Financing Your Store: 5 Tips for Using Collateral to Secure a Loan

October 28, 2019 Joe Badalis 0 Comments

The entrepreneurial journey is a long one, with many challenges that may come in the way. Founders focus on educating themselves, with the best-in-class online HR management degree, marketing training programs, and financial analysis seminars. As they begin to develop their idea further, they need access to capital for fresh funding.

There are multiple avenues that entrepreneurs and small business owners can explore, especially when it comes to sourcing capital locally. While the banks may turn you down, it’s critical to work with a reliable hand-money lender in your local region. They can also help you design the right type of loan so that you can get started right away.

Have a detailed account of your assets

It’s helpful to have a detailed account of all assets under your name so that you have greater flexibility when approaching a lending firm. You can talk about the different assets that you own, such as land, property, or real estate, and get a better understanding of what can be put up as collateral.

You can also get a valuation check done on all your assets so that you have a third-person’s opinion as reference. You can leverage that information when meeting with a hard money lender to secure a loan for your store.

Understand the extent of collateral utilization

When meeting with your lender, it’s critical to understand what collateral can be used in which situation. You could focus on assets that you own or assets that you may have taken other loans on. Depending on the unique situation of the founder, a lending firm may make a decision on the capital necessary. In certain situations, your business inventory may also be qualified collateral when asking a lender for funding.

Weigh the opportunities of collateral-based loans

It’s good to weigh the cost and opportunities presented by collateral-based loans. This is an important tip to follow because many founders may simply jump into the idea of acquiring quick cash. You may be locking in your asset, when under contract, and not be able to leverage the asset elsewhere for cash generation. 

Additionally, the asset being used as collateral may not be in the right condition in the first place. It may need significant repairs, which is something that a qualified firm may be able to help you with, as well.

Find the right firm to work with

This is probably the most important tip that any financial expert can share with a borrower. You need to take your time and find the right local leader in the space of collateral-based lending. This is so that you can get the right loan structure, and understand the conditions placed on the asset.

When opting for hard money loans in Texas, borrowers focus on the leading enterprises in the domain. They rely on these market leaders to provide consulting-based services as and when borrowers focus on cash acquisition.

Have clarity on the loan documentation

Borrowers need to understand why certain documents may be required when applying for a collateral-based loan. Ask the right questions before engaging with a lending firm. Additionally, borrowers can also get deeper insights into the terms of the loan, as well as the interest charged.

Borrowers should also ask other firms about the paperwork necessary so that they’re able to get a sense of what is mandatory and what is optional. This can also help empower borrowers long-term as they focus on acquiring the right rates from the right lender. It can also affect the type of loan acquired for equipment leasing, store capital, and inventory acquisition.