Tag Archives: building
Understanding 504 SBA Loans
When a business is looking for a long-term, fixed rate loan for major asset purchases, a good financing vehicle for that is the SBA 504 loan program. Proceeds from these loans must be used to purchase fixed assets such as land and improvements to buildings, streets, utilities, parking lots and landscaping. The loan can also be used to construct a new building and purchase machinery and equipment. If new equipment is bought, it has to have a useful life and for at least ten years.
The 504 SBA Loan operates as a partnership between a third party lender, a certified development company and the borrower. These types of loans offer many benefits to business owners, including low down payments, below market fixed interest rates and long-term financing.
There are several criteria for qualifying for a loan, including the fact that the business must be a for-profit company with a net worth of less than $7 million. The SBA also sets caps on the net income of the business. The business applicant has to be the primary user of a facility, with a minimum percentage of 51 percent for an existing building, and 60 percent for a new building. A new job has to be created for every $35,000 provided by a Certified Development Company. Passive investment companies, non-profit companies, lending institutions and real estate development companies are not eligible for the 504 SBA Loan.
There are three parts to an SBA 504 Loan. The first part is a mortgage provided by a commercial lender, which can take up to 50 percent of the cost. This carries its own interest rate, terms and conditions. The second part is a loan through a certified development company, which can take up to forty percent with a maximum debenture amount of $1,500,000 for most businesses, $2,000,000 when meeting defined public policy goals, and $4,000,000 for eligible small manufacturers. This term can be as long as twenty years, with ten years for equipment. The interest rate for this is fixed and usually below market. The third part of the payment comes from the borrower, at around ten percent of the total cost. If the business is new, or a new facility is being built with the loan, the borrower may have to contribute as much as twenty percent. The down payment can be cash, equity in land, a building or existing equipment.
As the SBA 504 program can only be utilized to finance fixed assets, it is not the most ideal program if a prospective buyer wants to finance the purchase of an existing business. Goodwill, working capital, and other intangible assets are typically not eligible under the 504 program. This is also a program for “new money” and it cannot be used for refinance. If someone needs to refinance or needs to do a highly leveraged loan that is short on collateral, the SBA 7a program may be a viable alternative. Get more information
Startup Loans and Your New Business (Page 1 of 2)
Anyone who’s ever tried it knows that building a real, working business is no easy matter. For every business you see that’s growing out there, you can find probably thousands that are on their way to failure. You see, it takes a lot more than a terrific idea to be successful. You need to have a “never say die” attitude and almost a relentless energy to work your way through the hard times – and make no mistake, there will be hard times. But if you have the right stuff, you can make it work.
In many cases, the hard times that plague startup businesses revolve around money, or more to the point, undercapitalization. It takes real money to open a business and to keep it running. Lots of startup moms and pops usually turn to their personal savings or other assets to do this and that can be a mistake. More often than not their money simply wont last long enough. And when it runs out their fledgling business folds and theyre left without a business or any savings.
Business journals, text books, and business gurus will tell you that you need enough money in a startup business to keep your doors open for the first six months to a year. Without that minimum amount of cash you’re looking at only a small chance at success. Savvy entrepreneurs know this too and therefore give themselves a solid chance at success by finding their capital in the form of business startup loans.
However, the kind of business startup financing most entrepreneurs need isn’t available to just anyone. Lots of banks and lenders consider these types of loans pretty risky vehicles and so the barriers to qualifying can be quite high. Still, any fledgling business owner can increase his or her chances by taking the time to prepare themselves thoroughly – that’s the key.
Look at Your Numbers
Start by making a thorough examination of what your operating expenses and potential returns will be. You’ve got to be realistic and even conservative. Figure there will be unexpected expenses and build them into your plan. Also figure that your sales or returns will be less than you hope. Add up the numbers so that you have a reasonable figure that tells you how much money you’ll need to make it through your first year of business.
Just how much of your own savings and assets you can bring to the table? Again, be conservative. Don’t commit all of your available money (experienced entrepreneurs never do). But you need to commit some of your holdings because every lender you deal with will want to know you believe in yourself. And taking a financial stake in your own new business will show them just that.
Create a Business Plan
One absolute necessity in all of this is a sound business plan. Don’t count on receiving any financing without one. Business plans are nothing more than evidence (factual and/or anecdotal) that demonstrates your business will succeed. And lenders want as much evidence as possible. They actually want to make the loan and building a strong business plan tells them that you’re probably also capable of building a strong business.