Tag Archives: debt
How to Borrow Money, Part 1
There are two types of financing: equity financing and debt financing.
The most frequent source of funding for a small and mid size businesses is to borrow money. Getting a loan usually is not an easy and short process.
It is always a good idea to learn as much as you can in advance about the factors that important in the decision-making process of banks and other lenders when they consider your loan application. For more detailed information you may refer to my other articles.
When looking for funding, you should consider your company’s debt-to-equity ratio, which is defined by dividing amount of borrowed money by amount of invested in the business. The lower the ratio is: more invested and less money borrowed, the easier for you will be to get financing and at more favorable terms.
The decision what financing to pursue works on case to case basis, but the general rule of tomb is: if you have a high debt to equity ratio you should seek equity financing and vice versa.
In the most cases it is impossible to get 100% financing. Institutions want to see at least 20% of equity in a business. Building equity can be achieved by investing owners cash or build it through retained earnings, but by itself does not guarantee that you get financing for a business.
Equity Financing
Equity financing means financing a business by selling ownership interests to investors or, the money is raised in exchange for a share of ownership in the business or having the right to convert other financial instruments into stock. It is the way raise funds without incurring debt, or without obligation to repay a specific amount of money at a particular time.
Equity sources can be divided into two groups: non-professional such us relatives, friends, and employees, etc. and professional that can be divided into two sub groups: Private such as Angels and Venture Capital and Institutional such as Hedge Funds and Government Assessed Sources. Most of professional groups specialize in particular industries.
Venture Capitalists may review thousands of proposals a year, but invest only in a few that have bigger prospective returns on the capital, great management team, industry growth, competitive advantage and solid exit strategies (e. g. IPO). Venture Capital firms usually passively involved in a companys management, unless business fails to perform as projected.
Many people think that Venture Capital firms finance new businesses, but in the most cases they prefer established companies with stable cash flow. If you need money for a start up look for an Angel (Private) Investors. Angels might work alone or in groups (sometimes as big as few hundred people) and usually actively involved in companys management.
Pros and cons of equity financing
Company shares give you two major rights: participation in the future companys profit-sharing and decision-making processes. The biggest drawback of equity financing is that you relinquish those rights to an outsider.
To be continued.
Yury Iofe, MBA
Universal Business Structured Solution
More educational resources by Yury Iofe:
www.ubssolution.com
About Student Loan Garnishment
What is Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG)?
Administrative wage garnishment (A.W.G) is the process by which a Federal agency (Dept. of Education) or a third-party given authority by a Federal agency (the collection agencies) may, without first obtaining a court order, order an employer to withhold amounts from the debtors wages to satisfy a delinquent debt. Dept. of Education considers AWG to be a tool of last resort. Before using AWG, Dept of Education expect its representatives to have attempted to resolve the debt through voluntary means: attempting to secure the balance in full, an approved settlement, or installment payments that are “reasonable and affordable” based on the debtors individual financial circumstances. Some within the industry may consider this the guaranteed recovery method.
Representatives must consider whether the debtor presents a legitimate defense to the repayment of the debt(s), and whether AWG may be ineffective because the debtor is self-employed or a Federal employee, in which cases the collection agency will recommend litigation or a salary offset.
What is the purpose of AWG?
The purpose of an AWG is to recover the amounts for the Federal taxpayers without the cost of litigation fees. It was created to basically recover the unpaid debts arising from federally supported activities, which include student financial assistance.
What are the debtors rights in the AWG process?
-To be sent a notice 30 days prior to ED ordering the wage garnishment that explains EDs intention to garnish, the nature and amount of the debt obligation, and the opportunity to inspect and copy records relating to the debt, to object to garnishment to collect the debt, and to avoid garnishment by voluntary repayment on terms agreeable to ED.
-To have the opportunity to inspect and copy Department records pertaining to the debt. (A copy of the original signature left on the promissory note and a payment history)
-An opportunity to present evidence and argument and on any objection by the debtor to the existence, amount, or enforceability of the debt, and to obtain a ruling on the objection.
-An opportunity to prove that the garnishment of 15% of the debtors disposable pay would produce an extreme financial hardship.
-Having garnishment action withheld by filing a timely request for a hearing, until the hearing is completed and an adverse decision issued; Not to be discharged from employment, refused employment, or subject to disciplinary action due to the garnishment, and to seek redress in federal or state court if such action occurs; and Not to have any information provided to the employer but that which is necessary for the employer to comply with the withholding order.
-An opportunity for a hearing to present and obtain a ruling on any objection that garnishment cannot be used at this time because the debtor is now employed for fewer than 12 months after involuntary separation from the most recent prior employment.