With school season almost over and the summer approaching, families from all over the country are planning what they are going to do this summer. Parents are now pondering their options to find out what activities are best for their children to get involved in while out of school. The Coastal Vacations packages offer families valuable vacations all over the world and discount membership cards for entertainment and sports activities such as golf, RVing, camps, dining, hotels, condos, and more.One of the best ways to find summer activities and vacations at a discount rate is online. The internet is loaded with great information for the traveler. Web users have found that there’s no need to pay retail for anything, especially in the competitive travel industry, when they can find amazing deals everyday online. One of the best deals out there can be found by researching Coastal Vacations and its amazing travel packages.Coastal Vacations offers three different packages. The first package is called the Resort Package, and members get $15,000 worth of cruises and bonus vacations and over 20 membership cards that can be easily used away from home as well as in the members’ living areas. All members have to do is to activate the cards, type in the zip code where they want to find dining, entertainment and/or lodging, and print out the exclusive coupon that shows up on the website. This package is sold for a lot less than what it’s worth.It is well known that a vacation away from home is ideal for relaxation and putting thoughts together. A family vacation is a great way to enjoy quality time with the family while getting away from the routine and recharge. In the Coastal Vacations packages you will find activities for the whole family and all age groups to enjoy. One of the best additions to the Coastal Vacations packages is the free cruises that come with it.On the Level 1 Coastal Vacations package, club members get five free Carnival cruises. One of these is already activated and must be taken within a year of the package purchase. The rest of them can be taken anytime. It is a lifetime membership, so there’s no expiration dates on any of the vacations or cruises. These are also great to give away to friends and family or as business incentives.The Level 2 Coastal Vacations package includes unlimited free cruises and bonus vacations for life. For the ones that just love travel and adventure, Coastal Vacations also has a Level 3 package with unlimited free all-inclusive resorts stays for life. Members just pay their room taxes plus a $6.95 shipping fee.It is important to note that these are not timeshares and members are not required to attend any presentations; just great vacations that are available from individuals and families this summer season for their enjoyment and pleasure. With the Coastal Vacations packages, anybody is sure to find activities and vacations that suit their wildest desires and needs. There’s a lot to choose from and a lifetime of vacations to enjoy!
Alternative Financing Vs. Venture Capital: Which Option Is Best for Boosting Working Capital?
There are several potential financing options available to cash-strapped businesses that need a healthy dose of working capital. A bank loan or line of credit is often the first option that owners think of – and for businesses that qualify, this may be the best option.
In today’s uncertain business, economic and regulatory environment, qualifying for a bank loan can be difficult – especially for start-up companies and those that have experienced any type of financial difficulty. Sometimes, owners of businesses that don’t qualify for a bank loan decide that seeking venture capital or bringing on equity investors are other viable options.
But are they really? While there are some potential benefits to bringing venture capital and so-called “angel” investors into your business, there are drawbacks as well. Unfortunately, owners sometimes don’t think about these drawbacks until the ink has dried on a contract with a venture capitalist or angel investor – and it’s too late to back out of the deal.
Different Types of Financing
One problem with bringing in equity investors to help provide a working capital boost is that working capital and equity are really two different types of financing.
Working capital – or the money that is used to pay business expenses incurred during the time lag until cash from sales (or accounts receivable) is collected – is short-term in nature, so it should be financed via a short-term financing tool. Equity, however, should generally be used to finance rapid growth, business expansion, acquisitions or the purchase of long-term assets, which are defined as assets that are repaid over more than one 12-month business cycle.
But the biggest drawback to bringing equity investors into your business is a potential loss of control. When you sell equity (or shares) in your business to venture capitalists or angels, you are giving up a percentage of ownership in your business, and you may be doing so at an inopportune time. With this dilution of ownership most often comes a loss of control over some or all of the most important business decisions that must be made.
Sometimes, owners are enticed to sell equity by the fact that there is little (if any) out-of-pocket expense. Unlike debt financing, you don’t usually pay interest with equity financing. The equity investor gains its return via the ownership stake gained in your business. But the long-term “cost” of selling equity is always much higher than the short-term cost of debt, in terms of both actual cash cost as well as soft costs like the loss of control and stewardship of your company and the potential future value of the ownership shares that are sold.
Alternative Financing Solutions
But what if your business needs working capital and you don’t qualify for a bank loan or line of credit? Alternative financing solutions are often appropriate for injecting working capital into businesses in this situation. Three of the most common types of alternative financing used by such businesses are:
1. Full-Service Factoring – Businesses sell outstanding accounts receivable on an ongoing basis to a commercial finance (or factoring) company at a discount. The factoring company then manages the receivable until it is paid. Factoring is a well-established and accepted method of temporary alternative finance that is especially well-suited for rapidly growing companies and those with customer concentrations.
2. Accounts Receivable (A/R) Financing – A/R financing is an ideal solution for companies that are not yet bankable but have a stable financial condition and a more diverse customer base. Here, the business provides details on all accounts receivable and pledges those assets as collateral. The proceeds of those receivables are sent to a lockbox while the finance company calculates a borrowing base to determine the amount the company can borrow. When the borrower needs money, it makes an advance request and the finance company advances money using a percentage of the accounts receivable.
3. Asset-Based Lending (ABL) – This is a credit facility secured by all of a company’s assets, which may include A/R, equipment and inventory. Unlike with factoring, the business continues to manage and collect its own receivables and submits collateral reports on an ongoing basis to the finance company, which will review and periodically audit the reports.
In addition to providing working capital and enabling owners to maintain business control, alternative financing may provide other benefits as well:
It’s easy to determine the exact cost of financing and obtain an increase.
Professional collateral management can be included depending on the facility type and the lender.
Real-time, online interactive reporting is often available.
It may provide the business with access to more capital.
It’s flexible – financing ebbs and flows with the business’ needs.
It’s important to note that there are some circumstances in which equity is a viable and attractive financing solution. This is especially true in cases of business expansion and acquisition and new product launches – these are capital needs that are not generally well suited to debt financing. However, equity is not usually the appropriate financing solution to solve a working capital problem or help plug a cash-flow gap.
A Precious Commodity
Remember that business equity is a precious commodity that should only be considered under the right circumstances and at the right time. When equity financing is sought, ideally this should be done at a time when the company has good growth prospects and a significant cash need for this growth. Ideally, majority ownership (and thus, absolute control) should remain with the company founder(s).
Alternative financing solutions like factoring, A/R financing and ABL can provide the working capital boost many cash-strapped businesses that don’t qualify for bank financing need – without diluting ownership and possibly giving up business control at an inopportune time for the owner. If and when these companies become bankable later, it’s often an easy transition to a traditional bank line of credit. Your banker may be able to refer you to a commercial finance company that can offer the right type of alternative financing solution for your particular situation.
Taking the time to understand all the different financing options available to your business, and the pros and cons of each, is the best way to make sure you choose the best option for your business. The use of alternative financing can help your company grow without diluting your ownership. After all, it’s your business – shouldn’t you keep as much of it as possible?
Payday Loans Vs Bank Loans – What’s the Right Choice When You Need Cash Now?
If you need extra cash to cover expenses, you’re probably trying to figure out the best way to borrow money. There are several options to consider, including borrowing money from friends or family, getting a cash advance with your credit card, taking out a traditional bank loan, and applying for payday loan. This article will cover the last two options, bank loans and payday loans, and compare the requirements and advantages of each. After reading more, perhaps you’ll have a better idea of which is the right choice for you.There are several important factors to consider when deciding which type of loan you need. Do you need a large amount? What is your credit history? When will you be able to pay back the loan? Let’s look at a few key points that can help you decide if you if you should apply for a bank loan or a payday loan:When do you need the money?A bank’s loan approval process takes time – typically weeks (or even months in the current economy). So if you need cash fast, a bank loan is not for you. Bank loans work better for planned expenses than for unforeseen financial emergencies. A payday loan, on the other hand, means the loan will be approved quickly and you can have cash in your checking account in as little as 24 hours.What is your credit score?First of all, you should know your credit score. The bank certainly does. Your credit score will play a large role in any bank’s decision about your loan application. If you have bad credit, it may be impossible to obtain a loan through your bank. On the other hand, payday lenders don’t look at your credit score. They only verify that you have a steady, reliable source of income to determine whether or not to lend you money. If your credit isn’t great but you have a steady job, a payday loan might be right for you.How much do you need to borrow?Payday loans tend to be for smaller amounts, usually a few hundred dollars up to around a thousand dollars. The amount you can borrow certainly won’t exceed the amount of your next paycheck, because this is the money that the payday lender is counting on for repayment. If you have an unexpected car repair and don’t have cash on hand to cover the mechanic’s bill, a payday loan could cover the costs until your next paycheck comes in. If you need a new car, however, you’ll have to apply for a bank loan. When are you able to repay the loan?If you can get approved for a bank loan, you’ll typically have years to repay the loan and have the option of making very low monthly payments. This is convenient because you know you have time to repay your debt. With a payday loan, you usually have a couple of weeks or at most a month to repay the full amount of the loan, plus the interest charged. You have to keep in mind that a large part of your next paycheck will go to pay back your loan, so be prepared to cover your normal monthly expenses and settle your debt in a tight timeframe.Finally, a note about interest rates…Remember that a payday loan is a SHORT-TERM credit option. Payday lenders charge high interest rates for the convenience of obtaining a quick and simple loan, so these types of loans should be used for emergency expenses only. Rolling over a payday loan can be costly, so plan on repaying it in full with your next paycheck. After answering these questions, you should have a better idea of which type of loan best fits your needs. Consider all your options carefully before deciding if a bank loan or a payday loan is right for your financial situation.