If you are in the restaurant business, you certainly won't need me to tell you how tough it can be financially.

While you are building up the reputation of your establishment, money is often tight and one bad night can mean an unprofitable week. As for cash flow - well, the cash certainly flows, doesn't it? You just wish that more of it was flowing in than out. And what about those slow periods? What do you do if they last longer than you anticipated? How do you get the funds you need to get your restaurant business over that hump.

OK, I'm painting a negative picture here, but funding can be a problem for even the most successful restaurant, especially if you wish to expand quickly. The question remains: what is the best way to get financing for your restaurant?

LOANS

A loan may be an obvious way to raise finance for your restaurant business, but look at it from the point of view of the lender.

The 2004 Restaurant Industry Operations Report published by Deloitte & Touche LLP indicates that average pre-tax profit margins range from 4-7%. This means that, from the lender's point of view, even a profitable restaurant is a big risk. The bigger the risk, the bigger the interest payments - that is, if you even get approved for a loan at all. High interest rates, of course, can bring their own problems, particularly for a very low margin business such as the restaurant trade.

Lenders will, admittedly, look more favorably on you if you also own your premises. However, you need to be aware that funding your business using real estate as collateral means that it is the potential resale value of the property that lenders are looking at. The purpose of the property itself may actually reduce its resale value as there would be a smaller pool of potential purchasers. Thus, many lenders set very high minimum loan amounts, which may not be suitable for your particular circumstances.

If you do decide to go the loan route, then speaking to a specialist lender with expertise in the restaurant industry is essential.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE FACTORING

Factoring is a form of commercial finance where a business can accelerate its cashflow by selling its accounts receivable at a discount. This means that the business doesn't have to wait for outstanding invoices to be paid in order to receive the cash necessary to finance the business moving forward.

For many service based businesses, accounts receivable factoring is an extremely good way of quickly accessing cash. However, restaurants rarely have much business of this kind.

What they do have, however, is a high volume of credit card transactions. By leveraging these, budding restauranters can - literally - fund their restaurants with other people's credit cards.

CREDIT CARD CARD FACTORING

Essentially, restaurants can sell their future credit card transactions and receive an advance on that money - usually up to around $120,000. The money can be used for any purpose - from expanding premises to buying new equipment or whatever you want. This isn't a loan, so there is no personal guarantee needed. It's simply an advance against future credit card settlements.

The company purchasing takes a small, fixed percentage of future credit card transactions until the advance is repaid.

The advance cash can often be made available within 14 days, so - for the restaurant business that is in need of a quick injection of funds - this is a good option. Of course, there are restrictions on who can apply. Generally speaking, a restaurant would have to be running for over 1 year, take over $5,000 per month in Visa/Mastercard transactions and have more than 1 year left on their lease to qualify.

For the restaurant that has been in existence more than one year, this represents the best method of further growing your business at minimum professional or personal risk.

COMPANIES PROVIDING RESTAURANT FINANCING

There are a number of companies out there offering financing of this kind to restaurants. The main points to watch out for when selecting such a company are as follows :

i) Application Fee - Companies charging an application fee should be avoided. To be honest, there isn't much paperwork involved in this process, so an application fee is unnecessary.

ii) Closing Costs - Again, companies charging 'closing costs' are best avoided. There are enough companies out there competing for your business.

For the young or established restaurant business, credit card factoring is the most effective way of getting the funds you need to expand your business. So, fund your restaurant using someone else's credit card !

About the Author: Jason Schwartz is CEO of Creative Cash Flow Solutions, a company offering credit card factoring services. Restaurants with more than $4,000 per month in credit card transactions can receive funds up to $125,000 in only ten days. Learn more at .ilovechecks.com/business-funding/factoring.html

BNWOT Original Stop Staring Rockabilly/Swing Dress!

This is a brand new without tags Rockabilly/Swing (emo, retro, vintage-styled, waitress) dress, made by Stop Staring! and is no longer in stock- there are no more!  This dress retails for $72.00!!

This dress features a 1940’s vintage style/Chinese style. It is a gorgous and rich chocolate brown dress with cream buttons, collar with bow tie, and arm cuffs. Very smart, cute and sexy!  

 Measurements: bust:   42 in.(but I think would fit a 40 or 41 better)   waist: 30in., A-line skirt. Zippers up in the back, mandarin collar, can be worn with our without the cute cream belt.   Made out of a stretchy polyester blend, made by Stop Staring, sized Large, but could just as easily fit an XL

Vintage Swing/Rockabilly 40's/50's Women's Jacket!

Very cute Swing, Rockabilly, emo, waitress, psychobilly, retro, goth, vintage little grey wool blazer type jacket.. Looks great with jeans or a little black pencil skirt!

Almost flawless condition.. the only thing I could find was a TINY pinhole on the front and some loose stitching on a pleat inside on the liner.. not affecting the structure of the jacket in any way.. fully lined in grey satin.. label reads Albert Jensen Vancouver BC

(There are no other marks on the coat- it's just a reflection)

No stains, no smells (not even that weird vintage smell..)  Beautiful little coat.. 3/4 turned up sleeves, beautiful tailoring everywhere.. little darts all over the place.. covered buttons..  I'd keep it, but it's a little snug on me....

Measurements taken flat then doubled

Shoulders: about 14.5 inches across the back

Bust: 40 inches

Waist: 38 inches

Length: 22 inches

See all these auctions and their details on ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZtaraalice84

All questions are welcome!

Note to mods- if these listings are inappropriate, please let me know and I will alter them immediately!  Thank you for looking!

Hi all!  I'm finding that I love selling here!  Anyhow, up for sale are two retro inspired dresses sizes 14 and 16 and one 38DD satin bra from Torrid and one pair of Dickies pants sized 13.

Check behind the cut for pictures and item descriptions-  Best offer gets the goods, be sure to leave all your comments here or email me directly at alys83taw@hotmail.com for any questions, etc.  Payment must be made before shipping through PAYPAL.  Shipping for the dresses will be $5.95 and for the bra $2.50.- I do ship internationally, but shipping will be different- email for details-

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Bid away!

Hi!  Up for sale here I have two brand spankin' new pairs of Dickies pants.  Both are black, one is a junior's size 13 and the other is junior's size 15.  Just got these today and I just decided they weren't my style-  but that doesn't mean you have to miss out-  this are rockin' pants!

     Please measure yourself-  I'm not responsible for items that do not fit, and I don't accept returns-

JUNIOR STRETCH LOWRISE FLAIR PANT
New styling for juniors! Wrinkle free, easy care lowrise flare pant w/stretch & added comfort & wearability. Zip front. Plain back styling with zip front. Hook and eye closure. Stain relese finish and micro-sanded for super soft feel. L style pockets in front. No exterior logo. 

7.6 oz. Twill (81% Cotton | 18% Polyester | 1% Spandex)

THESE ARE NEW STYLE FOR THE 2005 SCHOOL & WORK YEAR.

Price is $15 a pop and $25 for both-

Shipping will be $6, and if you buy both of them, shipping will be combined!!

Please email me with any questions you may have, or ask them here-  alys83taw@hotmail.com