Do you really need a Business Plan?

In this edition of the Business Finance Bulletin Xtra Rob Warlow from Business Loan Services talks about the importance of having a business plan when it comes to applying for business finance.

But as Rob discusses a business plan also has benefits outside of raising finance.

Listen into this interview by clicking below, or you can download the podcast from our Soundcloud channel or subscribing to our itunes channel.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow takes a look at a recent survey carried out by short-term business loan provider Just Cashflow on business owners skills gaps and what they wished they had known when they first started out in business.

Late payment continues to be a problem for growing businesses and Rob shares findings from two surveys carried out by BACS and the Asset Based Finance Association which reveal a mixture of good news and bad news on late payment experiences.

There is news from Metro Bank, one of the growing number of challenger banks, on the revamp of its small business offering.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares insights into problems some of the Business Loan Services’ clients have experienced in terms of their credit reports which are vital when it comes to obtaining business finance.

If you prefer to listen to the podcast version you can listen and download by clicking below via our Soundcloud Business Finance Bulletin channel or subscribe via our itunes channel.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow looks at the new government £100m Housing Growth Partnership scheme launched in conjunction with Lloyds Bank. The scheme is designed to boost house building via improving access to finance.

It’s surprising the number of businesses which are holding large amounts of surplus cash according to a survey by challenger bank Hampshire Trust Bank. Are you one of them and could you be earning a better return?

Rob looks at the announcement from Sage, the accounting software provider, of its tie up with Market Invoice and Funding Circle to provide clients with access to alternative sources of finance.

Staying with alternative funding Rob shares news of crowdfunding platform Funding Empire having new majority shareholders which signals growth for this platform.
And in the Business Finance Tip of The Week Rob looks at market disruptors and crowdfunding.

If you prefer to listen to the podcast version the you can either click below and download and also subscribe via our 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.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow looks at Amazon’s entry into the small business lending market by extending loans to businesses operating on its Marketplace.

In the latest figures from the Bank of England Rob looks at the level of support being given by banks to small business with continuing evidence that more finance is going out of the banks’ doors.

If you want to avoid the High Street banks Rob shares news of a new £40m SME fund launched by Enterprise Ventures in conjunction with Santander and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund. The fund seeks to provide loans to businesses across the UK, in all sectors and for a variety of purposes.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob talks with Rebecca Jones, the Red Shoe Biz Woman, on developing an entrepreneurial mindset amongst your staff.

If you would like to listen to the podcast version you can do so but clicking below. If you wish to download to your phone or PC, click the download image below or subscribe to our itunes channel.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow looks the forthcoming changes in ISA rules and a survey from Yorkshire Bank and attitude to risk amongst savers which could see a boost to the crowdfunding market.

Staying with crowdfunding Rob shares news of the launch of a new crowdfunding platform. Bricks Financial is based in the South West and will primarily focus on servicing the local market.

According to the latest survey from the Federation of Small Businesses confidence amongst small business owners is strong and they are focused on where they are investing their money.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob looks at reviewing and controlling your overheads to ensure you are making the best returns from your business.

If you would also like to listen to the podcast version then you can either listen below or directly download this episode from our Soundcloud page by clicking the download symbol below. Alternatively to can subscribe via our itunes channel.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow tackles the age-old problem of late payment. Rob looks at recent research from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) which reveals the extent of the problem and possible solutions.

Many businesses don’t realise that to help offset the costs of the impact of late payment they are allow to charge interest and Rob shares news from Lovetts, the debt recovery firm, on how awareness of this right is on the increase.

Unlike bank lending asset finance continues its growth as more businesses turn to this alternative source of finance. The latest statistics from the Asset Based Finance Association show just how popular it has become.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob looks at the benefits of planning ahead and getting ‘finance-ready’ well before you need to approach a lender.

You can also listen to the podcast version of this week’s Bulletin by clicking below or downloading via our Sounndcloud or itunes channels.

We’re continuing our look at the outcomes from the recent SME Finance Monitor Report for the first quarter of 2015.
The SME Finance Monitor Report is a quarterly survey carried out by an independent body tasked with researching the relationship between small businesses and how they finance themselves.

Previously we looked at what the real demand for finance is (‘What’s The Real Demand for Business Finance?’) and now we’re looking at what the outcome is for those businesses that did apply for finance from their bank.

First of all of those businesses thinking of applying for finance what was their level of confidence in getting a yes? The survey found that amongst those planning to apply, 49% were confident that their bank would agree to their request.

Let’s look at those businesses that said they had applied for finance and what actually happened.

In the 12 months to quarter 1 2015 18% of the businesses surveyed said that they had what’s referred as a ‘borrowing event’ whether that’s a new finance request or a renewal of an existing facility.

So what was the outcome?

The SME Finance Monitor team stretched it back further by looking at the previous 18 months and the success rate for new and renewed facilities was that 76% got what they wanted.

Is that a bit higher than perhaps you thought?

And that 76% was an increase on the 66% success rate reported 12 months previously… so the success rate is on the way up.

Let’s strip out those looking just to renew existing facilities – there the success rate was 98% got their renewal agreed.

What about those applying for new money being those that have borrowed in the past. That success rate is slightly lower at 65% but it is up from 46% a year ago… so again more progress with more businesses getting what they wanted.

For those applying for money for the very first time then the success rate is slightly lower at 55% but this has improved from the 37% seen in the 18 months to quarter 4 2013.

Remember at the start I said that 49% of businesses said they expected to get a ‘yes’ from their bank but as we have seen, the actual success rate is much higher.

It’s in closing this ‘confidence gap’ where our focus should be… getting businesses to realise that their chances of success in getting finance is actually higher than they may believe.

Growth typically needs finance so don’t hold back your growth by assuming you’ll get nothing and so you don’t ask… bad move!

Prepare your Business Plan, get your financial information up to date and start applying!

If you want to chat through your finance options then just book a call with one of the Business Loan Services team.

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.