Merchant Cash Advance: Choosing the Best Provider
Evaluating all the available options and making a sound decision when your business needs cash could appear difficult. Nevertheless, taking your time to choose the right business advance provider is worth your time. There are many industry players offering cash advance and factored loans. Some being large lending institutions and financial services, others being small businesses but specializing in merchant cash advance provision. Although an institution you have already dealt with like your present bank or credit card processor may give the services you require, if your business is trustworthy, you can negotiate a better rate elsewhere since other companies could be familiar with your trade history. Therefore, what should you look for when choosing the best provider?
One of the recommended methods is to evaluate several providers to determine if you can get the best terms for your business. Other essential qualities to look for in a provider include:
•Knowledge-The provider you decide to choose should be able to explain to you the repayment and application process, and put all your worries a side.
•Accessibility-you will need a provider who is able to communicate with you throughout the application and repayment.
•Reputation- Choose a merchant cash advance provider with a solid and established history in providing financial service to businesses similar to yours.
•Honesty-The best provider for your merchant cash advance should be one who is able to evaluate the financial condition of your business and make recommendations regarding the type of financing you would need. Don’t go for a provider who will steer you in taking an advance amount which is unreasonably too high.
•Broker or principle- You should deal directly with the merchant cash advance provider and not a broker. Therefore, you must ensure that you verify who you are dealing with by demanding a copy of the contract you wish to sign before going on with the application.
•Experience- You can avoid being a victim of unscrupulous merchant cash advance provider by finding out how long the provider has been in merchant cash advance practice.
•References- Checking the references of every merchant cash advance provider can help you establish whether a provider has the best track record and responsible partnership with previous customers.
•Specialty- You should look for a provider who has experience in a business similar to yours in terms of revenue, size, industry, or amount advance.
•Industry association membership- In 2008, the merchant cash advance industry established a trade association binding them towards self regulation. Therefore, if possible, go for the merchant cash advance with membership in one of the most reputable Associations you may know of.
Don’t go for a provider who charges fees for different services beyond the advance fee or factor rate, such as an administration fee or other applicable charges. Take considerable caution! Processing and administrative fees are not usually assessed by most respectable companies. Therefore, no provider should give an ultimatum that you must switch to their company for all of your merchant cash advance services like credit card processing. Finally, you must always remember to compare prices and quotes from different providers so as to ensure that you get the most appropriate deal.