Our latest Friday Business Finance Bulletin is out and this week Rob Warlow talks about the start of the new financial regulatory framework with the Financial Conduct Authority going live.

Rob also take a look at the consultation paper released by the government asking whether banks should be forced to refer clients to alternative sources of finance when the bank has said ‘no’.

Whether banks are up for lending to businesses is always the subject of debate and we look at the findings on bank lending appetite.

And in the Tip of the Week Rob share his ideas on what you can do to prepare for your annual bank visit and review meeting. Enjoy!

In the latest episode of my Friday Business Finance Bulletin just out I look at the Chancellor’s latest attempt to boost bank lending to small businesses by looking at the possibility of providing a guarantee to the banks.

I also talk about the alternative lending scene following a recent interview I did on BBC Radio with Adam Tavener of Alternative Business Funding where we discuss crowdfunding and peer to peer lending.

In the Tip of the Week I discuss the bank’s Loan Appeal process. Did you know that if your bank has declined your loan request then you have a formal right of appeal? In this tip I share how to go about that.

Posted on 25.03.2014, by Rob Warlow 

In the latest episode of the Friday Business Finance Bulletin I look at what was in the Budget for business owners and savers – capital allowances and using ISAs to support crowdfunding and Peer to Peer lending.

I also look at a report from the ACCA’s Global Forum on SMEs which focused on financial literacy – an important skill when approaching a lender for finance.

And in my Tip of the Week I talk about the emotive subject of giving a personal guarantee, or Directors Guarantee, to secure your Limited Company’s debt.

This week’s Friday Business Finance Bulletin is out and I look at the new rules being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority to regulate the crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending sector.

Also I take a look at the launch of a new one-stop information site for alternative sources of finance speared-headed by Funding Circle, Zopa, MarketInvoice, Platform Black, Seedrs and Crowdcube.

There’s news from the OFT on its interim report into the SME finance market and I look at a survey from Lloyds Bank on cashflow and invoicing.

In the Finance Tip of the Week, following a session with a team of bank managers I share three key things which bankers say hold them back from giving a ‘yes’ to a business finance request.

Posted on 28.02.2014, by Rob Warlow 

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at the latest tranche of British Business Bank money given to peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle for on-lending to UK businesses. Rob also looks at an incentive being run during March by another peer-to-peer platform, ReBuildingSociety to encourage use of this alternative lending source.

A new survey from the Manufacturing Advisory Service reveals a buoyant mood amongst manufacturers and in his Tip of the Week Rob looks at why you should contact your bank before you make a formal approach for commercial mortgages to find out how your proposal fits.

One alternative source of business finance that is growing in popularity is family and friends.

In this clip taken from an ‘Access to Finance’ seminar for the accountancy body, ACCA, Rob Warlow talks about the pros and cons of getting business finance from this source.

Beware!

Posted on 21.02.2014, by Rob Warlow

In this week’s Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow chats with entrepreneurship guru Robert Craven on the key aspects of business growth. More news on another new entrant into the banking market which promises to support small businesses with their finance needs.

And in the Tip of the Week Rob shares his thoughts on taking time out of your business which came out of a day spent with members of the Infinite Group of business advisers.

Posted on 01.02.2014, by Rob Warlow

Our weekly Friday Business Finance Bulletin video is out. This week Rob Warlow looks at a new campaign being run by the banks to get businesses borrowing (yes, you did read that right!); how a UK crowdfunding finance raise for a property developer has broken all records and finally why you should never have to find an excuse to pick up the phone to chase late payers.

Posted on 27.01.2014, by Rob Warlow

In this edition of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at the low level of awareness among business owners of crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending; how the government has been taken to task for its lack of success in stimulating bank lending; and why you need to keep a close eye on cash during times of growth by balancing the use of cash with different forms of finance.

Posted on 18.01.2014, by Rob Warlow

This week, in our latest Business Finance Bulletin, a look at a problem which can lead to poor cashflow; a quick review of a new peer-to-peer lender, Lending Works which launched this week; and the Tip of the Week follows a Twitter exchange we had last week on proactively using regular financial information.