In this episode of the Business Finance Bulletin a look at the latest statistics from the Bank of England which reveals the current level of borrowing by UK SMEs.

Also a review of the key findings from the recent SME Finance Monitor Report which includes how many businesses are using external sources of finance, the type of SMEs accessing such finance and the number of businesses who are not borrowing at all.

Marketinvoice, the online invoice discounter, has taken a look at late payment experiences across 80 countries and the results indicate that we have a lot of work to do in the UK to speed up payment.

Are you planning to grow or change your business within the next three months? That’s the question posed to 1,021 businesses by Hitachi Capital as part of its regular British Business Barometer Report and the answer reveals that SMEs are now more cautious than before.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week a signpost to a recently posted video which shows you how to calculate and use the Creditor Payment Ratio.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

In the latest episode of the Business Finance Bulletin, news that the number of High Growth Firms is on the increase according to findings by the Enterprise Research Centre.

We take a look a new business loan fund launched by a regional lender, Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust, aiming to support growing businesses in their locality.

There’s news of support being given by British Business Bank to an alternative lender to help boost funds for on-lending to businesses in need of asset finance.

Staying with asset finance and leasing we take a look at statistics from the Finance and Leasing Association which reveal strong growth in the sector in 2015.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week a look at a series of forthcoming videos in which Rob Warlow will be sharing insights into ratios you can calculate to help boost the performance of your business.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

When you’re applying for a business loan how do you tackle the topic of past business failures with the bank?

Rob Warlow from Business Loan Services shares his thoughts on what you should say to the bank.

In this episode of the Business Finance Bulletin a look back at 2015 in the alternative finance and crowdfunding market. The latest annual report from NESTA, Pushing Boundaries, provides an insight into how crowdfunding continued to grow in 2015.

If you are looking for an asset finance facility to fund your growth plans there’s news of a funding boost for the alternative lender LDF provided by the British Business Bank.

Xero, the cloud accounting software service, asked business owners what they thought the key ingredient for a successful business is. The entrepreneurs also shared their top three business pain-points. Do you suffer from any (or all) of these three barriers to growth?

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week when to comes to raising business finance, what influence do past business successes or failures have?

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

Getting a business loan will involve the bank reviewing your bank statements. But what is the bank looking for?

In this interview Rob Warlow from Business Loan Services explains what a bank can glean about your character just by looking through your bank statements.

Because our usual weekly Business Finance Bulletin included outtakes and fails to celebrate the 100th episode, this didn’t fit our usual podcast version. In order that those who prefer to download and listn don’t miss out we have recorded a ‘podcast-only’ episode in which we look at preparing a cashflow forecast, success rates in getting business finance, the Loan Appeal process, extension of the Funding for Lending Scheme and writing a Business Plan.

To listen in just click below or you can access our Soundcloud channel to download for later listening. You can also access via our itunes channel.

If you want to watch the video version of Episode 100 including all the outtakes and fails just click below and have a laugh!

In the latest episode of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at a new product launched by Market Invoice, the online invoice discounting provider. The new product called Contract Finance will help businesses release previously locked-up cash from contracts delivering regular income.

According to a survey from Bibby Financial Services business confidence amongst SMEs has taken a dent and bucked the recent trend of a rise in more confident businesses. Why is this?

Rob reveals the sources of finance business owners are turning to as featured in a survey carried out by Santander Corporate and Commercial Banking. Which source is proving surprisingly popular?

In the crowdfunding world, the latest lending figures from the P2P Finance Association show that its members are reaching new highs in their support of growing businesses. Rob looks at how SMEs are benefiting.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week, Rob shares a calculation you can make from your Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Accounts which can help pinpoint a problem in your stock control.

If you prefer to listen to the podcast version you listen in below or download it via our Soundcloud or itunes channel.

In this episode of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at the findings of the Competition and Market Authority review into the UK banking sector and its recommendations for easier SME banking.

What’s the difference in attitude towards alternative finance between relatively young businesses compared to more mature ones? That’s a question posed by Business Banking Insight and their findings suggest that older businesses need to look at alternative sources of finance just as their younger upstarts are.

Rob reviews a survey from crowdfunder FundBird on businesses appetite to borrow and what they are financing if they are successful in obtaining funding.

Staying with crowdfunding Rob looks at the news from Funding Circle of its entry into the European market with the acquisition of the German crowdfunding platform ZenCap.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week, a clip from a live seminar in which Rob shares insights into what should be included in a Business Plan written for the bank.

If you prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download via our SoundCloud or itunes channel.

In the latest episode of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow shares the latest government figures on the number of businesses operating in the UK. The numbers reveal strong growth in new starts and those businesses employing staff.

Latest figures from the Finance and Leasing Association on the level of new business being written by asset finance providers also show strong growth. Rob looks at one type of asset being financed which is proving popular.

Sufficient working capital can be a constraint for a growing business and Rob looks at a survey focused on what is holding businesses back in terms of finance.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares a tool you can use to assist in spotting red flags in respect of cashflow. This tool, referred to as a Debtor Collection Ratio is a calculation taken from your Balance Sheet which provides a useful guide as to how long it’s taking you to collect payment from your customers.

If you prefer listening to the podcast version you can click below or download it (and other episodes) from our Soundcloud or itunes page.

In this week’s episode of the Business Finance Bulletin finally some good news on late payment with the announcement from Tescos of a revision in its payment terms with their small suppliers. Could this be a start of a trend of big businesses listening to concerns around late payment?

Turning to the alternative finance scene news from single invoice discounter Platform Black on reaching a new milestone in terms of finance raised for growing businesses.

Have you ever had a Notice to Close your bank account? It can happen and Rob explains what you can do about it.
With the government keen to ensure finance companies are lending there’s news of a line of funding being granted by the British Business Bank to leasing and asset finance provider Hitachi Capital.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week a clip from a live seminar in which Rob shares his thoughts on the importance of knowing what your credit report reveals about you.

You can also listen to and download the podcast version of this Bulletin via our Soundcloud and itunes channel or listen in now by clicking below