Fincheck Business, a new online portal has launched to address the number one challenge that SMEs in South Africa face – access to finance.
Founded by the founders of the financial comparison website for consumers, www.Fincheck.co.za, Fincheck Business is a business-to-business portal that compares loan products that many business owners and entrepreneurs don’t even know are available to them such as merchant cash advance, unsecured SME loans, invoice discounting and asset finance.
“Capital and financing is vital for a small business to scale,” said Michael Bowren, Fincheck CEO. ”We recognised the need to house all loan options available to SMEs in one portal and provide accurate information about the terms, nature, requirements and costs of these products for business owners to compare. And so, Fincheck Business was born.
According to Bowren, they were inspired to help SMEs when they found that many small business owners were taking out personal loans to finance their businesses because they don’t know that other options exist. This tends to put a business poised for growth into survival mode and seldom leads to its expansion and sustainability.
“SMEs are supposed to be the drivers of South Africa’s economy, but the hurdles they face when it comes to accessing not only finance, but reliable information about finance, are significant.”
A merchant cash advance (MCA) is not technically a loan, but it allows a business to get much-needed funds for cash flow, operations and revenue-generating activities like marketing, expanding and acquiring stock. The business receives a cash advance, based on previous turnover. The cash advance is made upfront as a lump sum with no fixed interest rate and no fixed repayment term. Repayment is made via a small, fixed percentage of incoming transactions until the cash advance is paid off.
SMEs can go for unsecured SME loans which do not require them to own an asset – they do not need collateral. Bowren says, “A business that urgently needs cash flow may consider this loan option. Lenders will base their decision on a business’ credit report, income history and income potential. There are very definite advantages and disadvantages to unsecured SME loans that the business owner must thoroughly investigate first.”
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In South Africa, invoice discounting is a popular option for merchants to improve their cash flow. “By taking out a loan against their sent invoices, it works like bridging finance. Invoice discounting can be a relevant option for a business when its capital is tied up in stock or when it is working on customer payment terms of 30, 60 and even 90 days,” says Bowren.
Asset finance is used to buy assets, such as equipment, that are vital for a business to function and grow. Smaller payments are made and spread out over a period of time. Because one big lump sum doesn’t have to be paid up front, working capital is freed up for other important business needs. The SME must also research the different types of asset finance that are available too, such as leasing and hire purchase.
Fincheck Business will provide accurate information about accredited and credible providers so SMEs can make an informed decision about the most appropriate financing option for their business. Using an SMEs specific requirements, the firm will tailor each option with its advantages and disadvantages.
