Business Loans Definitions

Secured: Accounts Receivable Financing - Accounts receivable serve as collateral for a business loan.

Asset Based Lending Loan (Bundled AR/Inventory/Equipment) - A combination of accounts receivable AND inventory OR equipment serve as collateral for a business loan.

Business Credit Card - Usually issued to corporate executives or business owners in order to more easily keep business expenses separate from personal charges.

Buying a Business Loan - Bank loan granted for the use of buying a business.

Secured: Equipment Financing Loan - Equipment serves as collateral for a business loan.

Franchise Loan - Business loan for a franchise.

Hard Money Loan - Loan usually from a private lender. Actual money loaned and secured by a trust deed as opposed to a loan carried back by a seller, in which no money passes.

Secured: Inventory Financing Loan - Inventory serves as collateral for a business loan.

Invoice Factoring - Accounts receivable are sold at a discount to a factoring firm.

Line of Credit - Also known as revolving line of credit. Usually only available to established companies, a lender agrees to loan a specific amount of money for a specified amount of time, usually a year and allows the borrower to borrow the money again once it has been repaid.

SBA Loan - The SBA is the government administration established to help small business owners, either start-up entrepreneurs, or established businesses, who can not find conventional financing. It is easier to receive financing with the help of a government guarantee. These guarantees are given to lenders to help strengthen a loan in the eyes of the lender. The government does NOT lend the money. The SBA Loan Programs are only available in the United States.

Unsecured Business Loan - Unsecured business loan financing allows you to borrow funds for purchasing equipment, remodeling, or expanding your business premises. With an unsecured business loan, your business is not required to pledge any collateral to secure the loan. You are evaluated based on the strength of your business and your personal situation as a principal and as a guarantor.

Working Capital - Current assets minus current liabilities. Working capital measures how much in liquid assets a company has available to build its business. The number can be positive or negative, depending on how much debt the company is carrying. In general, companies that have a lot of working capital will be more successful since they can expand and improve their operations. Companies with negative working capital may lack the funds necessary for growth. also called net current assets or current capital.

Term Loan - A loan which is re-paid in fixed payments, usually over a 2- to 5-year period. Can be fully amortizing or interest only with a balloon payment at the end of the term.