In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at the announcement from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) that it will now be referring small businesses which it can’t help with finance on to crowdfunding companies

Funding Circle and Assetz Capital. This is a major sign that the crowdfunding industry is now going mainstream.
Another form of alternative finance which is proving popular with small businesses is family and friends. Rob looks at findings in a survey from Everline which reveals how many small businesses use this form of finance and why.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares a clip from a seminar he delivered in Amsterdam at a Kevin Green Advanced Business training weekend. In this clip Rob shares one of the reasons why cashflow can prove to be a strain for many businesses.

If you prefer to listen to this week’s Bulletin as a podcast you can click below or click the download icon to load it on your phone or PC.

In the latest edition of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at the findings from Close Brothers Business Barometer which reveals how reluctant some business owners are in hunting out new finance providers.

On the alternative finance scene Rob talks about Metro Bank’s 2014 results and how it’s living up to its aim of being regarded as the ‘bank for entrepreneurs’ by the range of business finance solutions it can offer.
Rob also reveals how the option to tap into the ‘crowd’ to fund expansion plans has been made easy with the news that FundingKnight has doubled the maximum amount it can arrange.

If you are a start up it is not easy to source finance but Rob looks at the news from the Start Up Loans company, the government supported loan company, on a new milestone being reached in terms of the number of loans granted.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week, a look at the looming Self Assessment deadline and what you can do to avoid a last minute panic!

If you prefer to listen to this week’s Bulletin in your car or on your phone you can download this episode via our SoundCloud page by clicking below.

In the latest edition of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at news from Lovetts, the commercial debt recovery firm, on how the amount of late payment debt is on the increase.
As part of its annual Small Business Income Index, news from Barclays of further evidence that the economy is showing signs of growth with a number of sectors and UK regions standing out.

Raising equity through crowdfunding continues to grow in popularity and Rob looks at an overview from Crowdcube on how it performed in 2014.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares his thoughts on the importance of having sound systems and processes in place; getting this right may reduce the amount of finance you may need to raise.

You can also listen to the podcast version of this week’s Bulletin. You can download a copy for listening later by clicking below.

In the first edition of 2015 Rob Warlow looks at reports of strong business confidence levels and the desire to grow amongst many businesses. However, there are some facing a more challenging environment with three key barriers to growth being blamed.

Of those businesses looking for finance Rob reviews a survey carried out by the Institute of Directors which lists the sources of finance that business owners are turning to.

When it comes to lending to small businesses news from the High Street banks has been bleak but as Rob reveals, the latest figures from the Bank of England show positive growth for two months in a row, which is a positive sign.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares two key questions you ask of yourself and your team when planning for a year of growth.

If you prefer to listen to this week’s bulletin on your phone or in your car you can download the podcast version by visiting our SoundCloud page.

During 2014 BLS’s Rob Warlow has had the pleasure to chat to a number of business experts for our weekly Business Finance Bulletin.

In this first of two compilations of these interviews you will hear about the importance of managing your reputation with Alan Stevens; thoughts on key actions you can take to successfully grow a business from Robert Craven; Derek Arden on how to negotiate a better deal with your bank; and finally thoughts from Tim Luscombe on why you should keep accurate management information.

Keep an eye out for the second compilation which focuses on alternative sources of finance.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow reviews a recent survey carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses which looked into SME confidence levels and barriers to business growth.

Many businesses don’t realise how important a clean credit record is when it comes to raising business finance. To counter this, credit reference agency Experian has launched a new support tool which Rob takes a look at.

Crowdfunding has clearly taken off with a recent successful raise for a project to drill on the moon! Rob takes a look at how the Lunar Mission One has successfully raised its first tranche of funding on Kickstarter.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week, as part of an interview Rob shares his thoughts on the role a business owner’s experience has when it comes to the bank assessing your request for a business loan.

If you prefer to listen to this week’s edition as a podcast you can download it from our Souncloud page or click below to listen.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at a survey carried out by the British Business Bank into the SME finance landscape which draws a number of conclusions on how small businesses view the world of finance.

The use of asset based finance continues to grow and Rob shares news from the Asset Based Finance Association on the increased use of invoice discounting and leasing as an alternative source of finance.

In the crowdfunding world, news of a milestone reached by crowdlender Funding Knight and an announcement by Cambridge and Counties Bank of the opening of a new branch in the North of England.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares a conversation he had with a business owner about the use of management information and how to get the best out of it.

You can also listen to this week’s Bulletin as a podcast. To listen via your PC or download to your phone either click below to listen or click the download symbol.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement with the announcement of the extension of the Funding for Lending Scheme, and additional support for the Enterprise Capital Fund and Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

Late payment continues to feature on the agenda with news that the government is launching a consultation paper aimed at improving transparency amongst large businesses on their payment practices.

The recent SME Finance Monitor Report reveals interest insights in to the experience small business owners are having with their banks in terms of getting a finance approval. Rob looks at the numbers which shows why you shuld not assume your bank is going to say no if you approach them for business finance.

Agreeing the sharing of property security between different banks has always been a slow process but Rob discusses new arrangements put in place by the four High Street banks to speed up the process.

The Business Finance Tip this week comes from an interview Rob did with negotiation expert Derek Arden. In the interview Derek gives three tips on how to negotiate a better deal with your bank.

You can also listen to this week’s Bulletin as a podcast and you can download it to your PC or phone via our SoundCloud page. Click on the download button below or simply click to listen now.

In the 50th edition of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks back over the last 12 months and how the business finance landscape has changed.

Crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending is one of the growth areas and Rob reviews a report on the sector undertaken by NESTA which highlights this rapid growth.

Rob also looks at the news of a forthcoming review into the banking sector to be carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority.

What keeps small business owners awake at night is a question posed by the ICAEW and it may not be what you think.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week, a clip from a live seminar in which Rob Warlow shares his thoughts on when it’s best to share your Business Plan with the bank.

If you prefer you can also listen to this week’s episode as a podcast and download to your phone. To either listen or download simply click below via our SoundCloud page.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at a recent survey from Hilton Baird Financial Solutions examining the different sources of finance businesses are using today.

The Prompt Payment Code was designed to encourage businesses to treat suppliers fairly and minimise late payment but it could work better and Rob looks at a new Advisory Body set up to improve standards.

Sticking with late payment, a survey from Lovetts, a commercial debt litigator reveals that the amounts outstanding to businesses is on the rise. Watch your cashflow!

Awareness of crowdfunding is on the rise and Rob has news from the Chamber of Commerce of a series of roadshows being run in conjunction with crowdlender ArchOver designed to inform business owners about the options available to them.

Rob also has news that PWC have tied up with MarketInvoice to offer invoice discounting solutions to its clients and in the Business Finance Tip of the Week a look at why business owners hate writing Business Plans!

If you prefer to listen to this week’s Bulletin on your phone or in your car then you can download it as a podcast by clicking the ‘download’ image on the SoundCloud player below.