How a bank assesses a business finance request can be a mystery to many business owners. What is it exactly is it that a bank wants to see and what goes into the review process?

In this episode of the Business Finance Bulletin Xtra podcast Rob Warlow talks about the key points banks look for in order to relay that all too elusive ‘yes’.

Rob also shares a checklist that bankers use in order to ensure all the relevant issues are covered. The checklist comes in the form of a mnemonic CAMPARI and in this interview he goes through each part which will provide you with a deeper understanding of what banks are looking for.

You can listen in here and also download the podcast to your phone

You can also subscribe to our itunes channel and you’ll find this episode listed there.

If you have missed the other three interviews in this special series you can find details here:

Business Finance Bulletin Xtra: How to Write an Effective Business Plan

Business Finance Bulletin Xtra: Business Plans for Raising Finance

Business Finance Bulletin Xtra: 7 Reasons Why Your Bank Would Say No

Why has your bank said ‘no’ to your business finance request? In this third of four special Business Finance Bulletin Xtra podcasts, BLS’ Rob Warlow discusses the 7 reasons why your bank could have said ‘no’.

Listen in below, or download if for later listening, so you don’t fall into these traps when you are looking to raise business finance.

You can also check out this podcast on our Business Finance Bulletin itunes channel.

Continuing the series of interviews that BLS’s Rob Warlow did on raising finance in this second podcast Rob talks about what goes into writing an effective Business Plan for banks.

In this podcast Rob shares his thoughts on the key points you need to address and gives a simple template to follow.

You can listen to this podcast by clicking below, or downloading it. You can also get it on our Business Finance Bulletin itunes channel.

In this first edition of the Business Finance Bulletin Xtra Rob Warlow takes you through the experiences small business owners have when it comes to raising business finance… are they getting what they want?

The need for business finance can be compounded by late payment and cashflow problems which remain a challenge for business owners. Rob looks at how this is affecting them.

Crowdfunding continues to gain in popularity and Rob looks at news from the P2P Finance Association on how the sector continues to grow.

If you’re looking for more traditional sources of finance then Rob takes you through the five steps to getting the business finance you need.

If there is one thing that is going to hold back a business’ ability to grow its late payment.

Not being paid on time can be a barrier to growth and feedback I get from the Business Loan Services team is that this is a major bugbear amongst many of our clients.

But as the economy grows there are signs that payment settlement is showing signs of improvement.

A recent survey from Experian the credit reference agency showed that UK businesses paid their overdue bills on average one day faster between April 2014 and March 2015.

The national average of the number of days in which businesses pay beyond terms dropped by just under a whole day to 24.29 days

Perhaps not surprisingly, because they understand the pain late payment can cause, the smallest businesses were the quickest to tackle overdue invoices, as businesses with one or two employees settled bills 20.58 over agreed terms. This was an improvement of just over half a day.

Businesses with three to five employees showed the greatest improvement, paying bills 1.3 days faster at 21.34 days over agreed terms.

What about the UK’s largest business who typically have the finger pointed at them…. how have they performed?

Although those businesses, employing 501 people or more, took the longest to settle bills at 34.18 days over agreed terms in the year to March 2015, they did improved their payment performance by just under one day.

So well done to the big boys… but you still have work to do!

So if you do suffer from late payment what can you do?

Here are some tips from Experian:

Tip Number 1 – Check their status: Is the business you are dealing with real? Search them out on the web and see what you can find. Do they have a strong internet footprint?

Tip Number 2 Do a Credit Check: Carrying out a credit check will reveal their credit status, trading history and how they have paid in the past. All this will help you decide whether they are worthy of you giving them credit terms.

Tip Number 3 Remain Watchful: Nothing ever stays the same; the economy and individual businesses are constantly changing – a profitable business and a previously prompt payer can quickly turn into a business that is on its way down. The trick is to regularly run updated credit checks so you don’t get caught out.

Follow these tips and you will minimise the risk of being left with a long list of late payers.

If you are in the processing of looking for business finance and afraid that you may get the cold shoulder from your bank, don’t worry because there are actions you can take to improve your chances of success.

As part of Adele McLay’s Business Success Tips podcast she chats with Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow in which shares some insider tips on getting a ‘yes’.

Rob reveals some do’s and don’ts and shares how to put together a Business Plan why your financial information is so important.

To listen in to this interview simply click below or click on the download button to load on your PC or phone.

If you’re looking to raise business finance and before visiting the bank preparation is key.

In this 50 minute audio BLS’ Rob Warlow shares 5 steps to take which will make you better prepared before confronting your bank manager!

You can either listen below or click the download button. Alternatively check out our itunes channel and search for ‘5 Steps to Getting the Business Finance You Need’

Getting a business loan is about understanding what a bank will lend your business money for and what it won’t. How you are going to use the money is important and in this clip from a live seminar Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow explains why banks won’t lend you ‘get me out of jail’ money.

If you would like to receive Rob’s weekly Business Finance Bulletin with news, tips, ideas and strategies on raising finance subscribe by going here.

According to a survey carried out by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England Wales a large number of businesses are sitting on cash. Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow explains…

When looking at getting business finance one aspect of your business you must be comfortable with is your financial performance. When discuss your finance request knowing your numbers and key aspects of your financial performance will set you apart from the majority of businesses.

Being able to read (and understand!) a Balance Sheet and a Profit and Loss is one aspect of running a successful business that eludes many business owners. A good grasp of your numbers will not only get you off to a flying start with the bank but it can also give you a better understanding of your business and areas of potential improvement.

In this clip from a live seminar BLS’s Rob Warlow talks about the importance of knowing your numbers when applying for a business loan or any form of business finance.