Understanding the financing services available to your business can be a huge help when you find yourself in a difficult position with the budget. Unfortunately, it can also be an overwhelming experience. With so many financing options available to businesses in the current day and age, you might struggle to understand which is the best fit for your current situation. One of the better decisions you can make in this regard is to pursue asset-based lending. With this option, you have a lot more freedom and flexibility than you would with traditional routes.
The Usual Process
Financing a business usually involves visiting a larger lending institution like a bank or credit union. Taking out a loan through such establishments is a very commonplace way for business owners to stimulate cash flow. However, this process won’t work for everyone. Business owners with poor credit ratings or less experience within a specific industry might not qualify for financing. If this is the case, turning to an alternative like lending based around assets can offer a perfect solution to the more traditional path.
What Is ABL?
While traditional loans and credit lines are based around the details of a borrower’s financial history, asset-based lending works in a slightly different way. Instead of using your credit score to guarantee approval, a lender will take a look at an asset you put forward as collateral. The lender will assess your collateral and offer you a credit line or loan based on the perceived value of the asset itself. This is a wonderful way to gain access to capital without having to follow the more traditional channels of financing.
What Counts as an Asset?
Another key point you need to keep in mind when it comes to borrowing based on your assets is what you can use as collateral. You need to think big in this regard and focus on what would be considered worthwhile to a lender. More often than not, the best options available to business owners are vehicles, real estate, equipment, and invoices. By using any one of these options to your advantage, you can obtain the funding you require to get your business through a slump or take it to the next level of success.
Getting the most out of financing your business begins with understanding all of the options available to you. Review how asset-based lending services work and gain more perspective on whether this is a good fit for the needs of your company.