3 Signs You Should Consider a Merchant Cash Advance

Many business owners have trouble accessing traditional business loans. If you’re one of them, you may be wondering about alternative funding solutions. One of those solutions is the merchant cash advance, or MCA. Some businesses benefit from Merchant Cash Advance more than others. If you’re in one of these industries, MCAs could be the right choice for you.

Restaurants Need More Flexibility

Many restaurants face huge ups and downs, making their income somewhat unpredictable.If you already accept credit cards, merchant cash advances are a great way to secure flexible funding. MCAs could also help you invest in kitchen upgrades or follow up on trends like food trucks or local eating. You might even be able to open a second location to keep business growing.

MCAs Help Auto Repair Shops

Traditional financing can be risky for an auto repair shop. If you fall behind on payments, the lender might decide to collect on the loan collateral. That could mean the loss of expensive equipment or even your garage space.Merchant cash advances let you keep working without fear of the debt collector. Payments are based on your credit card sales, so there’s no need to worry about missing a payment.

Specialty Retailers Benefit from Merchant Cash Advance

Retail is another industry with slim margins. Specialty retailers face even slimmer margins, often because they’re selling to a small crowd.MCAs could help you weather the ups and downs. They could also help you upgrade your space or move to a more attractive one, so you can be where your customers are.

Is MCA Right for You?

Merchant cash advance has benefits for many different businesses. If you think it might be the right solution for you, get in touch with us. We can help you explore all financial solutions for your business.

If you have set some big goals in your life, then you may wonder how to keep yourself motivated. The good news is that there are a number of proven ways to keep yourself focused and energized to reach the goals that matter the most to you. Here’s a look at five proven ways to keep yourself motivated and reach your goals.

1) Clearly define your goals

The first thing that you need to do is clearly define your goals. Saying, “I want a successful business,” or “I want to be rich.” is not motivating enough. You need to give your mind specific goals that can give it focus. For instance, if you want to have a successful business, define the business (Ex. I want to generate $1 million in annual sales with my cupcake business). If you want to become wealthy, set a specific dollar amount at a specific date (ex. I want to have $3 million in my bank account by January 1, 2030). This will allow you to have the focus and direction that you need to stay motivated and on track to your goal.

2) Choose goals that motivate you

On the path to reaching your goal, you will encounter roadblocks that will challenge your will to continue. The one thing that will get you passed those roadblocks are goals that matter to you. Therefore, you need to choose goals that will motivate you during hard times. What matters to you? Is losing weight really important or reaching a certain financial goal? Choose goals that you are willing to suffer and endure to accomplish.

3) Plot your progress

The most worthwhile goals will be long-term goals. Therefore, you need some motivation to keep you going. A great way to keep you on the road to your goal is to track your progress. For instance, if you are looking to lose weight, then keep track of the weight that you have already lost. This will give you the energy and the drive to keep going.

4) Set up checkpoints for your goal

Instead of having one big goal, create mini-goals that give you a sense of accomplishment more often. For instance, if your goal is for your business to have $1 million in annual sales, then set up goals to reach $100,000 in sales every 35 days. This will allow you to have a short-term focus that can motivate you to keep going.

5) Visualize your goals

Finally, you will want to visualize how your world will look when you finally accomplish your goal. Set aside 15 to 30 minutes a day to visualize your life after completing your goal. Create that feeling of happiness and content that you intend to feel. That positive energy will give you the drive to keep going.

Helping You Get to Your Goals

Reaching your goals can become a challenge. When your business needs a little edge, contact 2M7 Financial Solutions. We can provide your business with a merchant cash advance when you need it. Contact us today to learn more.

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. Learn more about Merchant Cash Advances here.

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.