First Financial Coach

Article by Stan Prokop

Franchise Financing in Canada continues to be both a great opportunity as well as a challenge in obtaining the right financing, the right amount of funds, and most importantly the rates, terms and structures that will maximize your opportunity as a franchise entrepreneur. Clearly the concept of owning ones business in an already success and proven business model is appealing to many Canadian business people, men and women alike.

When clients come to us for franchising assistance they are focused on a number of key different areas relating to the financing and acquisition of their franchise. Many franchisees do not have a financial background – their experience is often based on their career and industry experience in the field they are looking to be a successful franchisee in. Therefore we encourage all franchisees to seek the advice of a credible, experienced and trusted financing advisor who can guide them through the franchise financing process.

So what are those prospective franchisees looking for? They are looking for the right amount of funds that will finance their venture to the extent that it can meet their profit expectations based on their own personal financial contribution, as well as of course the borrowed funds.

The century old phrase ‘character / capacity/capital ‘applies to all borrowing, and certainly franchise financing is no exception. The financier wants capable trustworthy borrowers who are prepared to make some sort of contribution of their own from a financial perspective. Credit quality of the borrower is one of the many factors in franchise financing. It is certainly not impossible to get financing if you have either a low net worth or a tarnished credit score, but it certainly becomes more challenging.

As a franchisee you want fast turnaround in the financing component of your new business. Our experience is that if the owner is properly prepared, with a decent business plan and all the necessary miscellaneous documents, that a franchise financing can generally be completed within 2-4 weeks. Miscellaneous documents that are part of the entire financing process include your personal financial information ( net worth, etc), as well as items such as your executed franchise agreement, proof of deposit, your premises lease, etc. Some clients come to us for a 5-7 year term financing for their new business, but they only have a 3 year premises lease. Your premises lease must match the term of your loan, that’s just common sense. If there is no premises there is no business, and therefore there is no loan payment. Again, just common sense.

Franchises in Canada are financed in several different ways, the major method being a specialize loan program called the CSBF program. Additional financing is done via term loans for working capital, equipment financing for hard assets. And generally a small operating line of credit at the opening of the business.

In the current more challenging financial and economic environment we believe the best franchise financing is achieved by combining several of the above financing options in a structure that makes sense for the business based on cash flow repayment ability and the collateral involved. Many soft costs such as franchise fees cannot really be financed, so they are often taken care of with the franchisees own investment portion of the total venture.

As a general rule it is somewhat easier to finance the purchase of an existing franchise, as the assets, cash flow, and overall value of the business are more established.

So let’s recap some key bottom lines on franchise financing -

- Start your financing discussions and preparation early on in your business venture process

- Determine what mix of financing you need, which will be combined with your own investment

- Ensure you have a proper presentation and business plan – if you don’t have one get one done by an expert

- If you don’t have a financial background seek the advice of an experienced franchise financing advisor who can work with yourself and the franchisor to get the best total overall franchise financing solution for your proposed new business, relative to rate, term and structure and any collateral required.

That is a successful franchise strategy.

Article by Stan Prokop

Floor plan financing in Canada is clearly a niche financing industry. The landscape for floor plan financing has changed dramatically over the years, with this type of financing become a very specialized field. When clients ask us for floor planning information several key points are always up for discussion. We will focus our article information on non-automotive floor plan financing.Canadian wholesalers and retailers in non automotive markets often find it critical to keep sufficient inventory on hand for product sales, demonstrations, and order fulfillment. This type of focus on inventory is important to Canadian business owners and financial managers. Your business has the need for inventory and floor plan financing that gives you’re the amount of credit limit you require to grow and prosper.Interest rates charged on floor plan financing are important – equally as important is your ability to maintain enough gross margins to absorb floor planning charges and still generate a profit.Floor plan financing in Canada is available for any wholesaler or retailer who is aligned with reputable manufacturers. Historically floor plan financing was for select industries but now it has broadened to a variety of consumer and commercial products. In the 1980′s and 1990′s floor planning of computers for OEM’s and Value added Resellers was an important component of the computer industry.Floor plan financing is all about inventory. You need inventory as your products are sold to your customer based.In many cases it also makes serious sense to ensure you have a financing program in place with the customer base also that is a logical extension of the floor plan financing that you yourself carry.Floor plan financing is somewhat of a ‘ risk’ based financing, in that your floor plan lender always carries the risk that your firm might sell product ‘ out of trust ‘ – which is the finance terminology for the collateralization of your inventory by your floor plan financing firm. A significant amount of emphasis in any floor planning arrangement is the focus that is put on your firms overall all credit worthiness and ability to conduct business in an honest and ethical manner. Clearly your business model also necessitates that your have strong inventory and control systems in place which allow you to report regularly on the inventory that is financed. In Canada the Person Property Security Act and the concept of ‘security interest ‘is the lending documentation by which your inventory is financed and collateralized.While physical inspections and regular and ad hoc audits are a key element of floor plan financing clearly the use of technology and the internet has significantly enhanced your ability to interact with your floor plan lender. At the root of all floors planning is the ability for the manufacturer, yourself, and the floor plan financier to communicate effectively. The overall all credit worthiness of your company drives the final decision on what amount of maximum floor planning credit line can be provided. We often speak to our clients regarding floor planning facilities on the need for your business to understand your inventory turns – in a perfect world you want to have a strong inventory turnover which will drive a lower cost of carrying floor plan financing.In many cases the receivables you generate out of a sale of inventory can help to bolster your overall floor plan financing arrangement. The ‘ worst case scenario ‘ in any floor planning arrangement is your firms inability to pay the floor plan financing at which point measure are taken to repossess product. No one wants that of course. That’s the most negative aspect of floor plan financing – the positive aspect is that it provides tremendous financing power for sales growth.Floor plan financing is a key element of business finance for any wholesaler or retailer of manufactured products by well known household and industrial names. Speak to a credible, trusted and experienced financing in this area to determine how floor plan financing in Canada works and how it may improve your revenues and profits.

Article by Stan Prokop

Most Canadian business owners and financial managers probably don’t know, in our opinion at least, that financing options exist in Canada for purchase orders and inventory. In covering off financing alternatives such as this with clients we tend to lump these two types of ( relatively unknown ) financing in with the terms ‘ alternative financing ‘ and asset based lending.Clients who typically have a need for inventory or purchase order financing have typically been unable to arrange traditional financing with their banks or other term lenders.One of the most common needs that drives these types of financings is the global economy – what do we mean by that. Simply that many clients are telling us that their new suppliers over the last several years are in the U.S. and China, and in some cases Europe. Naturally it is obvious that suppliers in those countries are unable to extend credit to Canadian firms. You know what comes next! They require cash up front in order to release goods.Even in the best of economic times Canadian business would have a challenge in financing inventory and contracts, paying up front, etc. 2008 – 2009 and the start of 2010 certainly is hardly the best of times, so Canadian firms, especially small to medium size, face huge challenges in generating cash flow and working capital to fund inventory and purchase orders. (Let’s not forget that at that point you have only made the sale and now you have to wait 30-60 days or longer to get paid. Therefore your investment in inventory and receivables becomes even greater.What is the solution? That solution is simple to consider inventory or purchase order financing as a mechanism to finance your business. This type of financing can be arranged for firms of all size, it will ensure your suppliers get paid promptly, and can be generally set up within a 30 day period if you employ the services of a trusted, credible and experienced business advisor in this area. So what is involved in P.O. financing and inventory financing and how does it work. Any type of business financing requires a standard application process, i.e. info on your firm, its owners, your current financial position and prospects, etc. Naturally strong emphasis is place on the actual orders and contracts those selves, or the type of inventory that you require that needs to be financed. It is somewhat important that your clients and suppliers can be validated – i.e. are they legitimate companies who have the ability to either supply your firm, pay your firm, etc. A well known name as a client or supplier certainly helps, but with the assistance of the internet, Dun and Bradstreet, and other sources most companies can be validated today from anywhere!When you purchase orders are financing your suppliers are paid up front on your behalf – you pay the purchase order firm generally as soon as you are able to generate a sale and receivable. For that reason it is necessary to ensure you have either a banking or receivable financing/factoring facility in place Purchase order financing has a higher cost of finance that traditional financing, so it is also important that you have some good gross margin profit on your transactions, as those solid margins help offset the cost of the financing.In summary, purchase order and inventory financing are becoming more popular in Canada, although many business owners are still unfamiliar with this unique type of financing. While the financing is costly it can nonetheless help you grow sales and profits tremendously. Investigate this financing with a specialist to determine if it’s the right growth driver for your firm.

Article by Get Approved

For many, an understanding of vehicle finance is limited to car loans. If interested in buying a car, there are a number of car loans and car financing options available to most applicants – and it is a service and alternative to the straight out purchase of a car that is taken up by many car customers.

Less widely known, however, is that most financiers also offer loans for leisure vehicles such as boats, caravans, motorhomes, motorbikes and even aircraft. If you’ve always wanted a boat or are looking to add activities to your weekend and holiday ‘to-do’ list, owning your own leisure vehicle could be easier than you imagined! Here’s a run-down of available leisure vehicle financing:Boat finance: Most boat financing options work in a similar way to car finance and are available from a variety of banks and finance brokers. Some of the most popular boat finance options available are secured boat loans, chattel mortgage, commercial hire purchase or boat leasing. Caravan finance<u>:</u> Caravan loans cover loans for caravans, Recreational Vehicles (RV) and motorhomes and are widely available from financiers and finance companies. Whether it’s a small camper trailer or a re-locatable motor home, caravan finance options will have you enjoying the Australian open roads and the great outdoors in no time!Motorbike finance: Always dreamed of owning your own motorbike? Motorbike finance is available to make that dream a reality. A number of financiers offer motorbike finance options and loans to applicants. Aircraft finance: A number of financiers finance aircraft, to be used for either recreational or commercial use. From helicopters to light aircraft, aircraft finance can be easily negotiated with your finance or loan institution. Whether you’re itching to get your sea legs back in action, are planning for a road trip around Australia or want to soar the skies, leisure vehicles can transform your life and help you achieve your dreams or cultivate a hobby. Contact your financier to find out what leisure vehicle finance options are available to you. While many leisure vehicle finance options work in a similar way to car finance, there are discrepancies between vehicle and finance types, so make sure you understand your options and get sound professional advice – you’ll be a leisure vehicle owner in no time!

Article by Stan Prokop

In the old days Canadian business owners went to their bank for PO Financing and Inventory financing… no really, they did… yes really! Most companies now know that the financing of your inventory, purchase orders, contracts, etc is a formidable challenge in the Canadian business financing landscape.Simply speaking, your purchase orders, or inventory were collateralized by the bank and you borrowed against them. Therefore cash flow and working capital that was in effect tied up, or rather invested in your inventory and contracts was monetized, and you had the ability to draw down against those dollars.Well the business financing landscape changed – yet your firm still has inventory, you have growth needs, and you need the financing to drive that growth into sales and profits. If you can acquire inventory financing then the ability to borrow against that inventory and purchase order is a key benefit.So if the banks aren’t really that into inventory and p.o. financing in Canada, then who is. Well the reality is that it’s done via a select and specialized group of private finance firms who have a total knowledge and focus on the value of your inventory, and furthermore usually carry significant knowledge about your industry and the overall business model you operate in. You should approach inventory financing with a positive attitude – by that we mean that your presentation for the financing should focus around the positive aspects of your business – those should include inventory turns, marketability of your product, and, very importantly, the gross margins associated with your business. We can categorically say that businesses with very low thin margins are not the best candidates for inventory and PO financing, simply because the financing costs around this type of financing chip away significantly at those final remaining profits. We mentioned in our title that you should be cognizant of the risks associated with inventory financing – by all means don’t consider the financing of out of date of very slow moving or unsaleable stock – this quite frankly will be viewed simply as a ‘ cash grab ‘ that doesn’t make sense. You will obtain a better inventory financing and p.o financing deal if you have good controls on your products – that typically might include a perpetual inventory accounting Clients always ask if there are any special tips or tricks around the financing proposals around p.o and inventory financing. We tend to focus on the basics, which always work – a listing, or preferably an appraisal of your inventory – updated financials, copies of pertinent purchase orders or contracts, and a business plan or cash flow forecast. The bottom line is that 9 out of 10 financiers have never even heard of p.o financing or inventory financing, so seek the services of a trusted, credible and experienced advisor in this area to assist you in putting the right type of facility in place. An experienced advisor in this area will help you avoid some of the potential risk, pitfalls, and financial ‘damage’ associated with inventory and p.o financing gone awry. They might include higher than market rates, requests for additional hard collateral, locked in contracts you can’t get out of, or inordinate appraisal and inventory count costs.If you are successful in avoiding those risk the benefits will clearly be obvious – the ability to grow sales with unlimited financing of new sales or contracts, quick turn around for approval, and cash flow benefits derived from your suppliers being paid directly by the finance firm. Additionally you may be in a position to negotiate better pricing on products, thereby improving those gross margins we talk about.PO and inventory financing, its all about risk and reward – understand those risks, seek an expert to minimize them, and reap the benefits of increased sales and profit growth.

Article by Stan Prokop

Cash flowing and the monetization of your film tax credits in Canada can be a very large aspect or part of your overall production financing success in today’s challenging entertainment finance area.Whether your film is 100% Canadian, or a co – production you should be aware that your tax credits for Ontario film grants, B.C. film grants, ( those seem to be the most two popular provinces ) can be financed for cash flow and working capital. It is certainly not unusual that tax credit can be anywhere from 25-40% of your overall finance plan, and if that is not significant then we don’t know what is! Its that sort of cash flow and financing commitment that keeps your productions moving forward from a viewpoint of the equity and debt investors you need to engage to successfully finance a production, whether that be television, film, or of course the ever growing digital animation area. Those funds become an intrinsic part of what is generally known as the ‘soft money ‘component of your production. When you rationalize Canadian film tax credits into your overall production financing you can make a strong case that even if a movie or TV show is shot elsewhere than in Canada in certain instances it makes total sense to use Canadian cast members, and post production, all of which significantly contribute to your tax credit status. Everyone seems to agree to day that film, digital animation and TV financing is very much a ‘cobbling together ‘of resources which will end up funding your entire plan. The concept of co productions and co ventures seems to be a very strong part of what is happening now in independent film and TV financing. While film tax credits seems to be falling apart and in fact disappearing in many parts of the world the Canadian environment is very robust. Tax credits can be financing on a ‘when filed ‘basis, or, if your production has good credibility and financial reporting, financing can be provided on an accrual basis. Clients will often ask what the pre requisites are for tax credit financing in Canada. As different and unique as is the entertainment industry the reality is that you’re simply need some careful up front planning and documentation to ensure you can qualify and obtain financing for your tax credits. Generally that comes in the form of having pre sold some of your product in question ( a film, tv series, etc ) and having a financing plan in place that address the three components of debt, equity, and tax credits. Having a specific budget in place for your project, and having that budget validated with respect to which amounts will qualify for tax credits is critical. We can assure you that if your budgets haven’t been reviewed by a proper entertainment accountant then that will be a part of your financing term sheet with respect to requirements for the proposed financing. While some experience in having been approved on previous projects for tax credits is desired, it is not a 100% pre requisite – but when hasn’t experience ever not helped in business and in financing?Whether you view the financing of film tax credits as a mainstream or alternative strategy the reality is that this will make up a key component of your financing. Ultimately you have to be able to verify your numbers and provide some level of clarify around your eligibility for the tax credit. In Canada tax credits can be financed on a when certified and filed basis, or, even more attractively, on an accrual basis. Funds are reimbursed to you as you spend them, in effect doubling up on the cash flow and working capital requirements of your project.Speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced film tax credit financing advisor in Canada who can provide you with financing information that should allow you to complete you’re financing in the most cost effective manner to yourselves as owners of your productions.

Article by Stan Prokop

Your worst business nightmare just occurred. You got the order/contract! Now what?!Purchase order financing is a great tool for firms that have unusual purchase order and contract sales financing needs but are potentially unable to access traditional financing via banks or their own capital resources within their firm. How does trade finance P O financing work, does your firm qualify, what are the costs, and how does it work? Great questions, now let’s explore some answers!Typically Canadian firms looking for this type of financing are distributors, manufacturers, or perhaps wholesalers. A variety of industries in Canada have access to this type of financing, but those certainly tend to be the typical firms needing assistance. Your need for purchase order financing arises out of what we call the classic working capital gap. What do we mean by that? It’s a case of your suppliers requiring payment either up front or within 30 days, with your firm unable to generate those funds for payment and therefore unable to fill large purchase order and contracts in your favor. Your supplier is asking your for payment in advance or 30 days, and you wont receive payment for at least 60-90 days, perhaps more depending on your build cycle, etc.Naturally you don’t want to turn down orders or lose competitive market position.The obvious solution for low cost large amounts of funds are Canadian chartered banks, but our observation is that many firms simply cant satisfy the banks requirements for this type of financing to occur. If your firm is growing, profitable, has a clean balance sheet and strong historical cash flows and history you of course have a solid chance of meeting bank requirements, however that typically is not the case, certainly in the amount of clients we talk to who are looking for alternatives to their growth challenge!When you access p o financing you can have comfort that your suppliers will be paid, and at the same time you generally have access to all the funds you need. Typical purchase order financing applications take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to complete and involve basic financial due diligence on your firms ability to fulfill the order, who your customer is (they must be credit worthy), and your proper supplier sources must be identified and vetted. It’s as simple as that. So what are the basic pre requisites for a solid P.O. Financing deal? Naturally your company must be in possession of a contract or order that is not cancelable by your client. The P O finance firm arranges to pay your suppliers directly, that alleviates all you cash flow and working capital concerns. The transaction is completed when you ship the goods and your receivables are generated on the sale. It is at this time the purchase order finance firm expects to be paid, and this is traditionally handled by your firms monetizing of its receivable via a bank or factoring facility. Factoring facilities are great partners to the P O financing strategy, because use of them guarantees payment to your P O firm.Let’s cover off a couple tips and secrets around the cost of purchase order financing – It generally is in the 2-3% per month range in Canada, and that means you have to have solid gross profit margins in order to be able to sustain the finance charges. But let’s be honest, let’s say your firm has been doing 750k of revenue for the last couple years and you finally get the large order from a major customer for 1 Million dollars. Wouldn’t you give up 2-3 % of your profit margin in order to make one sale which is the equivalent of your entire year’s business? We think you should positively consider that! Clearly the higher cost of this type of financing covers off the complexity and risk that the P O finance firm takes in paying for goods, waiting to get paid, and having the belief that your firm will fulfill the contract order. It has been our observation with certain clients that your successful completion of a purchase order finance deal typically significantly enhances your relationship with your major suppliers and of course customers, that’s a secret benefit that is intangible but invaluable at the same time. Is P O financing for everyone. Maybe not. Could it be possibly the solution to major working capital needs if your business is growing and can’t be financed traditionally – we certainly think so? Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced purchase order finance expert to explore your options.

Article by Stan Prokop

It’s not a myth or urban legend. Financing inventory and financing purchase orders in Canada is actually possible and in most circumstances the cost of this financing is significantly offset by your firms ability to increase sales, generate additional profits, and lower competitive pressure .The bottom line is of course more larger orders and contracts, in some cases from clients you were not able to satisfy in the past based on our financial strength or other challenges.Let’s step back a bit and define some of our key metrics. In its simple form the financing of inventory is simply your ability to finance, or rather, ‘ margin’ inventory on an ongoing basis. The inventory is of course simply the collateral. Clients talking to us about seeking specialized inventory financing are often in the position of having inventory form a large part of their current assets, in conjunction with accounts receivable of course. So in a perfect world you go to your Canadian chartered bank and ask they to finance you inventory and free up cash flow. It’s that simple right? We can hear you already in the background, and we’ll be the first to admit it’s not a perfect world. Even seasoned Canadian business owners and financial managers realize the inventory is not high on the list of bank financing in Canada, especially if you are a small or medium sized firm that does not have the bench strength to satisfy typical bank criteria which focus around everything EXCEPT inventory, i.e. ratios, covenants, external collateral, personal guarantees, etc.For inventory financing to make sense you should realize that your inventory has to be marketable, it can’t be old, stale and slow moving. You also have to be in a position to demonstrate that your inventory turns regularly, and that you have sufficient gross margin to carry the financing costs associated with financing inventory and financing purchase orders. P.o. Financing is of course the ‘ kid sister ‘ to inventory finance, and such a facility contemplates direct payment to your suppliers by the p.o. financier , allowing you to of course satisfy supplier payment amounts and terms, while at the same time fulfilling client orders and contracts .So if the bank is not your best bet how actually are these two asset categories financed? The reality is they are financed by specialized firms, and in the case of inventory pure play financing we encourage clients to bundle their inventory financing with a full asset based lending line of credit via a non bank private finance firm. This type of facility margins both inventory and A/R to maximum leverage, giving you in essence unlimited working capital to grow.To qualify for financing inventory and financing purchase orders you should generally have solid management and industry experience, good accounting and reporting around your inventory, as well as the aforementioned marketable product that can be resold by the financier if a problem arises.Speak to a trusted credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on ensuring your understand the benefits and qualifications for this valuable financing tool and strategy.

Article by Mary E. Tomzack

Financing the acquisition of a franchise is not a slight affair, as with the legal fees, the initial fee, allocation for resource acquisition and various other expenses the cost raises significantly. Therefore financing often becomes mandatory in that situation. Mostly people concentrate on third party financing where they seek out investors and other debt or equity lenders for their financial needs. However, two of the most overlooked options are:

The Target and its shareholders;The Internal Resources of the acquirer.Rather than seek support from outside investors, it is suggested to try using either of the two above-mentioned or a combination of both to see whether the business can be launched without any third party support, yet should the needs not be met then definitely third party financing can be considered.

1. The Target and its Shareholders

The discussion here is to explain financing an Acquisition of a running franchise, so the acquirer should try to gain a comprehensive understanding of the target

Article by J Mcdonald

Buying a car is usually the second biggest investment in a persons life, and financing the purchase of a car is commonplace now days, especially if the vehicle in question is of any substantial value. For most people, buying a new or used car of any worth outright for cash simply isn’t possible, and so car finance gives you the option to purchase, and ultimately own a vehicle that you may not otherwise be able to, much like how a mortgage is taken out to pay for a house.

Even if you do have the savings, or means to buy a car out right, it is still sometimes a more sensible option to finance the purchase, as it allows you to release your money bit by bit in a controlled manner, instead of having all of it tied up in a vehicle, that could potentially get stolen, written off or simply depreciate in value considerably.

The car finance industry is massive and if you are considering financing the purchase of a new car, there are a number of things to consider and be aware of, in order to help you get approved car finance. There are a number of different sources to apply for, and obtain car finance, with the obvious one being from the vehicle dealership itself, but you could also obtain finance from the major banks and online financial institutions and companies.

Financing the purchase of a vehicle through the dealership is usually the most convenient option, however there are a few things you should be mindful of before approaching one. Financing through a dealership can often be ‘high pressure’, this is usually because the salesperson will be working on a commission basis so will be pushing for certain add ons and packages that, on the outset, may look worthwhile, but ultimately may end up costing you considerably more. Things like insurances, extended warranties, and extra options for the actual vehicle itself to push the sale value up are all examples of these commission based ad ons, and if you are financing, it can be harder to see the extra amount these things cost as they are effectively ‘hidden’ and divided over the monthly payments, or term of the loan.

Obtaining car finance away from the dealership with a bank or online institution can give you more control without the pressure of the sales push, and, once approved, you then have your budget and know exactly how much you can spend, which again, gives you more control when negotiating a price with a salesperson. However, because the finance has nothing to do with the dealership, or wherever you’re actually purchasing the vehicle from, you may not get as much support and after sales care as you would if you financed the purchase through them.

When applying for vehicle finance, there are a number of different factors that determine whether you get approved, and if you do, what rate you will pay. Interest rates can vary vastly and probably the most influential factor on the interest rate offered to you will be your credit history. Put simply, the better your credit rating, the lower the rate will be, and the worse it is, the higher the amount you pay back to the lender will be, due to an increased rate.

Another major factor impacting on the interest rate of car finance is the term of the loan – i.e the actual time period it will be payed back over. Usually, the shorter the period, the lower the rate, and it increases correspondingly as the term period is extended. Also, if you are wanting to finance the purchase of a used car, you will probably have to pay a higher rate than if you are buying a brand new vehicle, so this is an important factor to consider before buying. Your address and geographic location can also have an influence on the interest rate offered, as can your profession, and work history etc, so when applying for car finance, be prepared to answer a number of questions based around these areas.

Before going to a dealership to purchase and finance a car, it is a good idea to do some research and be aware of current rates and offers from competing companies and banks so that you are not entering into it completely blind, and can bring then up during the application process if necessary, to aid you in any negotiations.

When financing the purchase of a vehicle of any substantial value, you will most likely have to pay a deposit up front, which will represent a minimum percentage of the overall value of the vehicle, and demonstrates your commitment to the lender and the dealership, as well as helping to cover any admin costs etc. It is always advisable to put down as much as you can afford on the deposit, especially if it is an expensive car, as this will help to lower the monthly payments, give you a little breathing space and control, lessen the likely hood of you going into negative equity if you want to get rid of the vehicle, and also increase the likelihood of you getting approved for the car finance in the first place.

This is probably the most important thing to consider when financing the purchase of a valuable vehicle. If, at some point down the line of the agreement, you become unable to continue paying the monthly payments, or if you simply don’t want the car any longer for whatever reason, you want to either effectively be able to hand it back to the dealership without owing anything outstanding, or to sell it yourself privately without having to cover any potentially sizable negative equity before doing so, and it is your initial deposit that can help prevent this from happening in most cases.

It is never a good idea to finance the purchase of a car with a very low, or even nil deposit, as it will likely result in your payments being much greater, and if you want to release or sell the car you could very well still owe the lender more than the current value of the vehicle itself, as many vehicles (especially brand new ones) can depreciate in value considerably and surprisingly quickly after the purchase, so put down as much as you can up front to cover yourself for any such eventualities.

Before committing, you should ensure you are completely aware of the total financed amount as this will properly illustrate to you the amount you are ultimately paying for the car and whether it is actually worth it or not. Generally speaking, you should consider car finance as long as you can obtain a competitive interest rate and sensible terms that will allow you to comfortably afford the monthly payment, and you should also be able to comfortably put a decent deposit down up front that represents a substantial percentage of the overall value, and to finally remember that even if you can comfortably afford the deposit and monthly payments, whether or not the overall financed amount is actually representative of the actual worth of the vehicle you want to own.

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