investors, or angel investors are a good place to start.

2. Pitch Your Business

Present your business plan, financials and growth projections to the investor. Show them your intended use of the funds and your company’s potential for generating consistent revenue.

3. Negotiate Terms

If the investor is interested, this is where you will negotiate the investment amount, percentage of revenue shared, repayment cap, and anything else that is pertinent to the deal.

4. Sign on the Dotted Line

Once the terms are agreed upon, both you and the investor sign a legally binding document that outlines the specifics of the deal.

5. Put the Funds to Use

Receive your funds (usually in a lump sum), and put them to work in marketing, product development, hiring, or other areas that will propel your company’s growth forward.

6. Monthly Payments

As your business starts generating revenue, repay your investor based on the agreed-upon monthly percentage.

7. The Repayment Cap

Once you have hit the predetermined repayment cap, your obligation to the investor is fulfilled, and you retain full control of your business.

RBF Alternative: Merchant Cash Advances

If your business is retail based or receives a high volume of revenue from credit card transactions (such as a restaurant), Merchant Cash Advances may be a more suitable financing option. With MCA, you exchange a percentage of future credit card sales for the lump sum investment.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Apply for MCA

Once you find a reputable Merchant Cash Advance provider, apply for funding using the above-mentioned information for your business, as well as your credit card transaction history.

2. Receive the Funds

Again, usually a lump sum.

3. Repay Via Sales

MCA offers a big advantage in that you have quick access to the funds, and the flexibility of repayments being tied to sales, which eliminates the need for collateral. However, MCA’s can be more expensive than a traditional loan, and the deduction from your daily sales may impact your cash flow for a time.

RBT Alternative: Factoring

Factoring is also known as accounts receivable financing or invoice financing. It may work best for you if your business is facing cash flow issues due to slow-paying clients. With factoring, you sell your unpaid invoices to a factoring company at a discount, and they take care of collecting the funds.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Find a Reputable Factoring Company

Preferably one that specializes in your industry.

2. Sell Your Unpaid Invoices to the Factoring Company at a Discounted Rate

Usually 70-90% of the invoice amount.

3. Get Paid Upfront

The Factoring company will subtract their fees and pay you the agreed upon amount right away.

4. Invoice Collection

Now it’s out of your hands, and the factoring company takes care of collecting the overdue amount from your clients!

5. Receive the Remaining Balance

Once the client pays, the Factoring Company will send you the remaining balance, minus their fees. Factoring eliminates the need for you to waste time chasing after clients to pay their invoices, and gives you quick access to the funds, relieving your financial stress. However, like merchant cash advances, factoring can be more expensive than a traditional loan.

Choosing the Right Financing Option

After reading this article and looking into the different financing options for your business, you hopefully have an idea of which option is best for your business. Ultimately though, the biggest factors to consider are:

• Your Business Industry
• Your Revenue Model
• Company Growth Stage
• Repayment Flexibility

Once you determine those, you can make the choice that works best to propel your business forward! Revenue Based Financing is getting more creative and attainable as the structure of our economy evolves. It really is becoming the financing option of the future.

As a celebration of Small Business Month, 2M7 Financial Solutions is proud to announce its team will be featuring its simple, flexible funding alternative at the 2022 Small Business Summit in Toronto to help more Canadian companies succeed. Since its inception, 2M7 has been dedicated to providing small business owners in Canada with a simpler and faster borrowing solution – providing the cashflow they need to run and grow their operations, even if they don’t qualify for traditional business loans.“

It’s getting exponentially harder for small business owners to qualify for loans from banks and other financial institutions, so 2M7 strives to provide the fastest and least complicated alternative to help support our Canadian entrepreneurs,” said Avi Bernstein, CEO of 2M7 Financial Solutions. “We believe it’s more important than ever to help small Canadian businesses grow, and our team is excited to take part in this year’s summit to meet the small business owners who are the true backbone of our economy.”

2M7 has helped thousands of businesses get funding to hire staff, buy inventory, repair equipment, expand to new locations, and more. Designed specifically for Canadian small business owners, 2M7’s merchant cash advance solution gets companies the funding they need – faster. Based around simple terms and flexible repayment structures, small businesses can easily get the cashflow they need, while having peace of mind that repayments are based on their month-to-month sales performance. Unlike banks, 2M7 provides its clients with fast funding, depositing funds directly into their bank accounts within 24-48 hours to invest almost immediately in their operations, however they see fit.“

In this fast-paced era, 2M7 has been proudly helping Canadian companies bring their businesses online to establish a global reach, as well as financing the digitalization of their processes in order to streamline operations, so our team is excited for this year’s summit theme of Embracing Digital Disruption,” said Avi. “With an increasingly competitive business landscape, and the ease of accessibility to a global market, we’re proud to give small businesses the competitive edge to grow even faster.”

To learn more about 2M7’s merchant cash advances for small businesses, please visit the 2M7 Financial team at booth #014 in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, on Wednesday, October 26^th, or to see how much funding your business qualifies for, click here.

About the 2022 Small Business Summit

The Small Business Summit is an annual event in Toronto that celebrates Small Business Month and focuses on helping entrepreneurs grow and succeed. The summit will bring together start-ups, business owners, and experienced professionals for a day of networking. Hosted in Toronto, the third-largest tech hub in North America, the 2022 event will be themed “Embracing Digital Disruption” and feature major keynote speakers.

Around 50 percent of businesses will close their doors before their 10th anniversary. Rates of survival are different depending on the industry you’re in. Every successful small business takes some essential steps. If you want to drive success for your business, follow these tips.

Focus on Your Clients

No business can survive and thrive without customers. By focusing on your customers, you’ll deliver great service and delight them every time. Over time, this means better relationships with your clients. In turn, they’ll buy more and they’ll tell their friends about your business.

Make Marketing a Priority

Nobody can work with your business if they don’t know you exist. That’s why marketing efforts are so vital to small businesses. Invest in a marketing plan and get the word out. Ask your customers to give you a review, or use social media to promote your brand.

Hire the Right People

Working with the right team is another essential step for any small business owner to take. If your people are dedicated and passionate, they’re ready to help your business grow. They’ll also be able to deliver better products and services to your customers. A team that’s ready to go the extra mile is one that’s headed for success.

Use Technology to Grow

Whether it’s a mobile app or a new cloud server, the right technology can help your business grow. Successful small businesses use programs and devices that help them delight customers.The technology could help you cut costs and deliver faster service to your clients.

Find the Right Funding Options

Hiring an employee, buying the right technology, and implementing a marketing plan all cost money. Successful small business owners leverage alternative financing like small business loans or MCA to make it all possible.Discover more about merchant cash advances and other alternative funding options. One of them could provide your business with the funds you need to thrive in 2019.