-- 80 percent of small businesses have a greater need for funding today
than they did one year ago.
-- 82 percent of small businesses believe it is more difficult to get
financing today than one year ago.
-- The majority of respondents (56 percent) also indicated that they
would consider starting a business in a new industry if they had access to
more funding options, helping fuel the American economy.
Traditional Options, Barriers and Trends
In one year since Hurricane Katrina, the SBA approved nearly $10.5 billion
in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses whose
properties were damaged by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. But less
than 25 percent of this money has been disbursed to hurricane victims to
date.
Plus, nearly all extensions of capital to small businesses, whether in the
form of credit cards or commercial loans, are tied to the prime rate.
Since June 2004, the Federal Reserve has issued 17 consecutive
quarter-percentage-point increases. For business owners, the impact of
these rising rates can be severe, leading to unforeseen and unexpected
costs.
The survey asked small business owners to identify the funding methods that
they find appealing, and inquired about the sources of working capital they
have applied to in the past. The survey results reinforced that while some
forms of funding may be appealing on the surface, many are not always
feasible based on the business' current situation. 90 percent of
respondents found traditional bank loans to be appealing, yet only one in
four actually sought a bank loan despite needing money. Similar results
were found with SBA loans which initially appear very appealing to small
businesses, yet only one in seven businesses actually sought an SBA loan.
Although venture capital is on the rise, hitting $5.3 billion in Q3 2005,
it remains considerably lower than its $27 billion levels of 2000. More
important, most small businesses do not qualify for venture capital. When
asked about other considerations, small business owners were mixed.
-- More than 55 percent of small business owners do not believe loans
from friends or family are appealing.
-- More than 45 percent of small business owners do not believe home
equity lines or second mortgages are appealing.
The data found by the survey is consistent with findings released recently
by the Federal Reserve which said that changes in regulations and a
sluggish economy had prompted small businesses in 2003 to turn increasingly
to non-banking financiers such as finance and leasing companies,
brokerages, credit- and debit-card processors, venture capitalists, family,
and individuals. The Federal Reserve said that from 1998 through 2004,
small firms' use of non-bank financial companies for funding increased from
40 percent to 54 percent. This movement to non-traditional financial
sources is the continuation of a 20-year trend. In 1987 only 25 percent
of small firms used financing that was not provided by banks, thrifts, or
other depository institutions.
Alternative Sources of Cash: Low Awareness
The survey found a strong disconnect between how businesses have previously
considered seeking funding and their actual behavior. The survey also
pinpointed a lack of awareness of Merchant Cash Advances, a funding method
that has garnered some recent attention, as referenced in a May 8, 2006
Wall Street Journal article titled "Capital Ideas." Merchant Cash Advances
enable a merchant to employ their future credit card sales, an asset
traditionally unrecognized by financial institutions, to raise working
capital. The survey responses indicated a low market awareness level for
Merchant Cash Advances.
-- At least 73 percent of respondents were unaware that they can sell
their future credit card sales in exchange for working capital.
-- Only 6 percent had ever sold future credit card sales in order to get
working capital.
-- An overwhelming percentage, 92 percent, responded that they would find
it appealing to have access to a financial product that could provide as
much as $150K in working capital per revenue-generating location within 10-
14 days.
Generally, Merchant Cash Advance providers purchase fixed amounts of future
credit card sales at a discount. Collection of the purchased credit card
sales occurs automatically through the merchant's credit card processor.
The Merchant Cash Advance provider receives a fixed, predetermined
percentage from each credit card sale. Since it is sent a set percentage
and not a fixed amount, the provider only gets paid when the business does,
helping manage cash flow throughout the year. No fixed payment schedule or
application fees apply.
Capital Access Network Small Business Barometer
The CAN Small Business Barometer will be released quarterly and is
commissioned by Capital Access Network with the purpose of capturing and
reporting data that will continue to support the growth and viability of
small businesses across America. According to Glenn Goldman, CEO of
Capital Access Network, "The private capital markets are creating and
expanding new financial service products to meet the needs of America's
small business owners. However, as the Small Business Barometer shows, the
country's merchants are just beginning to learn about other sources of
funding available to them. Expanding the knowledge of these business
owners regarding alternatives is of paramount importance."
About Capital Access Network, Inc.
Capital Access Network is based in Scarsdale, NY. For additional
information regarding the survey, please contact Diane Naczi at
770-590-9822 X382 or visit www.CapitalAccessNetwork.com.
Contact Information: PRESS RELEASE Heather Graham Trevelino/Keller Communications Group 404-214-0722 x103 Email Contact