Business Funding Plus

Meeting with a client recently who had been declined by their bank for funding. We reviewed why they were declined. It’s crucial that you get feedback from your bank or other lender, if declined, if you want to obtain funding from another provider. In our client’s case they are strengthening their business plan and level of financial forecasts before we engage with other lenders. Here’s 5 things that you can do right now, if you’re not already doing so, to give your business a better chance of getting funded: 💷 Determine how much you need and why you need this amount - be specific and explain how you will use the funding and importanly how it will help your business 💷 Choose the right type of funding - much more is often available than a business loan, and probably more appropriate too (we can help you with this) 💷 Get your financial information in order - bank statements are no substitute for management accounts 😉 💷 Have a solid business plan - show a prospective lender that you have thought about your clear roadmap ahead 💷 Be credible - explain how you will repay (service) the funding made available to you and why you are a “good risk” for lending Need funding? Please get in touch: james@businessfundingplus.co.uk No fees charged & 30 years’ experience in commercial finance.

A lot of people think invoice finance is costly. But when you actually look closer, the numbers often tell a very different story. By unlocking up to 90% of your invoices within 24 hours, you get instant access to cash that would otherwise be tied up for 30, 60, even 90 days. That means you can: 💡 Skip the expensive overdrafts and short-term loans 💡 Stop dipping into personal funds 💡 Grab early payment discounts from suppliers (which can literally offset the cost of the facility) One of our clients does exactly this. And their supplier discounts cover most of the fees. Plus, with predictable cash flow, you can plan better, grow faster, and stop worrying about late payments or bad debts. We like to call it elastic funding because it grows as your sales grow. So when you weigh it all up, invoice finance often isn’t an expense… It’s an investment in stability, growth, and peace of mind. Curious how it could work for your business? 📩 James@businessfundingplus.co.uk 📞 07983 440348 We have helped many businesses with invoice finance facilities in our 7 years in business so far and previously we worked for invoice finance lenders. We don’t charge any fees either.

“It doesn’t count until it’s in the bank account!” The old adage that was drummed into me many years ago when I started my financial services career. Despite client promises to pay, payment or income is not considered real or available until it has been fully processed, paid and importantly received. It still happens way too often. Businesses that promise to adhere to the agreed prearranged payment terms but for a variety of reasons don’t. First meeting of the week and it’s to discuss assisting a young, fast growing consulting business with an improved cash flow mechanism. They’ve been finding that payments of their invoices are taking longer than expected. It’s holding them back. For businesses that find themselves in this situation Invoice Finance is often the most appropriate solution to improve their cash flow. Why should you consider Invoice Finance for your business?; ✅ Turn your invoices into cash in your bank account within a couple of days and it is significantly faster than most loans or other lines of credit ✅ You only borrow money you have already earned ✅ Security required is often less than other forms of lending ✅ The fees are low and there are no hidden costs ✅ No long-term commitments, and you only use it when you need to and only pay for invoices that you have borrowed against ✅ The extra cash on hand and not having to wait for payment means that you can pay your suppliers on time, settle all outstanding bills or buy more inventory ✅ The facility grows with your business, enabling you to quickly obtain greater levels of funding as you may require Don’t let your clients treat you like a free bank! We have access to banks and other lenders who can support businesses across all industries - including businesses who have staged or milestone payments. If you would like to find out more about Invoice Finance or any other funding solutions, please contact us: James@businessfundingplus.co.uk or 07983 440348

Did you know that not all cash flow funding facilities are used purely for working capital purposes? And some lenders are absolutely fine with this. Cash flow gets squeezed when: • Customers pay late (some may treat you like a free bank!) • Costs occur before income does (it’s all about timing) • Trading is seasonal (it could be the nature of what you do) • Growth moves faster than the original plan (don’t let your cash flow problems hold you back) • You have an unplanned event or requirement that needs addressing • You want to leverage your strong debtor book for a one time event but without hampering your working capital availability Two recent new funding enquiries come to mind (both came through Linkedin too) : An enquiry to enable the purchase of another business and another business looking to repay one of the original investors a six figure sum. No need to be putting private houses on the line as collateral as may be the case for a secured loan. But rather leveraging capital from one of the most often overlooked assets a business can have; its debtor book. Cash flow funding helps you bridge the gap between money going out and money coming in so that your business keeps moving. Profit doesn’t pay the bills though. Cash does. Not all funders have the same criteria or lending appetite. You need someone who can save you time and effort finding the right lender for you. Please get in touch if I can help: james@businessfundingplus.co.uk 07983 440348 30+ years in commercial finance including working for banks and invoice finance lenders.

Great to receive confirmation recently from our Scottish based client, that is primarily involved in the monitoring of greenhouse gases, about their second successful R&D claim completion. Many thanks to Innovative Partners for looking after our client. This was a time sensitive claim and after being let down by another R&D provider, they are delighted with the speed of service and care and attention demonstrated by Innovative Partners. Thank you!

A lot of people think invoice finance is costly. But when you actually look closer, the numbers often tell a very different story. By unlocking up to 90% of your invoices within 24 hours, you get instant access to cash that would otherwise be tied up for 30, 60, even 90 days. That means you can: 💡 Skip the expensive overdrafts and short-term loans 💡 Stop dipping into personal funds 💡 Grab early payment discounts from suppliers (which can literally offset the cost of the facility) One of our clients does exactly this. And their supplier discounts cover most of the fees. Plus, with predictable cash flow, you can plan better, grow faster, and stop worrying about late payments or bad debts. We like to call it elastic funding because it grows as your sales grow. So when you weigh it all up, invoice finance often isn’t an expense… It’s an investment in stability, growth, and peace of mind. Curious how it could work for your business? 📩 James@businessfundingplus.co.uk 📞 07983 440348 We have helped many businesses with invoice finance facilities in our 7 years in business so far and previously we worked for invoice finance lenders. We don’t charge any fees either.

The range of business funding facilities available in the UK is far broader than most business owners realise. Most of our funding conversations start with a request for a loan, often it’s not the right choice. Many people still think debt funding means walking into a bank and asking for a loan, but in reality there are dozens of specialist products designed for different situations, industries, and growth stages. Traditional business loans and overdrafts remain common and are usually used for general working capital, expansion, or large purchases. A lender provides a lump sum that is repaid over time with interest, while overdrafts allow businesses to temporarily spend more than their account balance to manage short term cashflow gaps. One of the most widely used facilities in the UK is invoice finance, which allows businesses to unlock cash tied up in unpaid invoices. Instead of waiting 30, 60, or even 90 days for customers to pay, a lender can advance a large percentage of the invoice value, sometimes up to around 90%, providing immediate working capital. Another major category is asset finance, which helps businesses purchase vehicles, machinery, or equipment without paying the full cost upfront. The asset itself usually acts as security for the funding, which often makes it easier for companies to access compared with unsecured borrowing. For property purchases or investment, companies may use commercial mortgages, while development finance can fund property construction or refurbishment projects with staged drawdowns as work progresses. Businesses can also access asset based lending, where funding is secured against assets such as stock, property, or receivables. Start ups and early stage businesses have their own options too. The UK government offers Start Up Loans, alongside mentoring and support to help founders launch and grow their businesses. The key to the successful use of funding is matching the facility to the business model, cashflow cycle, and growth plans rather than relying on a single funding product. Need help with funding with availability to the full range of options available, please get in touch: James@businessfundingplus.co.uk 07983 440348

Employers, please give today’s youth a chance. 35 years ago this week I started my 6 month industrial placement in Aberdeen with Shell UK Exploration and Production Ltd as part of my business degree course. Shell gave me a chance as a young student to work with them when I knew virtually nothing. It was my first proper job, working in a city I didn’t know, working in an industry that I knew nothing about. Totally in at the deep end. It gave me a rounded experience. Shell gave me a chance as a young student to work with them when over 100 businesses ignored my job search letters. That spell was a fantastic learning experience for me, not just working in the Well Engineering finance team but also experiencing a new, and very welcoming, city - including the night life! If you’ve never experienced freshly baked “rowies” at 5am after a night out I highly recommend it! I had a number of different accommodations in Aberdeen during that time including a guest house in Maberly Street and student digs in James Street. I’m very grateful for that chance to start my career and to all my former colleagues, especially my mentors during that time Stan Christie and Jim Guyan. Come on employers, give more young inexperienced people a chance within your business. They can provide a different dynamic to your workplace and gaining invaluable experience is vital for the long term strength and longevity of our economies.

“It doesn’t count until it’s in the bank account!” The old adage that was drummed into me many years ago when I started my financial services career. Despite client promises to pay, payment or income is not considered real or available until it has been fully processed, paid and importantly received. It still happens way too often. Businesses that promise to adhere to the agreed prearranged payment terms but for a variety of reasons don’t. First meeting of the week and it’s to discuss assisting a young, fast growing consulting business with an improved cash flow mechanism. They’ve been finding that payments of their invoices are taking longer than expected. It’s holding them back. For businesses that find themselves in this situation Invoice Finance is often the most appropriate solution to improve their cash flow. Why should you consider Invoice Finance for your business?; ✅ Turn your invoices into cash in your bank account within a couple of days and it is significantly faster than most loans or other lines of credit ✅ You only borrow money you have already earned ✅ Security required is often less than other forms of lending ✅ The fees are low and there are no hidden costs ✅ No long-term commitments, and you only use it when you need to and only pay for invoices that you have borrowed against ✅ The extra cash on hand and not having to wait for payment means that you can pay your suppliers on time, settle all outstanding bills or buy more inventory ✅ The facility grows with your business, enabling you to quickly obtain greater levels of funding as you may require Don’t let your clients treat you like a free bank! We have access to banks and other lenders who can support businesses across all industries - including businesses who have staged or milestone payments. If you would like to find out more about Invoice Finance or any other funding solutions, please contact us: James@businessfundingplus.co.uk or 07983 440348

Beautiful day to be crossing one of the Firth of Forth trilogy of bridges. Three bridges that perfectly capture Scotland’s engineering brilliance across three different eras. The Forth Bridge, opened in 1890, remains one of the most iconic railway bridges in the world. Its enormous cantilever structure was a groundbreaking achievement of Victorian engineering and is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built to withstand the harsh conditions of the North Sea, it symbolised industrial confidence and precision at a time when Britain was shaping modern infrastructure. Nearly a century later came the Forth Road Bridge in 1964. This elegant suspension bridge transformed road travel across the Forth and became a defining feature of Scotland’s transport network. Most recently, the Queensferry Crossing (pictured) opened in 2017. One of the most advanced cable stayed bridges in the world, it represents cutting edge design, resilience and modern engineering innovation. Together, the three bridges tell a remarkable story: over 125 years of Scottish ingenuity, ambition and world class engineering spanning one iconic stretch of water. Scotland, not just good at rugby - pretty decent at engineering too 😉