Fresno, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/03/2015 -- Biz4loans is a Fresno California based Business Finance Company. Sometimes a cash advance is genuinely necessary, but it's important to know when to pull the trigger, and when not to. Whether the cash advance comes from a credit card or a Merchant Cash Advance, this facility is best used as a stopgap when there's an expected increase in revenue. For example, if you're a contractor and, in order to win a bid on a $500K job, you need to have upfront money for materials and labor. Or you're opening a retail location and need to buy inventory.

There are countless other examples that a small business owner needs capital to create growth: a new restaurant needs funds for inventory or salaries, a florist brought in last minute to create arrangements for a massive event, a dentist or doctor buying a piece of equipment and is able to get a new income stream from the diagnostic tests.

These are all examples where an increase in income is anticipated. Business is basically good and growing, even amid a bumpy and unpredictable cash flow, but you can't fund the capital outlay with your working capital. When the business needs the funds short-term to generate more revenue or cash flow it makes sense to take a short-term advance to secure that business growth.

You see these enticing offers: no paperwork, five-minute application, borrow up to $100K. Yes, $100K right now could solve a lot of problems. But the rule of thumb is that unless you're using it to generate the new income stream that pays back the advance, it could create bigger problems than it solves. More succinctly stated: don't use this instrument to fill a hole that creates an even bigger one.

To decide whether or not to take one, ask yourself these questions:

Will this help me win more business?

Will this help me grow my business?

Will this enable me to buy a new piece of equipment that generates cash?

Do I absolutely need the money right away?

And in terms of your ability to pay it back:

Can I generate the sales I need, so that I won't feel it when a percentage (or fixed sum) is taken out of every credit card swipe?

Can I pay my other bills if I'm losing a percentage (or fixed sum) off the top of my sales?

- How long can I go without missing this percentage or fixed sum being taken off each sale I make. Am I reasonably sure I can go the entire length of the expected payback period?

Do I put through a high volume of credit card transactions?

The price of a cash advance is significant. The cost of funds could be anything from 20 Percent to 40 percent on the advance, depending on your credit score and other risk factors. However, this is offset by the fact that the instrument provides some real, tangible advantages to small businesses – the application process is simple, funding decisions are made quickly, you'll receive the funds in hours or days, not weeks.

Moreover, and you can still get funded at a range of credit scores, starting in the low 500s if other mitigating factors check out. In addition, payback is incremental, so the cost of funds is not so keenly felt. Payments are automatic, there are no checks to write, you don't have to remember to remit a payment. And with some Merchant Cash Advance firms, there is transparency in the form of daily reporting, daily ledger and history. Also, there's a huge difference between taking an advance and, say, using a factoring service, where the factor lays claim to all the receivables, and you receive "what's yours" after the factoring company has been paid "what's theirs."

There are many providers of merchant cash advances, so you should perform your due diligence. Try to avoid hidden costs. If you use a broker, make sure they don't charge you -- your best bet is to go through a direct funder or a broker that is paid by a direct funder. You should also look for flexibility in the payback terms in terms of weekly vs. daily remittances, fixed daily debit; and some funders offer fixed gross percentage, so that payback can be more flexible and based on your cash flow levels.

Bottom line, if you're generating enough cash, and with the right volume of increased sales, this financial tool can make good sense. But you have to be sharp and informed to use it successfully.

About Biz4Loans Merchant Cash Advance
Biz4Loans is a California-based company with an exciting new way of quickly closing commercial loans for businesses small and large. With a customer-centric focus and a high standard for quality service, we embrace new technology to pass cost savings on to our business clients. Entrepreneurship Advocates "Entrepreneurship is living a few years of our life like most people won't, so that we can spend the rest of our life like most people can't. " – Anonymous We believe entrepreneurship to be one of the most rewarding journeys that a person can pursue and that no two entrepreneurs are the same. Some seek a better life for themselves and their families while others take on the risk in pursuit of independence. Whether it is a small town where everyone knows each other or a big city that never sleeps, every community relies on entrepreneurs to create and provide jobs and to usher in new possibilities. At Biz4Loans, we understand the challenges that entreprenuers face in financing their venture. We also understand that a startup entrepreneur frequently has to wear many different hats while her company is getting off the ground. This is why we provide a quick, convenient, and detail-oriented process that achieves results without unnecessary delays or obstacles.

Growing the Business Community commercial loan brokers Whether it is financing to cover initial start up costs, purchasing of new equipment for an existing business or an expansion of facilities, Biz4Loans can help. We know that sometimes unexpected costs as well as unexpected opportunities require quick and decisive action. Our ability to quickly close a wide variety of loans has allowed us to build strong relationships based on our reputation for serving our clients effectively. Because of our speed and adaptability, Biz4Loans has brokered over $500 million in funding to businesses ranging from farms, hotels, and non-profits to office buildings, surgical centers and apartment complexes.

http://www.biz4loans.com/