Business Planning & Accessing Finance Workshop

What is it?

An interactive, informative and practical workshop, the workshop aims to demystify the process, and understand better, the benefits of Business Planning and its importance to the business.

It also deals with the sometimes tricky area of raising Finance for your business and the various options available. We also look specifically at Microfinance Ireland funding in detail.

What can I expect?

The cornerstone of any finance loan application is the Business Plan. The first half of the workshop is devoted to this.  We will look at how to write a Business Plan for an investment proposal and for grant and loan applications. We focus on the critical elements that must be included, and how to structure the document.

General information on the types of loan finance available to small businesses from lenders such as the SBCI (The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland), MFI (Microfinance Ireland), the mainstream Banks, and Credit Unions. In addition to this, other types of financing will be discussed, such as leasing, invoice discounting, crowd funding, and more. Specific information is given on how loans are assessed today, including the type of ratios and ‘what if’ analyses that are generally applied.

We will give plenty of tangible examples of common reasons why loans are refused, and there will be reference made to the mechanism for appealing refused applications (including the Credit Review Office).

What is the format?

• Part One - Business Planning
• Part Two - Financing Options, Bank Requirements, Microfinance Ireland

What is covered?

Part One - Business Planning:

• What’s involved in Setting up a Business
• Writing a Business Plan - Overview
• Overview of Microfinance Ireland Funding
• Information on Kildare Local Enterprise Office Supports
• Take Away Action Points

Part Two – Financing Options, Bank Requirements, Microfinance Ireland

• Changes in Lending Approaches (Risk-based Assessments)
• Products – Maximising Cross-selling
• Bad Debts
• Legacy Debts
• Discussions with the Banks – Cost of Funds, Margins, Lending Rates
• Types of Loans – SMEs, Overdrafts, Long-term Financing
• Security & Personal Guarantees
• What the Banks look for in Applications
• Extent of Risks Assessed

 Individuals, Credit History, Personal Equity

 Company Management & Performance

 Sector Performance

 Economy Overview

• Financing Options

 Invoice Discounting

 Strategic Bank Corporation

 Crowd Funding

 Credit Review Office

 Angel Investors

 Family & Friends

 Seed Capital Funding

 Venture Capital Funding