News Articles
Superannuation? My business is my super…
Superannuation is a hot topic this week. One reason many SME owners endure the trials and tribulations of entrepreneurship is to give them a better retirement. This article explores the pluses and minuses of relying on your businesses for your retirement. It examines the advantages of control and potentially higher returns, as well as the risks of business value, lack of diversification, and stress.
Avoid being collateral damage when your largest customer goes broke
What can you do to minimise the damage to your business when one of your largest customers goes broke? Here are five tips I can share from my many years of experience financing accounts receivable.
Algorithms vs Experience: SME capital raising for special situations in the new world
Commercial finance is becoming increasingly reliant on algorithm-based lending, but for special situations such as distress, business turnaround, acquisition, and major strategic transitions; experience still trumps technology.
Pandemic impaired financials no obstacle to funding new civil contracts
The husband and wife owners of a civil contracting business in Victoria – like many – saw their business suffer during the pandemic. Many projects in their region were put on hold. Two years of restricted revenue had depleted their business cash reserves.
Reclaiming Progress: Cashflow in Contracting
A contract maintenance business had been trading for 20 years. They were pleased to win a major contract with the government that required one simple change to the way they billed. They needed to bill for quantities, instead of the “hourly rates” they had used since inception. This turned out to be a nasty trap, and a miscalculation…
Finance for Acquisition of Civil Engineering Business
Purchasing equipment in a secondary market can be both lucrative and problematic. If done astutely, clients have the ability of picking up high quality assets that are well below market value. However, financing options are severely diminished when not purchasing “new” items.
A client was referred to Hermes to fund the purchase of machinery that would complement their current offerings. This particular asset would allow them to complete the full scope of work within their major contracts – without subcontractors. In turn, this would increase both sales and margins.
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