Most businesses found in the United States today are on the smaller side, often having under 500 or even 50 employees overall. These small companies have thin cash reserves, and any young company is probably only making a modest profit at best until it can expand. So, these small businesses rely heavily on loans to keep themselves funded and operate, from a small business loans for construction company operations to restaurant funding options and inventory financing. In fact, even payroll funding companies can be used just so the small company can afford to pay its own employees on time. Taking out a loan, such as small business loans for construction company work, means having good business and personal credit alike and reading the fine print. How might this work?
Loans For a Small Business
The bad news is that many small business owners today do not have a firm grip on the concept of loans and credit. In fact, around 45% of those small company owners are not even aware that they have a business credit score at all, and if their business credit score is low, that can be a serious hindrance. In fact, a business owner’s personal and business credit scores may be counted together for loan purposes, and both must be good in order for a loan to work out well. The employees can get business credit cards just with the company’s business credit score, but the owner needs a healthy personal financial life, too, such as paying off a mortgage responsibly or paying off an auto loan. Also, around 60% of small business owners admit that they don’t feel properly knowledgeable about accounting and finance matters, but fortunately, these subjects can be learned. Online classes from colleges and books on the topic can be consulted, and someone looking to launch a business can start things the right way and build up good credit scores from the start. Often, small business loans are secured not from big banks (which see small businesses as risky), but rather, from specialized lenders.
A Construction Loan
What is there to know about small business loans for construction company purposes? A construction project may easily cost a few million dollars or more, and few construction firms have that kind of cash on hand. So, small business loans for construction company work can provide all that cash, and get the project underway. These loans are unique in that they are not provided all at once as a lump sun right away. Instead, the lender will break the loan into pieces and provide them one at a time as the construction project proceeds. Inspectors will visit the site and confirm that the project is going well, and at the end of each phase, another portion of the loan will be provided. This will happen several times until the project is finished, and now, the construction firm must pay it all back. How? Most often, the construction company will take out a mortgage on that newly-completed building equal to the loan’s value, then start paying off that mortgage every month. Also: take note that if the project is canceled, then the construction company will only owe interest on the money borrowed thus far, not on the entire loan. It would be nonsense to pay interest on money that was never lent, after all.
Truck Loans
Truck carrier companies are often small and have limited cash, so the owners can finance a new truck and trailer by consulting local truck lender firms. These firms are more lenient than big banks, but they will still look into the borrower’s financial history and credit scores. A good credit score means a generous loan at a low interest rate, and even a borrower with bad credit may get a loan, though with heavy interest rates. What is more, the borrower can even take out a loan on a current vehicle or trailer of theirs, and get a loan based on a fraction of its value. Details about the truck, such as its intended use and current condition, should be shared with the lender. And either way, the truck and trailer in question are used as collateral for the loan, making it more attractive for the lender.
