Floating a Loan? Don’t Float Alone! Funding Your Canadian Franchise

I recently caught an article on U.S. banking from one of my favorite U.S. websites "Banking Connects." The essence of the piece was that U.S. banks were awash in funds, but entrepreneurs were somewhat "floating alone" in help on floating that loan!

So, let's try and "Canadianize" that comment a bit with respect to a franchise loan in Canada, with emphasis on how to successfully loosen the purse strings of those franchise lenders for your funding needs.

Two critical components of success in franchising funding are your overall "package" of information, including a business plan and cash flow document, as well as owner capital. For non-financial types, those two fairly basic elements are still daunting though. The good news is that for very modest prices, a number of solid sources can recommend assistance or even complete the package on your behalf. The cost by the way? Reasonable!

And now on to owner capital. If there's one constant question we get from clients, it's "How much money do we have to put into the business."

Naturally, we have the perfect answer that never seems acceptable at the outset: "It depends."

That's because the amount of money you put into the business is dictated by several areas of planning that must all come together.

They are as follows: In certain instances, some Canadian or U.S. franchisors doing business in Canada might even strongly dictate how much money you have to put down. We suggest that they might be doing this by experience, knowing that history has told them what an effective owner equity component is to their franchising system.

Funding of your franchise loan might come from a couple of different sources, either an independent commercial finance firm that specializes in this type of lending, or more commonly, the Government Small Business Loan. This requires a permanent capital amount from you in the 10 percent range.

Clients are always happy to hear from us that, on balance, acquiring a proven franchise is actually a favorable lending practice in Canada, if only for the fact that it removes some of the start-up risk associated with opening any new business.

With the current 2012 economy on the horizon, it's safe to say that entrepreneur and self-employment options are clearly on the rise, given downsizing in many other aspects of the Canadian economy.

So, floating that loan! Some of the most accessible and competitive rates from Canadian lenders come via the BIL/CSBF program that more often than not perfectly suits a franchise funding need. The program is classically tailored to meet small business needs (isn't that what a franchise is?) via great rates, limited personal guarantees and longer amortizations, typically in the five- to seven-year range.

We understand that rates for U.S. franchisees that are non-bank in nature are often in the low teens these days in the U.S. The Canadian program we've referenced has rates at least 50 percent lower if that U.S. comment is true.

Don't feel as a Canadian would-be franchisee that you have to "float alone" to float that (franchise) loan. Funds are available if you have a plan, some good business background in your chosen industry and a decent measure of your own funds to commit to the venture.