We focuses on the quality of your client’s accounts receivable, ignoring their financial condition.
This enables us to move quickly and fund qualified businesses including Manufacturers, Distributors and a wide variety of Service Businesses (includes SaaS) in as few as 3-5 days.
Contact me today to learn if your client is a fit.
Tips for Small Businesses During Small Business Week
During Small Business Week, small businesses are presented with an opportune moment to refine their marketing strategies and strengthen customer engagement. Email marketing, a cost-effective and versatile tool, remains a cornerstone of digital marketing efforts for small businesses. In this article, we explore five effective email marketing tips tailored to small businesses, empowering them to maximize their impact during Small Business Week and beyond.
1. Personalization is Key:
Personalized email content resonates with recipients and fosters a sense of connection and relevance. Small businesses can leverage customer data and segmentation techniques to personalize email communications based on demographics, purchase history, and browsing behavior. Address recipients by name, tailor content to their interests and preferences, and incorporate dynamic content blocks to deliver targeted and engaging messages. Personalization enhances the effectiveness of email campaigns, driving higher open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.
2. Craft Compelling Subject Lines:
Subject lines play a pivotal role in capturing recipients’ attention and enticing them to open emails. Small businesses should focus on crafting concise, compelling subject lines that convey value, urgency, or curiosity. Experiment with different tactics, such as incorporating emojis, posing questions, or offering exclusive offers or discounts. A/B testing subject lines allows small businesses to identify high-performing variations and refine their approach over time. Remember to keep subject lines relevant to the email content to maintain trust and credibility with subscribers.
3. Optimize for Mobile Devices:
With a growing number of consumers accessing emails on mobile devices, it’s imperative for small businesses to optimize their email campaigns for mobile responsiveness. Design emails with a mobile-first mindset, ensuring that content renders seamlessly across various screen sizes and devices. Use single-column layouts, clear call-to-action buttons, and concise messaging to enhance readability and usability on mobile devices. Test email templates using responsive design tools to ensure a consistent and user-friendly experience across desktop and mobile platforms.
4. Foster Engagement with Compelling Content:
Engaging content lies at the heart of effective email marketing campaigns. Small businesses should focus on delivering valuable, relevant, and engaging content that resonates with their target audience. Share informative articles, how-to guides, product updates, customer testimonials, and exclusive promotions to keep subscribers informed and entertained. Incorporate visually appealing elements, such as images, videos, and infographics, to enhance engagement and convey messages effectively. Encourage feedback, comments, and social sharing to foster two-way communication and community building.
5. Measure, Analyze, and Iterate:
Continuous improvement is essential for optimizing email marketing performance and driving meaningful results. Small businesses should leverage email marketing analytics tools to track key performance metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates. Analyze campaign data to gain insights into subscriber behavior, preferences, and engagement patterns. Use these insights to refine targeting, content strategy, and email cadence for future campaigns. Experiment with different approaches, monitor results, and iterate based on performance feedback to maximize the effectiveness of email marketing efforts.
As Small Business Week approaches, small businesses have an opportunity to elevate their email marketing strategies and deepen connections with customers. By prioritizing personalization, crafting compelling subject lines, optimizing for mobile devices, delivering engaging content, and embracing data-driven decision-making, small businesses can enhance the effectiveness of their email marketing campaigns and drive sustainable growth and success in today’s competitive landscape. Through strategic experimentation, continuous improvement, and a customer-centric approach, small businesses can leverage the power of email marketing to cultivate lasting relationships, foster brand loyalty, and achieve their business objectives.
Video: What is the structure of a factoring facility?
Terms vary by factor.
Most usually consist of an initial advance of 75% to 90% against accounts receivable.
Factoring fees (aka discount rates) range from 1% to 3% of the invoice for each month the invoice is outstanding (this may be broken down into five, 10 or 15-day increments).
Lower rates are typically reserved for recourse factors with a greater focus on business performance. Some factors charge both a factoring fee as well as an interest rate on funds advanced. Be careful to read the fine print as some factors may include other charges.
Most factoring facility terms range from zero to 24 months and range in size from $10,000 to more than $10 million per month in factoring volume. Different factors are focused on the low and high end of this range. Many factors require a client to commit to factor a certain volume each month. Some factors set no cap on their facility and will allow fundings to grow as the client’s business grows if they keep selling to creditworthy companies.
First lien on accounts receivable will be required (at a minimum), so ask your client early in the process if they have any outstanding liens on their AR. It may be possible to have an incumbent lender subordinate its lien on AR to allow factoring, but success rates are usually low. Most factoring facility terms range from zero to 24 months and range in size from $10,000 to more than $10 million per month in factoring volume.
Different factors are focused on the low and high end of this range. Many factors require a client to commit to factor a certain volume each month. Some factors set no cap on their facility and will allow fundings to grow as the client’s business grows if they keep selling to creditworthy companies.
First lien on accounts receivable will be required (at a minimum), so ask your client early in the process if they have any outstanding liens on their AR. It may be possible to have an incumbent lender subordinate its lien on AR to allow factoring, but success rates are usually low. The Approval Process For a non-recourse factor, little information over and above a recent accounts receivable aging and customer list may be necessary to obtain a proposal. The factor will use this information to assess the quality of the customer base.
Recourse factors, which perform more of a hybrid analysis, will likely require a standard commercial financing package, including current and historic financials, so they can underwrite the business performance as well as the accounts receivable. Term sheets issued in hours to a few days are common.
The Funding Process Your client will continue to do business as they always have: shipping products, completing services and invoicing their customers. From there, the invoices will be sent to the factor. For a notification factor, the invoice will include payment instructions to the factoring company. The factor will verify the invoice by contacting the customer.
Upon verification, the factor will advance your client 75% to 90% of the invoice — often the same day the invoice is issued. When the factor receives payment from the customer, your client will be sent the “rebate” (the remaining 10% to 25%, less the factoring fee). Most factors will fund their clients as often as daily, or less frequently as needed by the client. Initial funding under a factoring facility is often in less than a week. Once a facility is in place, funding usually takes place the same day a new invoice is issued.
Advantage – Speed Most factors put no restrictions on how funds may be used, but a few uses can include:
• Project financing • Business growth financing • Business acquisition financing • Bridge financing • Financing working capital needs • Realization of supplier discounts • Preparation for high season • Crisis management • Debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing Approvals in hours/days not weeks Flexible use of proceeds Non-recourse – It reduces the credit risk of the seller.
The working capital cycle runs smoothly as the factor immediately provides funds on the invoice. Non- recourse – can reduce collection staff/AR tracking Improves liquidity and cash flow in the organization. It leads to improvement of cash in hand.
This helps the business to pay its creditors in a timely manner which helps in negotiating better discount terms. It reduces the need for the introduction of new capital in the business. Elastic credit facility
Many factors will not put a firm cap on facility size, but will allow the facility to grow as AR base grows Can be helpful with rapidly growing businesses
Disadvantages: Cost – Factoring fees (aka discount rates) range from 1% to 3% of the invoice for each month the invoice is outstanding Inability to leverage other assets An ABL facility may allow advances against Inventory, Equipment and CRE A true factor will only advance against AR Providing factor access to customer base
