Start a Restaurant

Getting funding for a restaurant this year of 2008, is definitely harder on a national level is more difficult then ever before.

Why You Will Find It Difficult To Get A Loan

Unfortunately bank loan officers do not like to do restaurant financing! This year of 2008 is a very tough year, foreclosure rates the highest ever in the history of the United States, a credit crunch due to the mortgage crisis, lenders cherry picking their loans, even denying borrowers with good credit.

So as if the food and hospitality industry was not already difficult for getting restaurant loans, it is much more harder to get loans then ever before due to the recession that is happening currently around major cities in the united states, gas prices going off the roof creating a domino effect in many many industries, consumers not spending as much, going out less due to super high gas prices.

Restaurant failure is the main reason why bankers are Leary of lending money to a new start up restaurants, if the borrower applicant does not have a proven track record in the food and hospitality business.

Success for food service businesses is viewed by bankers as minimal. Their hesitation is due to higher failure rates in the industry for new restaurant owners with no experience opening a restaurant. Unless you have enough collateral to make the loan risk free, banks will usually not approve your loan. This belief is not well founded, since the data is skewed, therefore, it is not accurate and hurts you when you apply for a loan.

Traditional money lending institutions are Leary of lending money to a new restaurant, if a the borrower applicant does not have a proven track record in the food and hospitality business.

What Can You Do To Increase Your Chances Of Success With Your Restaurant

Restaurant Consultants — Set aside some money from your working capital to consult with one. They will help maximize your chances for restaurant success and minimize your chances for restaurant failure; this is the main reason to to speak to a restaurant consultant.

Restaurant Training — Seek out those companies that provide restaurant training

Restaurant Marketing — Become an expert in restaurant marketing, consult with someone who will help you create a great restaurant marketing plan. Implement a moving targets and birthday marketing campaign to generate immediate cash for your restaurant, which you can find out more info with the author of this article.

Restaurant Management Training — Seek a company that will train your restaurant manager.

Restaurant Accountants — Seek out CPA accountants that specialize with restaurant accounting software and restaurant accounting systems.

Restaurant Floor Plan – Warning, pay attention to how you layout the front, back, kitchen area! Could cause to lose profits if you do implement a good efficient cost effective floor plan.

What Are Your Restaurant Funding Options & Sources

Soliciting partners

* Selling stock
* Venture capital
* SBA
* Loans from relatives
Insurance policies cash values
* Credit from food suppliers
* Personal savings
Collateralized loans from your personal assets
* Credit from equipment suppliers

Up till now if you are having problems getting financing for your existing restaurant, your options were limited. There is a product called the business cash advance or merchant cash advance that is a possible solution to you when you find yourself being turned down for restaurant funding.

Copyright@2008

Author: Edwin De Leon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Many borrowers are surprised to learn that they may actually have more options on restaurant loan options for free standing, non franchise properties than franchise restaurants. With conventional financing and SBA loans it’s almost a no brainer to go the franchise route. However, many CMBS lenders will not consider restaurant mortgages if the business is tied to a franchise agreement.

First of all CMBS lenders (commercial mortgage backed securities) are a nontraditional source of capital that due to their “back office” structure have produced some of the most creative and aggressive restaurant loan options in the industry. For example 85% financing and 30 year fixed rates on restaurants, with rates right in line with bank financing. They’re able to do this because the individual loans are pooled together and sold to investors in the form of bonds, which essentially reduces the investors risk due to the diversification of loan structure, building type, and geography.

CMBS lenders do not like the franchise agreement between the franchisee and franchisor. In essence, these agreements are very cumbersome and limit the rights of the lender in case of borrower default. It becomes more difficult for the lender to go after the collateral to get paid back. So, many of these creative restaurant loan options are not available to the borrower.

If your in a franchise agreement now, and own the property your business occupies, then consider the SBA 7a loan for your refinance. Many borrowers are under the wrong impression that they cannot refinance with SBA loans. The exception are if the new loan will save the borrower 20% on their existing mortgage payment (this is on a cash flow basis), existing loan floats, has a balloon on it or if their existing interest rate will be reduced by 2% or more (keep in mind that most rates are currently in the 6%’s) from the proposed 7a loan refinance.

Also, another major misperception about the SBA 7a loan is that it’s always a floating rate loan. 99% of the time this is accurate. However there are a few sources that offer this program as a 5 year fixed 25 year amortization loan.

If, and going back to the original point, you own your property and run a non franchise restaurant out of it, then you’ll have all three options available to you – CMBS, SBA and conventional. With CMBS loans you will have the option of 30 year amortization loans, rates fixed for as long as 30 years, loan to values as high as 75% on refinance and 85% on purchases.

Author: Jeff Rauth
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Many people have heard the startling myth that nine out of 10 restaurants fail within their first year of opening. Hearing this can make anyone who is contemplating going into the restaurant industry think twice.

But according to H.G. Parsa, associate professor in Ohio State University’s Hospitality Management program, as quoted in a Business Week article, this is not true.

After researching, he found that realistically, 3 out of 5 restaurants close or change ownership within their first year of business.

According to the article, Parsa also identified “…lack of sufficient startup capital as one of the major elements that contribute to a restaurant’s failure,” leading him to believe that many banks won’t lend to restaurants because they may believe those mythical statistics. The article states, “Typically, the ones that do [lend] require would-be restaurateurs to pay sky-high interest rates or put up significant collateral…”

But even if banks are wary of lending to restaurant owners, especially new ones, for the reasons mentioned above, there is another option; restaurant loans.

Restaurant loans can be used for startup restaurants, or for restaurants that have been in existence for any length of time. The loans are unsecured, so there is no collateral required, nor are there fixed monthly payments. Restaurant loan payments are made via the restaurants credit card sales. Once a restaurant owner receives a restaurant loan, whenever customers use their debit or credit cards to pay for their food or drinks, a small percentage from the sale goes to repay the restaurant loan. This allows the loan repayments to go with the flow of business.

Another benefit of the restaurant loan is borrowers receive the opportunity to renew their restaurant loan once 60 percent of their previous balance has been paid. Therefore a new restaurant can get a loan and the money funded into the account of his/her choice within the first week of the restaurant’s opening. But it doesn’t stop there. These renewal opportunities allow restaurant owners to have access to an ongoing source of business financing, as they can renew their loans as many times as they like.

Increase your chances of restaurant success by getting a restaurant loan, and having enough money to finance everything that a successful restaurant needs.

Author: Gaston Castro
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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From a conventional stand point restaurant loans are taking the worst of it as the credit crisis has seemed to have worsen. Special use properties such as restaurants are always the first to feel the tightening as the process to sell the facility in case of borrower default is more difficult that your typical general use property that will have a wider pool of buyers.

Conventional financing for restaurants, meaning loan issued directly by the funding banks, without any guarantee by the SBA or other such institutions, are getting very conservative. Loan to values are hover at 55% on refinances and 60% on purchases. Debt coverage ratios have tightened as well from a 1.25 to a 1.3 and with some banks a 1.4. Meaning that for every $1 of proposed mortgage debt the borrower would still have $.40 left over after all expenses and proposed mortgage have been paid.

In addition, the cap rates have really been taking a beating with conventional sources. For example, I recently spoke to a bank loan officer that said they are putting on a minimum 10% capitalization rate on all restaurants regardless of the market.

The solution is to think non conventional for either purchase or refinance money. For example it’s still possible to get 85% financing on purchases on a 5 year fixed 25 year amortization loan, if you work through the right sources.

One loan program that deserves mention is the SBA 7a loan as it was designed for niche building types like restaurants, motels, etc. They can go as low as a 1.1 debt coverage ratio, and business projection can be used to supplement cash flow if it’s too low to meet the guidelines. Which in a cash business like restaurants, where most owners understate there income is very important.

CMBS sources are still out there though on a limited basis. For example, a 30 year fixed rate mortgage at 80% financing is still available. Primary benefit of course is that the borrower doesn’t have to worry about their rate fluctuating.

Author: Jeff Rauth
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Excise Tax

Owners looking for a restaurant loan have limited options and the credit crisis is giving a “beating” on all special purpose properties; such as restaurants. Although borrowers still have three main sources for financing, including conventional bank loans, CMBS lenders and SBA programs, borrowers are encourage to take a hard look at the SBA programs first due to their reliability of closing and strong benefits.

SBA 7a loan has many benefits on both purchase AND refinances, despite the notorious reputation it has with some borrowers. Most of these earlier issues have been ironed out in the last 5 years though borrowers should be careful who they work with, as bank that are inexperienced with the SBA can quickly complicate the process.

Examples of the benefits include 85% financing and low rates at prime + 1-2% for most borrowers. Right now Prime is at 5%. An effective rate of 6% from a historical stand point on a special use property such as a restaurant is exceptional. In addition, most 7a loans are amortized over 25 years helping the borrower spread out their loan and thereby increasing cash flow as compared to most traditional bank loans of 15 or 20 year amortizations. Working lines of credit, equipment, and construction/renovation loans can easily be tied into the loan.

One of the other huge benefits is the flexibility this program has for cash flow analysis aka debt coverage ratios. Most sources want to see a 1.3 on this type of building while the SBA 7a loan only needs a 1.1. In other words, the business needs to show that for every $1. of proposed mortgage payments that the restaurant has $1.30 of net income to cover the proposed loan. So after all expenses have been paid including the mortgage the restaurant should have $.30 left over. With the 7a it would only have to be $.10 left over which can be a big difference for most business that have tight cash flow.

Further, the borrower is allowed to use future business projections as well, to supplement any existing short falls in cash flow. This is not possible with 99% of the other options out there as they will only look at historical statements like your tax returns, balance sheet or profit and loss statements.

The negative with the 7a loan is that the rate typically floats and the SBA has a guarantee fee of 2.75% of 75% of the loan balance. However this is not always the case. For example, we have a source that offers this as a 5 year fixed, 25 year amortization loan. And there are banks out there that will absorb or pay for the guarantee fee themselves.

The short of it is if you’re looking for a restaurant loan keep you eye on the 7a loan.

Author: Jeff Rauth
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Creditcard Currency Conversion Fee

As restaurants gear up for the holiday season each year in anticipation of a welcome increase in footfall ratios, improved efficiency and enhanced customer service become all the more important. Consumers are finally in a mood to spend and to entertain. Anticipation assumes center stage for both customers and service providers since it is that time of the year when most of us can back burner our daily concerns and live life to the fullest at least for a few moments. Now is the perfect time for you to carefully survey your commercial kitchen at your restaurant, preferably with the assistance of a technical professional, to ensure that all your restaurant equipment is ready to work over-time during the holiday season without any possibility of malfunctioning during peak hours.

Contacting Restaurant Equipment Dealers for Good Deals

Even if you are new to the restaurant business, you probably know how to locate a list of restaurant equipment dealers. Google just might be your best source. Do not confine yourself to the first few listings. The listings on the top may not necessarily offer you the best deals. Focus on the entire page and get a feel for what is new and who is running holiday promotions on restaurant equipment and restaurant supply products. Food service equipment is not exactly inexpensive and justifiably so because it needs to be fail-proof all the way. Even if you save 10% on a significant amount displayed on a price tag, it is money in your pocket. Look for restaurant equipment companies that display a toll free number on their home pages. In-depth product information that is available online plus the ability to speak with a live person over the telephone is a killer combination for you as a restaurant owner and can surely help you save money. At the same time, it will ensure that whatever you purchase is guaranteed to be reliable, long lasting and trouble-free.

Precise Installation of your New Restaurant Equipment

Once purchased, your food service equipment needs to be installed correctly and in compliance with local city and fire codes. Discuss this issue with your commercial kitchen equipment dealer because they just might have someone in your area with whom they have worked in the past to help their customers with installation and maintenance issues. Many restaurant industry products are of the plug-and-play variety so you will not need anyone to help you with installation.

Final Analysis

At the end of the day, what really matters is the fact that your customers return home after a wonderful dining experience at your restaurant with an inner urge to come back again. Give your customers an experience to cherish and your customers will beat a path to your door.

Cook’s Direct provides a full range of commercial kitchen equipment including all types of commercial restaurant equipment and kitchen supplies. Call Jeff Breeden, Chief Operating Officer, Cook’s Direct at 800-956-5571, Write to him at jbreeden@cooksdirect.com. Visit: http://www.cooksdirect.com for the most exclusive range of restaurant equipment, restaurant supplies and commercial kitchen equipment on the Internet.

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