How to prepare your business for capital raised

Mar 2021

Jan 2025

You have worked hard to start up your business. After perfecting your presentation, you have been able to raise some capital. Congratulations! Now what do you do? Make sure you don’t waste this opportunity to launch your business right. Here are five ways to prepare your business for capital raised.

1) Know your “runway”

Your business’s “runaway” is the amount of time your business has before it runs out of cash. First, you should look at your business’s monthly expenses and your capital raised and then, determine how much time you need in order to gain a steady stream of income. Ideally, you will want your business to have a six-month “runaway.” With six months’ worth of operating capital, you can deal with various disruptions that will come with operating a new business.

2) Use a budget management tool

One of the best ways to manage your business is to use a budget management tool, and with the right budget tool, you will be able to manage your expenses and identify opportunities to save money and run leaner. There are a number of top budget management tools that are designed around start-ups. Some of the top budget management tools include the following: Quicken - Quicken is great for smaller starter-ups with its easy-to-use software and interface. Centage - If you have more complex operations, then Centage is an ideal budget management software system. Lola - Lola is a great budget management tool if you are dealing with a number of expense report.

3) Secure the best prices from vendors

You want to make sure that your capital goes as far as it can possibly go. Therefore, you will want to control your costs. One of the best ways to control cost is to be able to get the best prices from your vendors. Be sure to get multiple quotes from as many vendors as possible. Also, if you are planning to use a vendor for the long term, try to negotiate better prices to help you stretch your capital.

4) Have a business plan

It’s a good idea to have a business plan. In fact, a business plan is like a road map that shows everyone in your company, as well as your investors, what is your plan to grow income and become profitable. If you have no experience writing up a business plan, don’t worry. There are a number of business plan templates that you can use to help you get started. Here are a couple of places where you can find business plan templates:

5) Have an emergency or contingency plan

You want to make sure that your business has a plan for the unexpected. In fact, situations such as natural disasters or disruptions in manufacturing or inventory can spell disaster for your business. The best way to plan for an emergency is to set aside a portion of your capital raised and set it aside for emergency situations. That emergency money can save you in situations where you need money fast and you may not be able to raise further capital.

Getting your capital for your business going

Now that you have the capital that you need for your business, it is time to get going. Be sure to have a plan, set a budget, and watch your spending. Also, spend your business capital the right way and you will be well on your way to start-up success. If you require a merchant cash advance for your business, 2M7 Financial Solutions are here to help you out. Request a quote, we will be happy to assist you.

June 29, 2018

January 24, 2025

The Future of the MCA Industry

Today’s small businesses don’t need to rely on big banks for financing options. Over the past decade, there has been a rise in alternative MCA Industry that make it easier and faster for startups and small businesses to find the cash they need when they need it.When business owners consider applying for a merchant cash advance (MCA), it is usually because they are in need of cash flow immediately, have poor credit, or haven’t had success with traditional loan applications. MCAs give business owners flexibility as funds can come through to their bank accounts within days and the transaction requires no personal guarantee. This is because MCAs are not considered loans, so there is no need to put up collateral to receive an advance.Merchant cash providers are strictly offering an immediate cash infusion for a portion of a business’s future earnings through repayment plans or a percentage of upcoming credit card transactions. As credit card use has expanded, this type of lending has become increasingly popular with businesses whose sales often come via card, not cash.As the MCA industry continues to grow, what will the future of MCA lending look like?

Collaboration with Commercial Banks

The success and growth of the merchant cash advance industry have led commercial banks to reevaluate their lending requirements to become more competitive with MCA providers. While banks must maintain strict lending standards, they may begin to partner or collaborate with MCA industry leaders like investors, advisors, or partners.Commercial banks are noticing the simplicity and necessity of offering small businesses quick and easy financing but may not be able to provide it themselves. By working with an MCA provider, they can give their clients additional options that have been vetted by the bank.

Changes in Oversight

One of the main differences between merchant cash advances and other more traditional forms of funding is that MCAs are exempt from state and federal oversight. This means MCA providers with poor reputations can go unchecked and there are no set standards in place for interest rates or procedural best practices.With the recent boom of the MCA industry, it may be necessary for an increase in oversight to help clamp down on lenders who are mistreating clients or to set standards for this growing sector. This would help protect small businesses, as well as lend credibility to those MCA providers that are doing the best work for their clients.

Additional Offerings

Some MCA providers are beginning to diversify their offerings to compete with new financing options offered by prominent names like PayPal and Square. This means some MCA providers may consider offering more traditional loans, lines of credit, and cheaper rates than their larger competitors.In addition, since small businesses are beginning to have more and more confidence in the MCA process, the interest of venture capitalists and other investors has grown. This might mean the creation of new technology and credit score models that may disrupt how financing has previously been regulated.

May 25, 2022

January 24, 2025

2M7 Announces 2022 “Forward Thinkers Scholarship” for Business and Finance Students in Canada

2M7 Financial Solutions is proud to announce its annual Forward Thinkers Scholarship to support Canadian post-secondary students in Business, Finance, or equivalent programs who are forward-thinking individuals dedicated to making a difference in their fields. The selected recipient will have demonstrated excellence in their studies and will receive $2,500.00 CAD towards their continued success.“

Students are the future of our industry and we welcome the new perspectives and fresh ideas they bring to the table,” said Avi Bernstein, CEO of 2M7 Financial Solutions. “We’re proud to support passionate and talented individuals in the pursuit of their education, and we welcome all Business and Finance majors to apply for an opportunity to receive the Forward Thinkers Scholarship in 2022.”

As one of Canada’s leading merchant cash advance providers, 2M7 Financial Solutions helps Canadian small and medium businesses secure the funding they need to accelerate their growth. As a client-centric company, 2M7 values the entrepreneurs who are the backbone of the Canadian SME economy and believes in empowering business owners and enabling them to achieve their full potential. Similarly, 2M7 believes it’s important to give students the opportunity to excel in their fields and bring cutting-edge ideas that will help drive the industry forward.

The selected recipient will encompass 2M7’s values of innovation and demonstrate a genuine desire to make innovative strides within their respective field.

To learn more about the scholarship or to start the application, please visit the Forward Thinkers Scholarship page here.

Applications will be accepted beginning June 1^st, 2022, and the deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on August 31, 2022. Winners will be announced in the Fall of 2022.

About the “forward thinkers scholarship” by 2M7

The ”Forward Thinkers Scholarship” by 2M7 is an annual scholarship program, established in 2022 by 2M7 Financial Solutions. It recognizes outstanding students who are pursuing or entering full-time studies in Business, Finance, or an equivalent program. For those interested in applying for the 2022 scholarship, please make sure to follow 2M7 on Facebook for further announcements.

January 14, 2022

January 24, 2025

How to Get Funding for Your Cannabis Business in Canada

Cannabis has been legalized in Canada since 2019, and since the legalization, the consumption of marijuana has skyrocketed to the extent that setting up a cannabis business in the country is guaranteed to be a profitable investment. There’s never been a better time to move into the industry. However, if you’re a cannabis enthusiast that wants to make a move into this industry, the first thing you’re probably concerned about is the working capital to start the business. Business loans in Canada are a big part of the entrepreneurial world, however, getting funding for a cannabis business is easier said than done. So, how can you get funds for your future company? If this is a question that you’re asking, you’re at just the right place. Here are a few funding options from sources that will happily lend you money.

Bank Loan

Banks are obviously the first option whenever we think about anything money/loan-related. But cannabis, banks, and business loans in Canada are three things that don’t blend well together. Most mainstream banks will refuse to work with cannabis companies. However, if you can find the right bank, there’s potential to get your hands on a large stack of cash for your cannabis company at reasonable interest rates. There’s a lot of room for customizing payment plans as well, so you can pay back the money on your terms. You’ll have to find a relatively smaller bank that has lenient policies for where they invest their money. But even those banks are strict with their requirements for loans and will check to make sure you don’t have bad credit. The banks will not approve a loan if there’s any signs of problems in your credit and financial history.

Business Line of Credit

A business line of credit is another underrated option when it comes to getting funds for a cannabis business. It’s a simple process that provides your business with a revolving credit limit. It’s very similar to a credit card, but interest rates are significantly lower. You can withdraw a certain amount of money that you need and will have the option to pay it back in the form of monthly balances and partial payments. You’ll have the added benefit that the interest will only be charged for the outstanding balance of your card, making it a viable option for business loans in Canada. This is a good option for some quick funding when you need to pay the utility bills, fund inventory refilling, pay salaries, and more. However, you’re not going to get a large amount of money with a business line of credit. You’re going to be limited to a certain amount of money, depending on your credit limit. If you’re looking for funds to start your company, a business line of credit is not a good idea. If you need a small amount of money for occasional expenses, this is a great option.

Merchant Cash Advance

A merchant cash advance is, by far, the best way a cannabis business can secure funding. It’s a system where you pay today’s bills with tomorrow’s money. Your MCA provider will hand over a flat sum of cash directly into your account, and you’ll only have to return a certain percentage of your sales every month until the entire amount is covered. This is a flexible option for businesses that aren’t certain of what their sales volume will be each month. For example, if you have $0 in generated revenue for December, you won’t have to pay back anything to your MCA provider. That’s the major benefit of MCA and why it’s such a great idea for an industry like cannabis. Where Can You Get a Merchant Cash Advance? So, now that you know what an MCA is let’s talk about where you can get it. 2M7 Financial solutions is a Canadian merchant cash advance provider that has been helping small businesses like yours get over the funding limitations and compete with your top competitors. The best part about working with 2M7 is that we give funds to companies that banks and other lenders are saying no to. Here’s a breakdown of why 2M7 is the company that should fund your business:

Quick Process – We work fast! If you signed up for an MCA in the morning, you could have the money in your account by the end of the day.
Ignoring Bad Credit – Unlike banks, 2M7 doesn’t rely on credit scores as a factor to decide who gets funding and who doesn’t. If you have bad credit, you are still eligible for an MCA.
Multi-Use Funding – Businesses have tons of miscellaneous costs, and we get that. That's why the money you get from 2M7 can be used for any business purpose you choose.

Conclusion

A merchant cash advance is the best way to secure capital for your company. So, if you are looking for a Canada-based provider to help you out, get in touch with the funding experts and discover how this alternative financing option can help your business.