Prairie Business Credit, Inc.

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  • Our Story
  • TOP TEN REASONS TO FACTOR
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Does My Service Business Need Invoice Factoring?

7/7/2025

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You've delivered the service. The client is happy. And now you wait 30, 60, sometimes 90 days for payment. Meanwhile, payroll is due, vendor bills stack up and growth opportunities pass by for lack of working capital.

It’s a frustratingly common cycle for service-sector businesses. In fact, a U.S. Bank study found that 82% of small businesses fail due to poor cash flow management (Entrepreneur). For service-based companies like staffing firms, maintenance providers, and consultants, this timing mismatch can mean missed opportunities, delayed hiring, or even trouble making payroll.

At Prairie Business Credit, we understand these challenges. That’s why we offer invoice factoring for service businesses, a flexible way to access the cash you’ve already earned without taking on debt.

What is Invoice Factoring? 

Invoice factoring (also referred to as accounts receivable financing) is a form of alternative business funding where you sell your unpaid receivables to a factoring company for immediate cash. Rather than waiting for clients to pay, you receive up to 90% of the invoice value typically within 24–48 hours. Once your customer settles the invoice, the factoring service gives your company the remaining balance of that invoice, minus a small factoring fee.

By outsourcing collections, you also free up internal resources to focus on service delivery and customer relationships.

Why Service Businesses Are Vulnerable to Cash Flow Gaps 

Many service-based businesses operate on net terms: you deliver the work first, then invoice later. But vendors and employees expect payment on day one. This timing mismatch creates working capital gaps that can quietly stall growth. And rapid expansion only amplifies this strain—new hires, software updates, and equipment leases all require upfront funding, long before client payments arrive.

Delays in receivables can force you to turn down profitable contracts, miss out on early-payment vendor discounts, or scramble to cover payroll. Without a reliable cash flow cushion, even profitable operations can find themselves strapped for cash.

Benefits of Factoring for Service-Based Businesses

Invoice factoring has become a go-to cash flow solution for many service industries. Key advantages include:​
  • Quick Access to Cash: Receive funds within 24–48 hours of invoicing, rather than waiting 30–90 days.
  • No Debt Incurred: Since factoring is receivables financing, there’s no new loan on your books and no interest payments.
  • Scalable Funding: Your financing capacity grows with your invoicing volume—ideal for businesses scaling rapidly.
  • Operational Efficiency: Outsourcing collections to your factor allows your team to focus on delivering high-value  services.
  • Support for Critical Expenses: Keep payroll, vendor payments, and growth investments on track, even when clients run on extended payment terms.

Factoring gives service-based businesses a flexible way to turn completed work into immediate working capital, bridging the gap between doing the job and getting paid.
Start Factoring Now

Is Factoring Right for Your Service Business? 

Invoice factoring could be a smart solution if:​
  • You’re turning down new work because cash is tied up in receivables
  • Clients take 30+ days to pay invoices
  • You’re struggling to meet payroll or pay vendors on time
  • You want to invest in growth without taking on additional debt

​Factoring isn’t the answer for every situation, but for a majority of service businesses, it provides the consistent cash flow to seize new opportunities and maintain operational flexibility.

Why Service Businesses Trust Prairie Business Credit

With over 30 years of experience financing service-sector businesses, Prairie Business Credit is known for customized, flexible funding options. Our services offer:​
  • Fast Onboarding: Seamless integration with your invoicing system to unlock funding quickly.
  • Customized Funding Solutions: Programs that scale with your invoicing volume, whether you’re a small consultancy or a large distribution firm.
  • Cash Flow Consulting: Ongoing support to help you plan ahead, anticipate funding needs and make the most of your working capital.
  • Relationship-Driven Support: A single point of contact committed to your long-term success.

​“The team at Prairie Business Credit are good people; honest, smart and straightforward. They kept our doors open”, said one of our service business clients.
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If your service business is profitable but cash-flow constrained, invoice factoring can serve as the bridge between completed work and accessible funds—powering growth without adding debt. 

Ready to explore if invoice factoring is the right fit? Contact Prairie Business Credit for a free consultation and learn how our accounts receivable financing solutions can keep your business moving forward.
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How Purchase Order Financing Can Help Startups Grow

6/13/2025

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Starting a new business comes with many moments of strain, but none are more worrisome than limited cash flow. To grow your startup, you need positive cash flow that supports new inventory purchases and employee hiring, especially as your company takes on bigger and bolder projects. Yet, having access to that capital as an unproven business is tough.

That is where purchase order (PO) financing can offer a solution. With purchase order financing, you gain access to funding that is simple and accessible, with fast and flexible financial support when you need it the most. Could this be what you are looking for to grow your company? Take into consideration what PO financing is, how it works, and why it could support your business’s future.

What Is Purchase Order Financing – And How Does It Work?

Purchase order financing helps a business buy the inventory it needs to meet customer needs, even if its cash flow is not where it needs to be. The purchase order financing company pays your supplier to manufacture and deliver the goods to the customer on your behalf, keeping your business moving forward. When the customer pays, we apply a fee and send the rest to you. 

When you use PO financing for a small business, you can accept more than one customer order and work on building your business, even if your cash flow may not allow you to buy all of that product up front. It ensures your business is able to run smoothly so that you maintain a good reputation and don't lose customers.

It differs from traditional financing and equity financing in several ways:
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  • With PO financing, you maintain ownership of your business.
  • Typically, loans require ongoing payments and ever-increasing interest costs. With PO financing, you know the costs upfront and when the payment occurs. ​
  • PO financing isn’t a loan itself but a way to meet your customer’s needs. Payment for the borrowed funds comes directly from your sales. 

How PO Financing Works: A Step-by-Step Guide
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  1. Once your customer makes a purchase, you receive their order. After analyzing the type and volume of products, you determine if you need financing to meet the order’s needs. 
  2. Your supplier determines costs. You get a quote for the cost of the goods your customer needs in the form of a pro-forma invoice. You use that to apply for purchase order financing. 
  3. Your lender approves you for up to 100% of the supplier cost. With approval, the lender sends the payment to the supplier.
  4. After delivery, an invoice is sent to your customer.
  5. The customer pays the purchase order financing company what they agreed to pay you for, which will include the costs of the supplied goods and your upcharge. The financing company sends what is owed to you.
Learn more
How PO Financing Helps Startups Grow

Cash flow solutions for startups can be hard to obtain. There are several key benefits to using purchase order financing for the growth capital you need:
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  • Take on the big order. With PO financing, you can take on those big orders you would otherwise have to pass on. You don’t need upfront capital to do so.
  • Avoid taking on debt or selling your business. There is no long-term loan here, and you are not losing equity in your business.
  • Build supplier and customer relationships. Being able to meet these needs builds relationships over time. 
  • Get orders fulfilled faster. That drives customer retention and improves revenue.
  • Flexibility. Compared to traditional, hard-to-get loans, this type of startup financing is flexible and customizable.

Is PO Financing Right for Your Business?

You may not need this if you have available cash flow and no limitations on purchases. However, it could be a good fit for product-based startups with:
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  • Limited capital but with a strong sales potential 
  • Reliable customers and large pending orders
  • Businesses that are ready to take on bigger orders to scale

Ready to Learn More About Cash Flow Solutions for Startups?

PO financing enables a startup to meet short-term cash flow needs to satisfy customers. It eliminates the risk and cost of long-term debt and puts money in your hands when you need it most. It’s a bridge, not a permanent solution, but it is a game changer for most of today’s companies. 

Prairie Business Credit offers flexible, fast purchase order financing tailored to your needs. Contact us today to learn more about PO financing. 
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Missed Business Opportunities: When Saying 'No' Impacts Growth

5/6/2025

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​In the lifecycle of a small business, there are more choices that an owner will have to make than they can remember. So, when an owner decides not to take on a large new revenue opportunity, does it leave a lasting mark? They say luck is when opportunity meets preparation — do you have what it takes to make your own luck?

When Opportunity Comes Knocking...

We’ve worked with many innovative entrepreneurs who have brought creative products to the market, but when a new business opportunity isn’t pursued, it may not feel like a tragedy at first.
Let’s imagine a small business owner, Evelyn, the Entrepreneur. Evelyn has been slowly growing her company in a competitive market, securing small new contracts here and there. Prior to starting her own business, Evelyn worked at Larger Company, which is currently her number one competitor and a more established player in the market. Evelyn finally lands her biggest opportunity yet and gets the chance to pitch her product to Mega Manufacturing, a large global company. If Mega decides to buy from her, it could boost her sales by nearly 50%!
When it appears that Evelyn is poised to win the business, terms are discussed. Although the profit margin on the new business with Mega is the same as for the rest of Evelyn’s customer base, Mega’s standard payment terms are net 75 days. Evelyn has had a few profitable years under her belt, but she just doesn’t have the cash to make this work.

...Are You Ready to Answer?

Without the cash flow to support the new sales, Evelyn makes the tough decision to turn down the Mega business opportunity, and Mega is left to go with the less innovative but still worthy product sold by her competitor, Larger Co. As a more established company, Larger Co. can handle the extended payment terms, and they continue to grow their market share.
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Evelyn carries on in her niche, continuing to innovate, but never really breaks through or gains more market share. She makes a nice living for herself and her team, but was never able to ultimately grab that brass ring.

The Reality of Lost Opportunities

So here is the thing: It isn’t a big deal. Evelyn takes a pass on her big opportunity. No jobs were lost. It’s true—Large Co. hired a dozen new employees to support the Mega contract, expanded into additional product lines, and grew the relationship significantly. But nobody got hurt.

Evelyn still runs a nice company. Sometimes, she thinks about the sale she lost to Mega, especially when she tries to reach out and pitch them the latest version of her product. Overall, though, it was a bump in the road, and Evelyn carries on nicely.
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Some might look at this scenario and wonder why she was complacent, or why Evelyn ever left Larger Co in the first place if she wasn’t going to go out and do something big. Maybe she just didn’t know how to get it done. Maybe she was told by her bank when she presented them with the opportunity from Mega that historic cash flows did not support the line of credit she needed. Maybe she was told that such a sales concentration would be too risky. Maybe her bank didn’t know about Prairie.

Prairie Business Credit Makes Sure You're Ready to Say 'Yes'

It would be nice if the entrepreneurs who couldn’t figure out how to take on that new customer still ended up with a nice (although boring) outcome like Evelyn. But, they don’t. Sometimes they can’t take on that new customer and the business slowly falls into obscurity, losing little bits of market share here and there. Other times, the business fails.

Over the past 32 years, we’ve been helping entrepreneurs take on that new customer and avoid missing business opportunities. Sometimes the outcome is something to behold. We’ve seen:
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  • The company goes from Prairie borrower, to bank borrower, to bank trust customer.
  • The company goes from Prairie borrower, more than doubling revenues, selling for 3x the valuation of the company prior to working with Prairie.
  • The company goes from the bank’s “naughty list”, to fulfilling the first of its kind, proof of concept contract, launching it to a successful public offering.

When you’ve had the privilege of providing the funding that played a part in those types of outcomes, you can’t help but be a little sad when you hear about the sale that didn’t happen. If only we had known.

So if you want to be ready to say yes to your next opportunity, don't let FOMO—or funding—hold you back. Give us a call today.
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Fueling Growth: How to Get the Cash You Need

4/9/2025

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Have you ever turned down a growth opportunity because you couldn’t afford to take it on? Many business owners encounter this same problem at some point in their careers: They have just enough cash to keep operations running but not enough to take on substantial growth opportunities.

Scaling your business requires significant upfront investments before reaping any of the benefits. And if your customers are taking 30-90 days or longer to pay their invoices, your cash flow may be holding you back.

Why Growth Requires Capital

To grow, you need to: 
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  • Expand into new markets
  • Market your services to attract new customers
  • Hire additional employees
  • Upgrade equipment 
  • Grow your inventory 
  • Keep up with competitors

​All of this requires cash upfront. 

For B2B industries like wholesalers, manufacturing, and distribution, extended payment terms, high overhead costs, and seasonal fluctuations are the norm. That means these businesses often run into the Cash Gap, which is the period between when payment for goods is due and when the customer's payment comes in from the sale. The gap makes it hard for businesses to grow because their working capital is used to cover operational costs and stay afloat until payments come in, often resulting in missed growth opportunities and stagnation.

Assessing Your Capital Needs

It’s important to consider your unique challenges when choosing the right financing option. 
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  • Will you be upgrading equipment or increasing inventory? 
  • Expanding into new markets or facilities? 
  • Hiring more staff?

​Determining how much funding you’ll need and what you’ll need it for will help determine which kind of financing aligns with your business goals.

Traditional Financing: Why it Falls Short 

Bank loans and lines of credit allow business owners access to capital and offer predictable payment terms, but they aren’t always realistic options for B2B owners: 
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  • Lengthy approval processes (30-90 days or longer)
  • Strong credit history requirements 
  • Collateral requirements
  • Fixed terms with no room for flexibility 

​According to the Federal Reserve Small Business Credit 2025 Report on Employer Firms, 41% of small business applicants received all the financing they sought, meaning the remaining 59% received partial or no approval. 

SBA loans have more flexible loan options and typically lower interest rates, but it’s a complex process to qualify, with stringent criteria. Growing businesses with inconsistent cash flow may be denied, and if you need cash fast, these processes may take too long to determine if you made the cut.

Alternative Financing: Not Ideal for B2B Businesses

Some alternative options for business owners:
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  • Revenue-Based Financing or Merchant Cash Advances: Allows you  to maintain ownership of your company, but often at a steep price. Their high fees can worsen cash flow issues if your revenue is inconsistent, and the structure can make it nearly impossible to transition to traditional bank financing.  
  • Crowdfunding: Great for product launches and marketing outreach, but this method takes time and effort, and success is uncertain. 
  • Angel Investors or Venture Capital: Generally well-suited for long-term growth, but often require giving up equity and control of decision-making, with lengthy timelines for funding. 
​These options all have their place, but there are better options if you need access to working capital fast to cover payroll or fulfill a big order.

Quick Comparison

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The Better Way: Factoring with PBC

Factoring eliminates the cash gap by turning unpaid invoices into immediate working capital. 

Here’s how it works: 
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  1. You issue the invoice to your customer
  2. Prairie Business Credit advances you a percentage of the invoice upfront
  3. We collect the payment directly from your customer 
  4. Once we receive the customer's payment, we will send you the balance, minus a small fee for the service

​When customers are late on their payments, factoring provides a solution to bridge the gap so you can cover expenses and take on new growth opportunities without cash flow disruptions. 
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Need help with a big order? Prairie Business Credit can pay your supplier directly so you can fulfill customer orders without delay with Purchase Order Financing. Once your customer pays the invoice, we’ll remit the remaining balance back to you. It’s a fast, flexible solution to help you take on large orders and keep your production moving.

​Why Businesses Choose Factoring with PBC

  • You don't need perfect credit to qualify - Financing is based on your customer's reliability, not yours.
  • Immediate access to working capital - so you can say yes to growth opportunities without waiting for slow-paying customers. 
  • No additional debt - You’re not taking on a loan, just getting cash faster for the work you’ve already done. 
  • Maintain ownership - you keep all your business's equity, ownership, and control. 
  • Flexible funds when you need them - flexible options to adapt to your cash flow needs.
  • Bridge the cash flow gap - Cover payroll, pay suppliers, and stay ahead of slow-paying customers. 
  • More than just funding - Prairie Business Credit provides personalized support and financial guidance to help your business grow. 
  • Great for B2B industries - especially wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, service providers, and entrepreneurs. 

All in all, factoring grows your business. When cash flow is no longer holding you back, growth is inevitable. With Prairie Business Credit, you’ll have the funding and support to make it happen. 

​​Why You Should Choose PBC

With over 30 years of experience, Prairie Business Credit offers relationship-focused financial guidance, tailored financing options to fit your unique cash flow challenges, and fast onboarding so you can start growing your business today. Over 70% of our clients have progressed to traditional banks or self-financing. 

Our services include: 
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  • Accounts Receivable Financing (Factoring) 
  • Purchase Order Financing 
  • Receivables Management 

​Trusted by entrepreneurs and small business owners across industries, we’re here to help you get the cash you need, when you need it.

Start Growing Your Business Today
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Cash flow shouldn’t be what's holding back your business growth. Reach out to Prairie Business Credit for a consultation today.
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5 Signs Your Business Needs Factoring Services

3/24/2025

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Cash flow problems can plague businesses of all sizes and industries. In fact, Entrepreneur reports that around 82 percent of business failures result from poor cash management, according to a U.S. Bank study. If you need cash on hand but have issues collecting invoices in a timely manner, a factoring service might be right for you. It's an alternative type of lending that allows you to access money you're already owed without having to approach a bank or get caught up in other high-interest-rate options.

Here we'll dive into what factoring services are, how they work, and five key signs that indicate your business needs them.

What is a Factoring Service?

If you need cash up front and quickly, you can sell unpaid client invoices to a factoring service, who will pay cash for them and then collect what's owed on the invoice directly from the client on a later date. This essentially helps the business maintain a more predictable cash flow without having to worry about collecting overdue invoices from their clients.

How Do Factoring Services Work?

The process is actually fairly simple:
  1. You issue an invoice to your customer with agreed-upon payment terms.
  2. You sell that invoice to a factoring service, who in turn advances you around 70-90% of that invoice's value up front.
  3. The customer pays the factoring service directly, rather than your company.
  4. Once the customer's payment is received, the factoring service gives your company the remaining balance of that invoice, minus a small factoring fee.
The idea is to have quick and painless access to cash for immediate business expenses if your customers are late on their payments.

5 Signs That You Could Use Factoring Services

1. You Have Frequent Cash Flow Problems
Inconsistent cash flow can really dampen a business' growth and put a halt to operations if it is unable to cover short-term expenses. There are a number of industries that are often affected by this — seasonal employers, startups and growing businesses, manufacturing, staffing, and transportation just to name a few. But factoring services help turn unpaid invoices into working capital with short notice, thus ensuring you have the cash to maintain your operations and pay your employees.
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2. Your Customers Procrastinate on Cutting Checks
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Slow-paying customers can have a domino effect on your business. Longer payment cycles can create financial stress, operating expenses pile up, vendor and supplier relationships become strained, etc. But a factoring service cuts through these issues by eliminating the Cash Gap waiting period and empowering your business to reinvest that money as needed.
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3. Meeting Payroll or Paying Vendors on Time is Difficult for You
The last thing your growing business needs is a negative reputation among employees, suppliers, and/or vendors. Being unable to pay your employees on time can cause massive disruptions in their lives and might wind up with them seeking other employment. Meanwhile, a vendor or supplier may decide to stop working with you altogether if you're unable to meet the financial terms of your agreement. The immediate cash that factoring services provide can negate these pitfalls entirely.

4. You're Growing Quickly
We all want to grow our companies, but there is such a thing as growing too fast. When this happens, cash flow becomes a significant issue because increased demand leads to higher upfront expenses for inventory, payroll, and ramping up operations. On top of that, if you're waiting for payments from clients to come through, you may find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place. You may find yourself waiting months on end for payments to come through — months that may dry up the cash you have on hand. In the meantime, a factoring service can help you get cash on hand quickly so that you can keep up with demand and afford to pay your workers. It can also allow you to scale confidently so you can expand into a new market or take on new clients without liquidating any assets.

5. Traditional Lenders Deny You
Oftentimes banks are hesitant to lend money to companies if they lack credit history, financial stability, or otherwise don't meet lending requirements. This is especially true for startup companies who are trying to make a name for themselves. Having the capital to cover immediate costs is imperative for long-term growth and success. A factoring service eliminates the need for a solid credit history; instead, the creditworthiness of your customers is paramount.

Prairie Business Credit is a Factor For You
If your business has cash flow problems, slow-paying customers, difficulty meeting payroll, quick growth, or trouble with banks, Prairie Business Credit is here for you. We are a private, family-run company invested in your success. Since 1993, we've helped 70% of our client base progress to bank or self-financing through factoring or purchase-order financing.
To learn more about how we can help you today, get in touch!

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Choosing the Right Purchase Order Financing Provider

2/28/2025

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How to Select the Best Purchase Order Financing Partner for Your Business

Securing purchase order (PO) financing can significantly enhance your business's ability to fulfill large orders and manage cash flow effectively. However, selecting the right PO financing provider is crucial to ensure a beneficial partnership. Here are key factors to consider:


1. Industry Expertise and Reputation

Choose a provider with a proven track record in your specific industry. An experienced provider will understand your sector's unique challenges and requirements, enabling them to offer tailored solutions that align with your business needs. 

2. Transparent Terms and Fees

It's essential to work with a financing provider that provides clear and upfront information about its terms and fees. Transparency helps you understand the cost structure and avoid hidden charges that could impact profitability. 

3. Flexibility and Customer Support

A reliable PO financing partner should offer flexible financing options that can adapt to your business's evolving needs. Additionally, responsive customer support is vital for promptly addressing any concerns and maintaining smooth operations. 


If you need further guidance on selecting the right PO financing provider to improve your business's financial health, we can help. Reach out for personalized assistance.

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Looking Ahead: Setting Business Goals for the New Year

12/16/2024

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​It’s the most wonderful time of year, a time of joy, family, and giving. 

You have worked hard all year and should enjoy time with loved ones over the holidays, bearing in mind that a new year awaits. A new year is a chance to rebuild, expand, and increase profits and efficiency. 

Here are some steps to take as you are setting business goals for the new year.


1. Review your past year of business
2. Cast your vision for your business
3. Set SMART goals
4. Involve your team
5. Clearly define actionable steps
6. Create a plan for monitoring progress
7. Plan to celebrate victories (big and small)

Step 1: Review
Review is a necessary part of growth, small and medium-sized business owners need to reflect on the past year and determine what worked well, what didn’t, and what they might want to change for the future. It’s also important to consider any changes in your market or industry, new trends, or opportunities. 

Step 2: Cast vision
Every year is a chance to bring you closer to reaching your long-term goals for your business. Understanding where you are in those long-term goals helps you cast vision for yearly goals and growth. Be sure you communicate with your team, financial partners, and clients any changes or exciting developments that lie ahead.

Step 3: SMART goals

When setting goals for the new year, the SMART goal framework is a great way to go about it. Business owners need to set goals that are: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Know what you want, what success looks like, how to get there, how it applies to your business this year, and when you want to reach those goals.

Step 4: Teamwork
Business owners need to involve their team when setting goals. Whether you have a team brainstorming session, or prepare your team’s expectations for the upcoming year, you cannot accomplish anything without them. Create buy-in, cast vision, and encourage your team for the year.

Step 5: Actionable steps
Business owners need to break down larger goals into smaller, actionable steps. This removes the daunting aspect of bigger goals and helps outline the path to success. Communicate the medium and smaller milestones to your team and the role they play in accomplishing them. Consider putting the list of these actionable steps in an accessible place where you and your team can review them often to stay on track.

Step 6: Monitor progress
Create a plan with or for your team on how you will monitor and review progress. As you go throughout the year, you may discover something working differently than expected, and changes are required. This is a normal part of business and shouldn’t be seen as a negative, but creating guidelines for review and revision ahead of time will make communication and changes efficient.

Step 7: Celebrate
Every good business owner knows maintaining morale is vital to progress and creates a healthy work environment. Plan ahead of time what milestones (big or small) you want to celebrate with your team/customers/supporters. This gives everyone something to look forward to and keeps the work environment encouraging and positive.

Whether you are looking to expand your business into new markets, increase profits, and more, setting your goals and expectations for your business at the start of a new year is the way to get there. Plan, set goals, engage your team, and know what your roadmap to success looks like.

From everyone at Prairie Business Credit: Happy Holidays! 

Looking to secure working capital for your business this upcoming year? We can help. Prairie Business Credit is a national working capital provider to young, growing, or recovering businesses. We offer accounts receivable financing, purchase order financing, and equipment financing. Our company serves both as a trusted financial resource and consultant to entrepreneurs dedicated to building their businesses and ensuring their success.
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Thanking the People Who Got You Here

11/14/2024

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“No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.”
—Alfred North Whitehead.
 
Every good business owner knows that people and relationships are their foundation—the people along the way who have been responsible for your education, encouragement, and support are what make your business possible. Parents/grandparents, mentors, teachers, friends, customers, financial partners, staff/employees—they are why you are here.
 
In this season of thankfulness, it’s important to express appreciation for everyone who has been part of the journey.
 
Practical ways to express gratitude
Here are a few ways you can show your customers, employees, family, and friends how much you appreciate their support.
 
●      Sharing your appreciation publicly
●      Personal acknowledgements
●      Celebrating milestones
●      Rewards or ‘thank you’ gifts
 
Sharing your gratitude publicly is a great way to get the ‘thank you’ message out to a large group at once. You can do this on social media platforms or through community events. Use the opportunity to share the story of your business, acknowledge your supporters' contributions, and cast a vision for a bright future.
 
Personal acknowledgments can be as simple as a phone call/text, a card, or a heartfelt email. It’s not about the format, it’s about the message. Begin your messages by calling the recipient by name and show them how much you value them as an individual. Everyone needs to feel seen and valued; this will only increase the strength of the relationship you share with your supporters.
 
Who doesn’t love to celebrate? Milestones exist not only to give us a goal to reach but also a point to stop, reflect, and celebrate. Who better to celebrate milestones than those who took the journey with you? You can celebrate milestones with special events (virtual or in-person) and promotions, or share a peek into the magic behind the curtain that makes your business run. Remind your supporters what they have done to make your success possible and get them excited about the great things the future has in store.
 
Rewards or thank-you gifts could come in any form, from a fruit basket or coffee gift card for your employees to special discounts or exclusive access to new products or services for loyal customers. The size of the gift will vary but be sure your genuine gratitude shines through in your presentation of the thank-you gift.

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We want to say thank you
After being in business for 30 years, Prairie Business Credit has learned the value of trust, relationship, and gratitude. Trevor Morgan started Prairie Business Credit in 1993 after 20 years of experience with regional banks and private finance companies. Dylan Morgan, Trevor's son, joined Prairie Business Credit in 2003 to continue in his father's footsteps by learning the family business. We consider all our employees to be part of the Prairie Business Credit family and are grateful for every person who has been a part of our journey to where we are now.
 
We consider our success defined by our clients’ success and we are proud to have served clients from coast to coast with the funding and advice they need to stabilize, succeed, and grow.
 
We know the value of hard work, mentorship, and personalized relationships with clients and partners. We are proud of our employees and clients. We are grateful to every teacher, mentor, family member, client, and employee who has gotten us this far.
 
From the Prairie Business Credit team: thank you.
 
Want to work with a company that provides capital and values their clients? We can help. Prairie Business Credit is a national working capital provider to young, growing, or recovering businesses. We offer accounts receivable financing, purchase order financing, and equipment financing. Our company serves both as a trusted financial resource and consultant to entrepreneurs dedicated to building their businesses and ensuring their success.

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6 Strategies to Maintain Cash Flow During the Holiday Season

10/16/2024

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The final few months of the year are upon us, bringing with them beloved holidays, time with family, and some of the most dramatic changes in profit and expenses in the year.

Some businesses experience a spike in sales over the holidays, while others, like seasonally-based businesses such as gardening equipment suppliers, may need to tighten their belts for the winter. All businesses need to prepare for this season to manage additional expenses, fluctuating profits, or increased product demand.  Regardless of your industry, the key to thriving during the holiday or winter season is maintaining strong cash flow.

Six Ways to Maintain Cash Flow 
Here are six strategies to maintain cash flow and help your business thrive whether you are in a busy season or not.

1. Incentivize pre-sales and early payments
Incentivizing customers to buy sooner rather than later is one way to bring cash in ahead of time, enabling you to cover costs if you need additional inventory or staffing, or to cover expenses during your slow season.  

2. Stay on top of inventory management
Over- or under-stocking can lead to wasted time and money. By analyzing past sales data, business owners can better forecast demand, allowing for smarter and more precise ordering. This not only ensures that inventory aligns with customer needs but also supports effective cash flow management.​

3. Offer promotions and holiday deals
Preparing promotions for the holiday season can retain loyal customers and attract new ones, increasing your sales volume and improving your cash flow. This also creates a faster turnover of inventory which is also good for cash flow. 

4. Manage expenses and delay non-essentials
Reviewing expenses in advance and identifying non-essential items that can be postponed is a great way to maintain cash flow. This ensures you have more funds available to handle a sales spike or navigate a slow season.

5. Build a cash reserve
A cash reserve provides a reliable safety net for unexpected expenses. By steadily growing your reserve throughout the year, you can strategically use it to cover costs and expenses during periods of low cash flow. 

6. Consider short-term financing options
For business owners who may not have cash on hand or in reserves, short-term financing is a great option. Options such as a line of credit, a business credit card, or, for some businesses, purchase order financing or invoice factoring may be an option.

Purchase order financing is short-term financing that can help your business pay for the inventory needed to fulfill incoming customer orders. Invoice factoring is when a business sells its accounts receivable to an invoice factoring company. The factoring firm advances cash to your business and then collects on the outstanding invoices. The balance is paid to the factoring firm minus a service fee. Both are excellent options for business owners who need more immediate cash flow or are facing a spike in sales.

When looking for a purchase order or invoice factoring company, be sure you find a company that:

● Is attentive to detail. 
● Has a high rate of success among customers.
● Is efficient.

This is never more important than during the rush of holiday sales when speed, efficiency, and customer satisfaction help maintain cash flow.

The holiday/winter season can be a win for your business if you prepare well ahead of time and maintain your cash flow. Employing these strategies will help small- mid-sized businesses navigate the end of the year with confidence and begin the new year from a place of prosperity.

Looking to maintain cash flow for your small business during the holiday season? We can help. Prairie Business Credit is a national working capital provider to young, growing, or recovering businesses. We offer accounts receivable financing, purchase order financing, and equipment financing. Our company serves both as a trusted financial resource and consultant to entrepreneurs dedicated to building their businesses and ensuring their success.
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Funding Relationships: What To Look For

9/22/2024

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Navigating financial partnerships, investments, and agreements is a regular part of being a small business owner; however, navigating these relationships well and finding partners you can trust can be challenging.

In this article, we will cover what to look for when seeking trustworthy capital providers for your business. 


Excellent communication
“Effective teamwork begins and ends with good communication.” —Mike Krzyzewski

Communication is key to success in any venture, but especially in business. From the first point of contact with a company, you should evaluate their communication.
  • Did you leave the conversation feeling clear about what was discussed?
  • Were you able to ask questions and get satisfactory answers?
  • Did you feel heard?
  • Did they follow up quickly after your initial meeting?

First impressions are important, a company that puts forth the effort to make a positive first impression is more likely to put that same effort into a business relationship. Since 1993, Prairie Business Credit has served as both a trusted financial resource and consultant to entrepreneurs, building strong relationships and focusing on helping each business succeed. 


A good reputation with their customers
“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow.” —Abraham Lincoln


Businesses with strong character cast a long shadow. When looking for a company to partner with, look for one that has an excellent reputation with their customers and is known for:
  • Being honest and fair.
  • Maintaining positive relationships.
  • Showing an active interest in helping their customers grow and succeed.
  • Understanding their customers’ unique needs and goals.


From its Chicago base, Prairie Business Credit has served clients from coast to coast with the funding and advice they need to stabilize, succeed, and grow.


Attention to detail
“It’s attention to detail that makes the difference between average and stunning.” —Francis Atterbury


Small business owners know that the secret to success and happy customers is to pay attention to the details. You spend hours of your life making sure the details of your business represent your passion for your work and the high quality you strive for. You want the same quality in a financial partnership. Look for someone who:
  • Will take the time to understand your industry and customers.
  • Always treat your customers with the same respect and excellence you do.
  • Is focused on helping you reach your business goals. 

Prairie Business Credit is a privately run company, which means we are able to give you personal attention, unlike other large financial institutions. In our decades of business, we have helped over 70 percent of our clients progress to bank or self-financing.
​

You put your heart, soul, and dreams into your business. When looking for financing options, look for a company with the same values in good communication, quality reputation, and attention to detail that you have.

At Prairie Business Credit, we strive to put our customers first and help them reach their goals, and our customers are enjoying the results. 

Hear from our customers:

Boyd Miller, Wisconsin Thermoset Plastic, ​Milwaukee, WI, shared that his company faced a massive drop in sales and was unable to get help from the bank, which directed him to Prairie Business Credit. Miller said, “Prairie Business Credit helped us with capital for operations and they brought discipline to our invoicing, so collections went more smoothly. In 24 months, we were back on our feet. We’re on top of receivables and control our cash better. Prairie Business Credit are good people, honest, smart, and straightforward—they kept our doors open."

Joe Krippelz, Jake’s Inc. Precision Machining and Rebuilding, Aurora, IL, said that after the economic downturn, their bank relationship changed—they needed cash to meet their customers’ needs. He said, “We looked at a lot of lenders. Prairie Business Credit understood manufacturing and they understood our needs. They came up with flexible solutions that helped us with cash flow so we could take orders, even months out. We didn’t lose orders and they helped us manage receivables, so we stayed on top of past-due accounts. Prairie Business Credit supported us until we could get an SBA loan with a bank."

Looking for a trusted capital provider for your small business? We can help. Prairie Business Credit is a national working capital provider to young, growing, or recovering businesses. We offer accounts receivable financing, purchase order financing, and equipment financing. Our company serves both as a trusted financial resource and consultant to entrepreneurs dedicated to building their businesses and ensuring their success. 
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