Tag: Richmond Asset Finance (page 5 of 6)

4 benefits of switching to electric commercial vehicles

4th September 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Switching from petrol or diesel commercial vehicles to electric vehicles is not only a practical change, but a cost-effective one too.

As concerns about climate change and the environment mount, businesses are under increasing pressure to make more environmentally conscious decisions.

Electric vehicle technology is rapidly evolving, and electric vehicles are now becoming a more practical, attractive and accessible option for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Many businesses are put off making the change because the initial outlay for electric vehicles may seem high when compared to comparable petrol or diesel models. However, the low running cost of electric vehicles offsets the initial expense and makes it a cost-effective decision in the long-term.

It is also an extremely worthwhile investment when you consider the difference in will make to your business’ carbon footprint.

Here are the 4 top reasons your business should consider switching to electric commercial vehicles.

Low running costs– Generally, the cost of running an electric vehicle is cheaper than the cost of running a petrol or diesel vehicle because electricity is cheaper per mile than fuel.

Reduced maintenance costs – Electric vehicles are functionally simpler and have fewer moving parts than their non-electric counterparts, making them considerably cheaper to maintain.

Environmentally friendly – Investing in electric vehicles will help your business to meet its environmental and social responsibility. As well as producing no CO2 or harmful greenhouse gasses, electric vehicles reduce air and noise pollution. Making the switch will help your businesses to reduce its carbon footprint and become more sustainable.

Employee satisfaction – Electric vehicles, particularly when used primarily for short trips around the city, are convenient and comfortable to drive. As well as using state-of-the-art technology, electric vehicles are smooth-running, emit zero fumes, and are virtually silent, providing the driver with a relaxing and pleasurable ride.

Need some help financing one or more commercial electric vehicles? Here at Richmond Asset Finance we provide a range of flexible vehicle finance and asset finance services to help you to grow your business.

For more information about our services, or to discuss your requirements in more detail, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.

What are the benefits of using hire purchase?

25th August 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Need to purchase an asset, but don’t have the money to buy it upfront? Take out a hire purchase agreement to receive the asset now and pay for it in affordable instalments.

Hire purchase is a popular type of asset finance popularly used by businesses to buy vehicles, machinery and equipment.

Whilst you are still paying for the asset, the creditor is the legal owner, but once you’ve finished your payment plan it’s all yours.

Here are just a few of the benefits of buying an asset using a hire purchase agreement:

No need to pay a large sum of money upfront– Whilst you may be required to put down a small deposit, the cost will be nothing like paying for the asset upfront. This is particularly useful if it’s a large and unexpected cost, like a vehicle or key piece of machinery breaks down.

Flexible and affordable payments– Hire purchase allows you to spread the cost of the asset over a set period, so you’re paying off a small, affordable sum each month.

Protect your cashflow – Spreading the cost helps you to look after your business’ cashflow. Healthy cashflow is essential for developing and growing your business.

Own the item at the end of the payment plan – At the end of the payment plan, the asset is yours to keep!

Immediate use of the item – You can start using the asset immediately, meaning no expensive downtime whilst you save up the funds.

High quality asset– Many businesses find that they are able to afford vehicles and equipment of a much higher quality and specification through hire purchase than they would have if they were paying upfront.

Fixed interest rates– Hire purchase interest rates are fixed, meaning no uncertainty on costs, helping you to keep your cashflow stable.

No VAT on monthly repayments– VAT is paid upfront by you along with any deposit required. You will then re-claim the VAT in your regular payments.

For more information about our hire purchase agreements, or to discuss your requirements in more detail, give our team here at Richmond Asset Finance a call on 0113 288 3277.

More property investors using bridging loans

18th August 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Recent statistics show that the demand for bridging loans is continuing to grow, particularly in the property investment market.

Whilst property investors may be shunning commercial properties amidst Brexit uncertainty, the market for residential property investment in the UK is still booming.

Recent figures show that investment in UK residential property rose by a huge 150% in 2018.

Tighter mortgage lending criteria has created a higher demand for rental properties. The high demand has caused a shortage of rental properties, allowing landlords to charge higher rent. These factors combined with a slight decrease in property value have made residential buy-to-let properties a valuable investment.

As more property investors seek opportunities to buy properties in the residential sector, the demand for bridging loans has also increased.

In fact, the latest ‘Bridging Trends’ report found that for the second consecutive quarter the commonest use of bridging finance was to buy investment property.

According to the report, 25% of bridging loans were taken out to fund the purchase of investment property, that’s up from 22% in the first quarter.

Bridging finance is the ideal solution for property investors looking to grow their portfolio as it allows them to move on a purchase quickly whilst the price is low. Without access to a bridging loan it is easy to miss opportunities whilst trying to raise funds.

Here at Richmond Asset Finance we provide flexible commercial bridging loanssuitable for property investment, buy-to-let, and land purchase and development.

For more information about our commercial bridging loans, or to discuss your requirements in more detail, give our team of experts a call on 0113 288 3277 and we’ll be happy to help.

Could investing in agroforestry increase your farm’s income?

10th August 2019 / admin / Comments Off

An agroforestry system could help your farm to become both more productive and more sustainable.

As we begin to feel the effects of climate change, farmers are under pressure to make their business’ more sustainable.

Combined with the impending changes the industry may face as result of Brexit, these are uncertain times for farmers.

A new handbook published in collaboration with the Farm Woodland Forum and the Soil Association, has hailed agroforestry as a solution for both increasing farm productivity and making farms more sustainable.

We’ve looked at what agroforestry is and how it can benefit your farm and the wider environment.

What is agroforestry?

Agroforestry is the process of growing trees or shrubs within or around farmland.

Incorporating trees into farmland has numerous benefits for both the environment and the farmer.

Environmental benefits of agroforestry

Helps to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Habitat for wildlife.
Improves biodiversity.
Improves soil quality.

Benefits of agroforestry for the farmer

Improves welfare of livestock.
Improves soil quality.
Creates a microclimate for crops.
Additional income from fruits and nuts from trees.
Additional income from timber later down the line.
Replace imports with homegrown products (e.g. mulch, fuel wood, animal bedding, timber posts)

Increasing your farm’s income with agroforestry

According to the new handbook, improving animal welfare with trees can boost farm productivity, resulting in a 17% increase in milk production and a 50% reduction in lamb mortality. It finds that agroforestry systems are often 30% more productive than monocultural systems.

Financing agroforestry

Here at Richmond Asset Finance, we offer a variety of agricultural finance products to help your agricultural business grow. We can provide effective farm finance strategies for various sized projects.

To find out more about our farm finance options, or to discuss your requirements in more detail, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.

Tips for protecting your farm against rural crime

31st July 2019 / admin / Comments Off

As the cost of rural crime continues to soar, it’s important that farmers take steps to secure their valuables from criminals.

Agricultural crime is a widespread problem faced by farmers up and down the country. Criminals and organised gangs target farms due to their large size and remote location, stealing valuable farm tools, equipment, vehicles and even livestock, with devastating consequences for farmers during what is already a difficult time for the industry.

Take these five basic steps to help prevent your farm from becoming a victim of rural crime.

Lock all valuables away securely– All valuables including tools, equipment, machinery and vehicles should be locked away out of sight when not in use. Large machinery and vehicles should be kept in secure farm buildings, and valuable tools should be kept in a locked toolbox. To ensure that they are secure, farm buildings should be regularly maintained, and doors and windows should be kept closed and locked to prevent easy access and protect from opportunist criminals.

Install security systems to all farm buildings– Farm buildings that contain valuables should be fitted with security lights and systems including CCTV and intruder alarms to deter criminals.

Mark and register all your valuable machinery, equipment and vehicles– Clearly marking all your valuable assets can deter criminals and improve the chances of your items being identified and returned to you if they are ever stolen. There are a variety of different marking solutions available including UV marking pens, engraving, etching, and labels. Once you have marked your property, register it on the Immobilise website. Immobilise is used by police forces up and down the country to return stolen items to their rightful owners.

Immobilise or lock vehicles– Immobilise farm vehicles using wheel clamps, steering locks or ground anchors when they are not in use to make them more difficult to steal.

Secure boundaries– The remote location of many farms leaves them particularly vulnerable to criminals. Securing your boundaries and making access difficult using high fences, earth banks and ditches, or reinforced gates can make your property more private and secure to deter criminals.

Security systems, durable gating and heavy duty padlocks are all relatively small investments when you consider what is at stake without them.

If you require agricultural financeto help replace stolen farm equipment or vehicles, get in touch with our team here at Richmond Asset Finance by calling 0113 288 3277 to discuss your requirements.

Hard assets and soft assets explained

21st July 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Assets can be roughly divided into two categories, hard assets and soft assets, do you know the difference between each?

Asset finance helps businesses of all shapes and sizes to acquire the assets they require to grow and be prosperous.

The types of assets that your business requires to move forward will depend on a variety of factors including your industry, your business plan, and how established the business is.

Generally, assets are said to either be hard assets or soft assets.

Hard assets

Asset finance is most commonly used to acquire hard assets. Hard assets are usually physical, high value items that are essential to a business’ operation. This could include the following:

Commercial vehicles
Manufacturing equipment
Printing presses
Machinery
Construction vehicles
Plant equipment
Engineering equipment
Agricultural machinery

Financing hard assets provides finance companies with good security as the assets tend to retain value for many years, even at the end of their lease.

Soft assets

Soft assets may be more difficult to obtain with asset finance as they pose a bigger risk to the finance company. Soft assets are lower value items and have little or no value by the end of their lease. Examples of soft assets include:

Computer hardware and software
Office furniture
Security systems
Air conditioning systems
Electronic Point of Sale systems

If you require soft assets, then you may still be able to acquire them using asset finance by providing some additional security. This could include a deposit towards the asset, a director’s guarantee, or securing the asset with another existing asset to offset the risk. However not all asset finance companies will provide funding for soft assets.

Find out more about our asset finance solutionshere at Richmond Asset Finance by giving our team a call on 0113 288 3277 to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Asset finance market continues to show signs of growth

15th July 2019 / admin / Comments Off

After a record-breaking year for asset finance in 2018, the flourishing industry continues to show signs of growth for 2019.

In 2018 the asset finance market grew by 3%, hitting a new record level, with new business totalling over £33 billion.

As we entered 2019 the financial insecurity of Brexit was looming and it seemed uncertain whether this growth was sustainable, but statistics so far this year have shown continued growth.

Figures recently released by the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business, for deals of up to £20m, grew by 6% in May compared to the same month last year. New finance for plant and machinery grew by 8%, as did commercial vehicle finance.

This follows the news that new business is up by 8% for the industry in the first five months of 2019.

It appears that more businesses than ever are turning to the asset finance industry this year for help growing their business.

In fact, according to the FLA, in the first quarter of 2019 the percentage of UK equipment investment being funded by asset finance stood at 38%, the highest it’s been for more than a decade.

It’s easy to see the appeal of asset finance to businesses. Acquiring assets and repayment is affordable, fast and uncomplicated when compared to applying for a traditional bank loan or overdraft.

Asset finance is currently the third most popular form of business finance after bank overdrafts and loans, helping thousands of businesses to obtain the assets that they require to develop and grow.

Here at Richmond Asset Finance, we provide a variety of flexible finance solutions including asset financeand refinance. For more information about any of our services, or to discuss your requirements in detail, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.

Advantages of asset finance…

8th July 2019 / admin / Comments Off

…when compared to traditional bank lending

Businesses that cannot afford to pay large costs up-front can use asset finance as an affordable and flexible means to acquire the assets they require to drive growth.

So, why choose asset finance over a traditional bank loan?

Asset finance has several key advantages over a bank loan, let’s take a look at them in more detail.

Asset finance does not require a perfect credit history– Banks usually have strict lending requirements and will not always accept new businesses that lack credit history or have a poor credit rating. Unlike banks, asset finance lenders do not require a perfect credit history, each applicant will be considered on their own merits.

Applying for asset finance is generally quicker– Applying for a bank loan can be a lengthy and time-consuming process involving examining your financial history, performing credit checks and even creating a business proposal. Applying for asset finance is generally much quicker and more straightforward.

Cashflow benefits– Unlike bank loans, asset finance payments are usually fixed, so there’s no need to worry about rising interest rates. Payments can be spread out throughout the asset’s useable life, making paying for the asset affordable and reliable, and freeing up your working capital to improve cashflow.

Little or no security required– Asset finance is generally less risky than a bank loan or overdraft, so less security is required in order to attain it, making this type of finance particularly useful for start-up businesses. Usually the assets you are acquiring as part of the deal are security enough. If you cannot make payments at any point, then the finance company will simply take back the asset.

Asset finance companies often specialise– Asset finance companies often specialise in working with businesses within particular industries. This gives them a deeper understanding of how the businesses they work with operate and the challenges they face, allowing them to offer the most suitable solutions.

Here at Richmond Asset Finance we help businesses to gain the assets they need to succeed and flourish. Just some of the type of assets we will consider financing include commercial vehicles, engineering equipment, plastic and woodworking injection equipment, packaging and labelling machines and agricultural machinery and vehicles.

To discuss your requirements in more detail, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.

What is a bridging loan exit strategy?

28th June 2019 / admin / Comments Off

When taking out a bridging loan you will be required to provide details of your exit strategy, the method by which you will pay back the loan.

Bridging loans are an extremely valuable form of short-term finance that can help businesses to quickly acquire money to cover an expense before credit becomes available to them.

Just some of the reasons that businesses use bridging loans include funding unexpected expenses, paying urgent debts, and investing in time-sensitive business opportunities.

Before rushing in and requesting a bridging loan though it’s very important that you create a plan for paying back the money. This is called your exit strategy.

The price of a poor exit strategy

When you take out a bridging loan you will agree a date by which the debt will be repaid. If you cannot repay the amount by this time you will need to consult with your loan provider about what happens next.

In some instances, it may be possible to extend the loan, but beware that this is not always the case. A late repayment could end up costing you a considerable amount in renewal costs or late payment penalties, as well as having a negative effect on your credit rating, so it’s wise to ensure that you have a reliable exit strategy in place before going ahead.

Typical exit strategies

Your exit strategy will depend entirely on your business’ unique circumstances and the reason that you required the bridging loan.

A few examples of typical exit strategies include:

Selling a property or land
Selling debt to a collection agency
Selling shares or assets
Inheritance
Refinancing

For further information about bridging loans,or help and advice with creating a sound exit strategy, get in touch with our team of experts here at Richmond Asset Finance by calling us on 0113 288 3277.

Sources of finance for start-up businesses

6th June 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Finding the funds to get your start-up business off the ground and turning a profit can be challenging, here’s where to start.

Growing a new business can be difficult without a healthy cash flow. Purchasing business premises, investing in stock, hiring people, and marketing your new venture all costs money.

Finding the best finance solutions to meet your start-up’s specific requirements is key to setting up and growing a successful and profitable business.

Here are the five key sources of finance that every start-up business should consider.

Personal sources

Personal sources of finance should be a given, these can include savings, personal credit cards, collateral from assets, and loans from friends and family members. Investing your own money gives others confidence in your new venture and your commitment to it.

Government grants

Acquiring a government grant can be a lengthy and laborious process, so whilst extremely valuable, a grant is unlikely to help in the short-term if you need money fast. Grants are usually awarded to businesses working towards a specific aim, and the criteria for eligibility can be very niche. Business ideas in sectors that make a significant contribution to society are more likely to be eligible to a government grant, particularly environmental projects and businesses working in renewable energy, the local community and innovative science.

Banks

Banks can offer your start-up business a range of flexible finance solutions to suit your needs. Bank overdrafts can provide short-term finance, whilst a bank loan is designed as a longer-term borrowing solution.

Commercial finance broker

Professional commercial finance brokers like our team here at Richmond Asset Finance are experienced at helping start-ups to find the most suitable finance solutions. Financing options that can be particularly useful for start-ups include asset financeand bridging loans, both of which can help you to gain the assets you require to get your new venture up and running.

Investors

Angel investors are wealthy individuals who seek opportunities to invest in start-up companies. It can be very useful to have an angel onboard with your start-up business as they are often willing to contribute experience and contacts to your business in addition to cash.

For more information about any of our commercial finance solutions, give our team of experts here at Richmond Asset Finance a call on 0113 288 3277.

Four times a bridging loan could help your business grow

6th June 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Bridging loans offer a quick and simple way of raising finance to take advantage of time critical business opportunities.

Whether you’re a new start-up or a well-established business, finding a large sum of money for a new investment at very short notice can be difficult and risky.

However, regularly allowing opportunities to pass you by can be just as damaging, making it difficult to keep up with competitors and preventing growth.

This is where bridging loans can help.

A bridging loan is a short-term funding solution that bridges a gap between a debt becoming due and credit becoming available.

Here are four times when a bridging loan could help your business to grow.

New equipment or machinery– A bridging loan can be used to purchase new equipment or machinery to increase the efficiency, output, or cost-effectiveness of your business’ production process.

Investment opportunities– Profitable investment opportunities don’t come around every day, but when they do you want to be able to snap them up. From new business partnerships to new stock, investing in fresh opportunities is what keeps your business current, competitive and profitable.

Buying property or land– Bridging loans are most commonly used for purchasing property or land and developing it. When buying property, time is of the essence, and applying for a mortgage can be a lengthy process. Bridging loans are ideal for raising funds very quickly to bridge the gap until the mortgage comes in.

Start-up costs – If you’ve identified an opportunity for a new business venture then you’ll want to act quickly to capitalise. A bridging loan can provide you with the funds you need to get your new business off the ground or market your idea.

For more information about commercial bridging loansor to discuss applying for one, get in touch with our team here at Richmond Asset Finance by giving us a call on 0113 288 3277.

Using livestock lending to improve the genetics of your animals

30th May 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Whether you’re a beef or dairy farmer, improving the genetics of your herd has countless benefits to both your animals’ welfare and your profit.

If you’re considering increasing the size of your herd, choosing animals with superior genetics will increase the profitability of your investment.

Here are just a few of the key benefits of investing in livestock with superior genetics.

Improve animal welfare– Genetically superior animals should be healthy and resilient, giving them a better quality of life and making them a more ethical investment.

Resist diseases– Disease in livestock has a devastating financial impact on farmers. Livestock with superior genetics are better at fighting disease, making them a more reliable investment.

Reproduction rates – Genetically superior livestock are a cost-effective investment as they are bred to have better fertility and survival rates.

Increased production– Farmers are always looking for ways to improve the efficiency and production rate of their livestock to elevate profits. Livestock can be bred with genetics that relate to traits like better marbling of meat, fat depth or muscle score to improve the value and appeal of the product.

Climate-friendly– Improve your farm’s social responsibility by factoring into your buying decision the impact that your livestock has on the environment. Livestock bred with a higher feed conversion efficiency emit less methane into the environment.

Feed efficiency– As well as being more environmentally friendly, livestock with a high NFE (net feed efficiency) rating can reduce animal feed expenses whilst increasing production rates to improve your margins.

Funding the purchase of livestock

Livestock lending services make growing and improving the genetics of your farm’s herds an affordable investment. Depending on your requirements, here at Richmond Asset Finance we offer both short and long-term livestock lending solutions.

For more information or to discuss your requirements, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.

How to get an agricultural mortgage

24th May 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Agricultural mortgages are available to those wishing to buy their first farm, extend their existing farm, or purchase rural property or land for another purpose.

Finding the right rural property or piece of farmland can be a challenge. Not only do we have a shortage of rural land, but prices have also sky rocketed since the recession. According to areportby Savills, the value of farmland increased by 277% between 2006 and 2016.

With demand currently so high, if you do come across the perfect property or piece of land, you’ll want to seize the opportunity and snap it up as quickly as possible. Unless you have the money to purchase the land or property outright, you will probably require a farm mortgage for your purchase.

What is an agricultural mortgage?

Agricultural mortgages are designed to help with the purchase of farmland, farm buildings, and other agricultural properties.

Just a few of the property-types that they can be used to purchase include:

Working farms
Equestrian facilities
Country estates
Renewable energy sites
Other rural businesses

In some instances, you may also be able to use an agricultural mortgage to fund the conversion or expansion of a rural building, purchase assets for business growth, or raise funds to consolidate debts.

Agricultural mortgages work in much the same way as regular mortgages, with lenders usually loaning up to 80% of the value.

How to get an agricultural mortgage

Agricultural mortgages can be acquired from most high street banks, as well as from more specialist rural lenders.

Specialist lenders usually have many years of experience in the agricultural industry and a greater understanding of its challenges and opportunities.

It’s important to shop around when looking for an agricultural mortgage to ensure that you receive the best advice, support, rates, margins, fees and terms.

If you require financial help in acquiring a mortgage, then a commercial bridging loan may be the flexible short-term funding solution that you’re looking for.

Get in touch with our team here at Richmond Asset Finance by calling 0113 288 3277 to discuss your requirements and find out more about our commercial bridging loans.

How farmers can overcome cash flow problems

12th May 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Farmers must brush up on their financial management skills to tackle the industry’s current cash flow crisis.

Falling prices, tight margins and growing debts are all putting farmers at risk of running into serious cash flow problems.

A 2016 study conducted by the Prince’s Countryside Fund found that 49% of surveyed farm businesses were suffering from cash flow problems, and the problem has only intensified since then.

Cash flow is essential to any business’ financial security and ability to invest in new opportunities and grow. Farmers in financial difficulty should act immediately to free up money and resolve cash flow issues.

Review your budgeting– If your farm business is struggling with cash flow then it’s time to sit down and review your budget and financial plan for the year ahead. Cut all non-essential expenditure for the short-term and prioritise expenditure that will generate cash flow.

Chase debtors– If you have outstanding debts owed to you then now is the time to start chasing them. Poor accounts receivable management is one of the biggest causes of cash flow problems. Make sure that you have a process in place to encourage debtors to pay you on time.

Extend repayment periods– If you have loans outstanding then speak with your lenders to see if you can arrange to extend your repayment period to reduce your monthly outgoings.

Liquidate stored crops– Liquidating your stored crops isn’t a decision that should be made lightly, but if you’re in desperate need of an injection of cash it offers a quick way of putting cash in your pocket. This is only a short-term strategy and reserves should be built up again once you are out of immediate financial danger.

Defer large investments– Reign in the spending until you’re confident that your business is out of the danger zone. If you’re having problems with vehicles or machinery, try getting them repaired instead of replacing them until your cash flow is looking healthier.

Explore farm funding options– There are plenty of useful farm funding solutions on the market today that can help struggling farms to safely and affordably gain the cash flow they require to grow their business. Farm asset finance can help farmers to afford the new equipment or vehicles they need to work more efficiently, and farm asset refinancing allows farmers to free up money tied up in unused assets.

To find out more about the farm funding solutions available from Richmond Asset Finance, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.

5 tips for farmers facing financial difficulties

7th May 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Farmers facing financial challenges should act immediately to identify and resolve problems before they become more serious.

Poor cash flow, falling prices, increased competition and Brexit uncertainty are all causing UK farmers a financial headache.

It is a difficult economic climate for the farming industry and farmers must practice careful financial management, keeping a close eye on their debtors and cash flow to avoid running into serious financial difficulties.

If your farming business is already in distress, it’s important to act quickly to prevent the problem from spiralling. Here are five tips for easing financial pressure.

Check your cash flow– If your farm business is lacking cash flow it puts you in a precarious financial position and can prevent your business from growing. It’s important to keep accurate and up-to-date records of all income and expenditure and ensure that you always know where you stand with your cash flow at any one time.

Review your budget– If cash flow is a problem for your farm then it’s time to review your budget and financial plan. Make cutbacks where possible to reduce your costs and improve your margin.

Consider diversifying– More than half of England’s farmers are now successfully diversifying their business. Look for alternative sources of revenue by thinking about ways you can leverage your existing assets.

Farm asset finance– If your business is struggling or stagnating because you can’t generate the funds to purchase new machinery, vehicles, or other assets, then consider farm asset finance. Asset finance makes the best farming equipment more affordable, helping farmers to boost productivity and reach their full potential.

Farm asset refinance– Unlock the cash that is tied up in unused machinery or vehicles by refinancing them. Refinancing farm equipment can help to free up money to ease cash flow problems or fund the purchase of a new asset to increase your efficiency or production rate.

For more information about farm asset finance, or to discuss other funding solutions available, give our team here at Richmond Asset Finance a call on 0113 288 3277.