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Once the wedding couple has decided on their wedding day, usually they will start their planning process, but sadly, mostly focus on themselves. They forget that they also need to think how to entertain their guests during the wedding function. A wedding celebration is considered unsuccessful if the guests unable to feel the joy and bring back sweet memory by the end of the function.So what should you do? The answer is by incorporating some great wedding entertainment ideas in your wedding function. Today, if you perform a search in the internet, you can find a long list of entertainment programs which may look great to you. However, if you simply choose one, you may end up upsetting the guests instead of entertaining them.Below are some tips that you can use in selecting entertainment for your wedding.1. Your wedding theme
You need to know your wedding theme before select type of entertainment. If your choice is beach wedding theme, you may want to engage a band with steel drums with hula dancers. However, if you just want to play safe, then you can always choose for traditional wedding entertainment with wedding bands and wedding DJ.2. Your own strength
Leveraging on your own strength is a smart way to entertain your guests. If you are a great entertainer who have good singing or dancing skills, your guests would want to see you perform these during your wedding. Therefore, you may want to hire live band, DJ or rent karaoke set for your wedding planning. Select songs which you are good at and your friends always wanted to hear from you. In order to make it more fun, encourage the guests to sing too or duet with you. As for dancing, you can engage a dancing instructor to help any guests to learn to dance with you. This definitely will lighten up the atmosphere and create an unforgettable day in their life.3. Your guests’ interests
If you know your guests’ interests and plan the activities according to them, you will be classified as a great wedding entertainment planner. For example, if majority of your guests are golfers, you may want to plan your wedding with some golf simulator games or held it at a popular local golf club. Encourage your guests to bring their own golf clubs too. Of course, you cannot fulfill everyone needs. Thus, you need to plan for other activities for non-golfers like card games, garden tour for ladies and board games or magic show for children.As long as you can keep your guests engaged and enjoyed your wedding function, you have met your objective. They will talk about your great wedding entertainment ideas for years to come.

There are many real business online opportunities that can generate real money. Millions of people are currently using the internet as their primary or secondary means of earning extra cash. And what’s good about an online business, is it socially empowers all the sectors of society. The internet has given normal people an equal opportunity to create extra money by ignoring their location, disabilities, and education. It also gives everyone an equal opportunity in business. Aside from its cost-effectiveness by utilizing a free-to-use medium, most internet businesses build up a product that usually has profound effects after being advertised or posted online. The ground for marketing provided by the web is very promising.Real business online offer many advantages not only in business, but also in personal life. It is the only business that offers amazing opportunities never been seen before available, especially now when the world is still under economic recession. An internet business offers the following advantages.Leverage of time – one of the advantages of having a web business is it gives a person the independence to freely manage their time. Because a web business requires only an ample amount of time to run and manage, a person can have total control of time.
Low Starting Capital – the best thing about internet business is they only need minimal funding to operate. Unlike business establishments who require great amount of money, an online business only requires a computer, net connection, product or service, and a website and everything is good to go.
Products are sold 24/7 – another good thing about online business is it offers the advantage of keeping the business open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This also gives the customers the advantage to order and inquire about the product anytime and anywhere without any extra cost. Aside from this, the customers also get to enjoy the convenience of doing transaction at home or at work.
Quality Time with Family – because online business gives a person the freedom to freely choose their working time, and because it only requires an ample amount of time to manage, more time can be spent with the family. For someone who works full time 8 to 10 hours a day, it’s also a good part time job.
Global Market – This is perhaps the main reason why millions of people choose to do business online. Reaching out the millions of people from all over the world is very possible. The internet offers boundless opportunities at a relatively low amount of cost. Talk about cost effectiveness and wild scale audience, online business can give it both.
Cost Effectiveness – And finally, cost effectiveness. What many people want these days is a business that’s affordable to begin that can guarantee income. An online business is the perfect candidate for this.A business that can give thousands of dollars every minute, possibly not, but a business that can generate money, an online business can definitely guarantee this. The definite and infinite chance to succeed when you are doing a real online business depends on some factors, and one of them should include a pure determination to win.

At present, the interest on an unsecured personal loan is currently over 15% per year, says BankRate.com, assuming you can get this type of loan at all in today’s credit-starved environment. And that’s about your best such rate. Attempt to borrow against a credit card, for example, and it could be a good deal more. It’s obvious that personal loans can get very expensive nowadays.In many situations, though, a personal loan can be just about unavoidable for many of us. What if the car won’t start and you need an expensive engine repair to get it up and running again? Or your daughter needs braces? Or the washing machine breaks down?Situations like these force many Americans to resort to personal loans, including high-cost payday loans. These loans now make up over 22% of the total non-mortgage installment loans at U.S. banks, up from only 11% in 1998.However before you sign up for your next personal loan, consider the following alternative possibilities — Consider a home equity loan. If you own a house with equity in it, you can probably borrow against the equity at a fairly low interest rate and at the same time get a tax deduction. Check out LendingTree.com for a list of lenders.- Selling stocks, Treasury bonds, etc., can be a fast way to drum up some hard cash – just be sure you understand you’ll have to pay taxes on any gains or interest.- What about borrowing against your cash value life insurance policy.? This is a low-interest alternative if you have this type of policy, and it’s the most common type.- Try borrowing against your retirement account. Ask your employer’s benefits department if this option is available. If so, it’s another low-interest alternative.- Family or friends. Maybe your dad can fork over some cash. Just make sure you pay him back.- Ask your creditors – particularly local merchants who may be more flexible – if they might be willing to extend your payments a month. If they are, make sure you’re not getting charged extra for the privilege of paying your bill late – or if you do get charged, find out how much.- How about asking your employer for a pay advance – assuming of course you have an understanding employer.Good vs Bad DebtYou need to recognize a simple fact of personal finance: Never borrow money for consumption. That’s bad debt. Only borrow for investments that will increase in value (and increase by more than the cost of the loan). Borrowing money just in order to spend it is a terrible idea, a royal road to bankruptcy or other financial land mines. As Eric Tyson says in his book, PERSONAL FINANCE:If you spend, say $2,500 [which you've borrowed] on a European vacation, the money is gone. Poof! You may have good memories and even some Kodak moments, but you’ll have no financial value to show for it… I’m not saying don’t take a vacation. Definitely, take one, two, three, or as many as you can afford yearly. But that’s the point – what you can afford. If you need to borrow money… [then you can't afford the vacation]…And precisely the same advice applies to almost any consumer purchase: home computers, expensive meals, clothes,, yes, even a new car – anything that decreases in value and eventually becomes financially worthless. If you have to borrow to buy it, you probably can’t afford it. According to Tyson “The financially correct amount of bad debt [you should have] is zero.”But this does not apply to things that “retain and hopefully increase in value over the long term, such as an real estate, education or your own business.” For these uses, debt is acceptable, up to a limit – the limit being the point at which making payments causes you to be no longer able to save sufficiently to accomplish your financial goals.All that is excellent advice, but the fact is that, at times, you simply may not be able to avoid adding to your debt load – an emergency or other urgent situation forces you to seek a personal loan. In those kinds of situations, what are your best options?Personal Loan EssentialsHere are a few basics to keep in mind whenever shopping for an unsecured personal loan:First, never borrow more than you need. Given the high interest rates in today’s credit environment, you’ll want to keep the amount to an absolute minimum.Second, compare terms from several lenders. Never look at just the monthly payments – consider the total cost of the loan, including any hidden charges like credit insurance or other fees. Don’t skip the small print on the loan agreement. Don’t assume what you’re being told by a loan officer is binding. It’s what’s in writing in the contract that counts.Third, begin by trying your credit union before a bank. Credit unions usually have more favorable terms than banks and are often willing to make small unsecured personal loans to their members.Fourth, don’t pledge valuable personal assets when you take out a small loan – it’s almost never worth the risk. And avoid using credit cards or payday loans if at all possible – the interest rates, especially on the latter, can be prohibitive.Fifth, be aware that the interest you pay on unsecured personal loans is not tax deductible.Understanding Subprime LoansIf you find yourself in the subprime lending category, things get even more complicated. As you know, subprime lending has tightened up greatly over the past months (and is now almost nonexistent in the mortgage market). However, if you are employed, you can still find cash in an emergency – you just have to be prepared to pay a steep interest rate for it.But what exactly does the term “subprime” mean? The definition varies by lender, but in general subprime means a FICO score of 650 or below. Among the other criteria commonly used are: a bankruptcy within the past five years, a foreclosure within the past 24 months, or a debt-to-income ratio of 50% or higher. Some ultra-conservative lenders will even brand you as subprime if you’ve been late on one or one or two credit card payments over the past 12 months.There are some important factors to bear in mind if you’re considered subprime and yet need to take out an emergency personal loan. One is to recognize that you won’t be viewed the same by all lenders – so you don’t have to jump at the first offer you receive. Shop around. As said, be sure to try your credit union first – and also one or more banks that have departments providing subprime lending. Try using one of the online services that allow you to apply at several lenders simultaneously, like Lending TreeHere are a few important points for subprime borrowers to bear in mind:Never risk valuable assets in order to make a small loan.Avoid personal loans which involve “fancy” terms such as balloon payments. Avoid adjustable rate loans (these have proven disastrous for thousands of subprime mortgage borrowers and can be almost as disastrous for personal loan borrowers).Always read the fine print. Be sure you understand the terms of the loan clearly. You will be held to what is in the contract, no matter how much eye-strain it takes to read it.Don’t allow several lenders to access your credit report at the same time. Several inquiries on your credit report within a short period can further lower your credit score.

When you are in the automobile market, it is essential to have a budget for the car that you want to buy. A smart car buyer is someone who is well aware of the exact amount that he can spend on a car. But, even if you do not have a car budget in mind, a blank check auto loan can prove to be a good choice for obtaining finance for your car.A Blank Check Auto Loan is a Pre-Approved Loan A pre-approved loan means the loan is approved by the lender before the car buyer chooses a car. It makes car buying process easy. A blank check auto loan is a type of pre-approved loan. It determines the maximum amount that the lender is willing to lend to the borrower. It gives car buyers an approval for a loan up to a specific amount. The fear of auto loan rejection is eliminated as the loan is pre-approved. Once the car buyer chooses a car, he can write a check of desired amount to buy the car from the dealer.Watch out for these Factors to ensure the Best Deal!· With a good credit score on hand, you can grab competitive interest rates on such loan. But if you have bad credit, the best place to find such loan is the internet.· The loan terms are important to understand before you sign on the dotted line. So read and understand them. It is not something to be ignorant about.· Even if you have been approved for a blank check auto loan, it is vital to negotiate the price of the car with the dealer.· Take the help of an auto loan calculator to determine the monthly payment amount that you can afford.· Don’t go with the first loan that is offered to you. Shop around for the best deal.A Blank Check Auto Loan is a Favorable Answer to Your Auto Loan Worries· The negotiation becomes easy as you are aware of the maximum amount that you can pay for the car. You possess more negotiating power as you know the price range of the car beforehand.· As you know the estimated price range, car buying process becomes easy.· It offers you competitive interest rates which add to its advantage. The interest rates are low as compared to dealership financing.· Internet is the answer to all the queries about blank check auto loan. Internet eases the approval process too.· When you have no idea about the car that you will buy, having an estimated price range will be helpful. Such loan will provide you with the maximum amount that you can spend on the car.Blank Check Auto Loan Risks ExaminedThere are definite benefits for the borrowers who qualify for such loan. However, you must look out for the following risks:· If you have bad credit, it may not be in your best interest to apply for a blank check auto loan. Think of applying for it only after checking your credit score. A co-signer can improve your chances of approval.· There may not be any face-to-face interaction between you and the lender. So, it is better to read the loan terms properly in order to avoid any unfortunate surprises in the future.Such loan will allow you to purchase a car even with bad credit. As the loan is pre-approved, it reduces anxiety and builds up your confidence during the car buying process. With competitive interest rates on hand, it truly shines in comparison to other auto financing options.

Summary
SPDN is not the largest or oldest way to short the S&P 500, but it’s a solid choice.
This ETF uses a variety of financial instruments to target a return opposite that of the S&P 500 Index.
SPDN’s 0.49% Expense Ratio is nearly half that of the larger, longer-tenured -1x Inverse S&P 500 ETF.
Details aside, the potential continuation of the equity bear market makes single-inverse ETFs an investment segment investor should be familiar with.
We rate SPDN a Strong Buy because we believe the risks of a continued bear market greatly outweigh the possibility of a quick return to a bull market.
Put a gear stick into R position, (Reverse).
Birdlkportfolio

By Rob Isbitts

Summary
The S&P 500 is in a bear market, and we don’t see a quick-fix. Many investors assume the only way to navigate a potentially long-term bear market is to hide in cash, day-trade or “just hang in there” while the bear takes their retirement nest egg.

The Direxion Daily S&P 500® Bear 1X ETF (NYSEARCA:SPDN) is one of a class of single-inverse ETFs that allow investors to profit from down moves in the stock market.

SPDN is an unleveraged, liquid, low-cost way to either try to hedge an equity portfolio, profit from a decline in the S&P 500, or both. We rate it a Strong Buy, given our concern about the intermediate-term outlook for the global equity market.

Strategy
SPDN keeps it simple. If the S&P 500 goes up by X%, it should go down by X%. The opposite is also expected.

Proprietary ETF Grades
Offense/Defense: Defense

Segment: Inverse Equity

Sub-Segment: Inverse S&P 500

Correlation (vs. S&P 500): Very High (inverse)

Expected Volatility (vs. S&P 500): Similar (but opposite)

Holding Analysis
SPDN does not rely on shorting individual stocks in the S&P 500. Instead, the managers typically use a combination of futures, swaps and other derivative instruments to create a portfolio that consistently aims to deliver the opposite of what the S&P 500 does.

Strengths
SPDN is a fairly “no-frills” way to do what many investors probably wished they could do during the first 9 months of 2022 and in past bear markets: find something that goes up when the “market” goes down. After all, bonds are not the answer they used to be, commodities like gold have, shall we say, lost their luster. And moving to cash creates the issue of making two correct timing decisions, when to get in and when to get out. SPDN and its single-inverse ETF brethren offer a liquid tool to use in a variety of ways, depending on what a particular investor wants to achieve.

Weaknesses
The weakness of any inverse ETF is that it does the opposite of what the market does, when the market goes up. So, even in bear markets when the broader market trend is down, sharp bear market rallies (or any rallies for that matter) in the S&P 500 will cause SPDN to drop as much as the market goes up.

Opportunities
While inverse ETFs have a reputation in some circles as nothing more than day-trading vehicles, our own experience with them is, pardon the pun, exactly the opposite! We encourage investors to try to better-understand single inverse ETFs like SPDN. While traders tend to gravitate to leveraged inverse ETFs (which actually are day-trading tools), we believe that in an extended bear market, SPDN and its ilk could be a game-saver for many portfolios.

Threats
SPDN and most other single inverse ETFs are vulnerable to a sustained rise in the price of the index it aims to deliver the inverse of. But that threat of loss in a rising market means that when an investor considers SPDN, they should also have a game plan for how and when they will deploy this unique portfolio weapon.

Proprietary Technical Ratings
Short-Term Rating (next 3 months): Strong Buy

Long-Term Rating (next 12 months): Buy

Conclusions
ETF Quality Opinion
SPDN does what it aims to do, and has done so for over 6 years now. For a while, it was largely-ignored, given the existence of a similar ETF that has been around much longer. But the more tenured SPDN has become, the more attractive it looks as an alternative.

ETF Investment Opinion

SPDN is rated Strong Buy because the S&P 500 continues to look as vulnerable to further decline. And, while the market bottomed in mid-June, rallied, then waffled since that time, our proprietary macro market indicators all point to much greater risk of a major decline from this level than a fast return to bull market glory. Thus, SPDN is at best a way to exploit and attack the bear, and at worst a hedge on an otherwise equity-laden portfolio.

Your stocks to watch for the week ahead are Cheniere Energy (LNG), S&P 500 biotech giant Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), Cardinal Health (CAH), Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Genuine Parts (GPC).

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While the market remains in correction, with analysts and investors wary of an economic downturn, these five stocks are worth adding to watchlists. S&P 500 medical giants Vertex and Cardinal Health have been holding up, as health-care related plays tend to do well in down markets.

Steel Dynamics and Genuine Parts are both coming off strong earnings as both the steel and auto parts industries report optimistic outlooks. Meanwhile, Cheniere Energy saw sales boom in the second quarter as demand in Europe for natural gas continues to grow.

Major indexes have been making rally attempts with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 testing weekly support on Friday. With market uncertainty, investors should be ready for follow-through day breakouts and keep an eye on these stocks.

Cheniere Energy, Cardinal Health and VRTX stock are all on IBD Leaderboard.

Cheniere Energy Stock
LNG shares rose 1.1% to 175.79 during Friday’s market trading. On the week, the stock advanced 3.1%, not from highs, bouncing from its 21-day and 10-week lines earlier in the week.

Cheniere Energy has been consolidating since mid-September, but needs another week to forge a proper base, with a potential 182.72 buy point formed on Aug. 10.

Houston-based Cheniere Energy was IBD Stock Of The Day on Thursday, as the largest U.S. producer of liquefied natural gas eyes strong demand in Europe.

Even though natural gas prices are plunging in the U.S. and Europe, investors still see strong LNG demand for Cheniere and others.

The U.K. government confirmed last week that it is in talks for an LNG purchase agreement with a number of companies, including Cheniere.

In the first half of 2021, less than 40% of Cheniere’s cargoes of LNG landed in Europe. That jumped to more than 70% through this year’s second quarter, even as the company ramped up new export capacity. The urgency of Europe’s natural gas shortage only intensified last month. That is when an explosion disabled the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia that had once supplied 40% of the European Union’s natural gas.

In Q2, sales increased 165% to $8 billion and LNG earned $2.90 per share, up from a net loss of $1.30 per share in Q2 2021. The company will report Q3 earnings Nov. 3, with investors seeing booming profits for the next few quarters.

Cheniere Energy has a Composite Rating of 84. It has a 98 Relative Strength Rating, an exclusive IBD Stock Checkup gauge for share price movement with a 1 to 99 score. The rating shows how a stock’s performance over the last 52 weeks holds up against all the other stocks in IBD’s database. The EPS rating is 41.

Vertex Stock
VRTX stock jumped 3.4% to 300 on Friday, rebounding from a test of its 50-day moving average. Shares climbed 2.2% for the week. Vertex stock has formed a tight flat base with an official buy point of 306.05, according to MarketSmith analysis.

The stock has remained consistent over recent weeks, while the relative strength line has trended higher. The RS line tracks a stock’s performance vs. the S&P 500 index.

Vertex Q3 earnings are on due Oct. 27. Analysts see EPS edging up 1% to $3.61 per share with sales increasing 16% to $2.2 billion, according to FactSet.

The Boston-based global biotech company dominates the cystic fibrosis treatment market. Vertex also has other products in late-stage clinical development that target sickle cell disease, Type 1 diabetes and certain genetically caused kidney diseases. That includes a gene-editing partnership with Crispr Therapeutics (CRSP).

In early August, Vertex reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and raised full-year sales targets.

S&P 500 stock Vertex ranks second in the Medical-Biomed/Biotech industry group. VRTX has a 99 Composite Rating. Its Relative Strength Rating is 94 and its EPS Rating is 99.

CRISPR Stocks: Will Concerns Over Risk Inhibit Gene-Editing Cures?

Cardinal Health Stock
CAH stock advanced 3.2% to 73.03 Friday, clearing a 71.22 buy point from a shallow cup-with-handle base and hitting a record high. But volume was light on the breakout. CAH stock leapt 7.3% for the week.

Cardinal Health stock’s relative strength line has also been trending up for months.

The cup-with-handle base is part of a base-on-base pattern, forming just above a cup base cleared on Aug. 11.

Cardinal Health, based in Dublin, Ohio, offers a wide assortment of health care services and medical supplies to hospitals, labs, pharmacies and long-term care facilities. The company reports that it serves around 90% of hospitals and 60,000 pharmacies in the U.S.

S&P 500 stock Cardinal Health will report Q1 2023 earnings on Nov. 4. Analysts forecast earnings falling 26% to 96 cents per share. Sales are expected to increase 10% to $48.3 billion, according to FactSet.

Cardinal Health stock ranks first in the Medical-Wholesale Drug/Supplies industry group, ahead of McKesson (MCK), which is also showing positive action. CAH stock has a 94 Composite Rating out of 99. It has a 97 Relative Strength Rating and an EPS rating of 73.

Steel Dynamics Stock
STLD shares shot up 8.5% to 92.92 on Friday and soared 19% on the week, coming off a Steel Dynamics earnings beat Wednesday night.

Shares blasted above an 88.72 consolidation buy point Friday after clearing a trendline Thursday. STLD stock is 17% above its 50-day line, definitely extended from that key average.

Steel Dynamics’ latest consolidation could be seen as part of a larger base going back six months.

Steel Dynamics topped Q3 earnings views with EPS rising 10% to $5.46 while revenue grew 11% to $5.65 billion. The steel producer’s outlook is optimistic despite weaker flat rolled steel pricing. STLD reports its order activity and backlogs remain solid.

The Fort Wayne, Indiana-based company is among the largest producers of carbon steel products in the U.S. It engages in metal recycling operations along with steel fabrication and produces myriad steel products.

How Millett Grew Steel Dynamics From A Three Employee Business

STLD stock ranks first in the Steel-Producers industry group. STLD stock has a 96 Composite Rating out of 99. It has a 90 Relative Strength Rating, an exclusive IBD Stock Checkup gauge for share-price movement that tops at 99. The rating shows how a stock’s performance over the last 52 weeks holds up against all the other stocks in IBD’s database. The EPS rating is 98.

Genuine Parts Stock
GPC stock gained 2.8% to 162.35 Friday after the company topped earnings views with its Q3 results on Thursday. For the week GPC advanced 5.1% as the stock held its 50-day line and is in a flat base.

GPC has an official 165.09 flat-base buy point after a three-week rally, according to MarketSmith analysis.

The relative strength line for Genuine Parts stock has rallied sharply to highs over the past several months.

On Thursday, the Atlanta-based auto parts company raised its full-year guidance on growth across its automotive and industrial sales.

Genuine Parts earnings per share advanced 19% to $2.23 and revenue grew 18% to $5.675 billion in Q3. GPC’s full-year guidance is now calling for EPS of $8.05-$8.15, up from $7.80-$7.95. The company now forecasts revenue growth of 15%-16%, up from the earlier 12%-14%.

During the Covid pandemic, supply chain constraints caused a major upheaval in the auto industry, sending prices for new and used cars to record levels. This has made consumers more likely to hang on to their existing vehicles for longer, driving mileage higher and boosting demand for auto replacement parts.

Fellow auto stocks O’Reilly Auto Parts (ORLY) and AutoZone (AZO) have also rallied near buy points amid the struggling market. O’Reilly reports on Oct. 26.

IBD ranks Genuine Parts first in the Retail/Wholesale-Auto Parts industry group. GPC stock has a 96 Composite Rating. Its Relative Strength Rating is 94 and it has an EPS Rating of 89.

US Markets were trading in the green on Friday with Dow 30 trading at 30,678.80, up by 1.14%. While S&P 500 was trading at 3,701.66, up by 0.98% and Nasdaq Composite 10,690.60 was also up by 0.71 per cent

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US Markets in green on Friday; Dow 30 up over 345 points, Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 up nearly 1%
Earlier today, Indian stock markets ended the week on a winning note. It was the sixth straight gains for equity markets. Source: Reuters
US Markets were trading in the green on Friday with Dow 30 trading at 30,678.80, up by 345.25 points or1.14 per cent. While S&P 500 was trading at 3,701.66, up by 35.88 points or 0.98 per cent and Nasdaq Composite 10,690.60 was also up 75.75 points or 0.71 per cent. A Reuters report said that today’s strength was on the back of a report which said the Federal Reserve will likely debate on signaling plans for a smaller interest rate hike in December, reversing declines set off by social media firms after Snap Inc’s ad warning.

Source: Comex

Nasdaq Top Gainers and Losers

Source: Nasdaq

Earlier today, Indian stock markets ended the week on a winning note. It was the sixth straight gains for equity markets. The BSE Sensex ended at 59,307.15, up by 104.25 points or 0.18 per cent from the Thursday closing level. Meanwhile, the Nifty50 index closed at 17,590.00, higher by 26.05 points or 0.15 per cent. In the 30-share Sensex, 13 stocks gained while the remaining 17 ended on the losing side. In the 50-stock Nifty50, 21 stocks advanced while 29 declined.

There are several potential financing options available to cash-strapped businesses that need a healthy dose of working capital. A bank loan or line of credit is often the first option that owners think of – and for businesses that qualify, this may be the best option.

In today’s uncertain business, economic and regulatory environment, qualifying for a bank loan can be difficult – especially for start-up companies and those that have experienced any type of financial difficulty. Sometimes, owners of businesses that don’t qualify for a bank loan decide that seeking venture capital or bringing on equity investors are other viable options.

But are they really? While there are some potential benefits to bringing venture capital and so-called “angel” investors into your business, there are drawbacks as well. Unfortunately, owners sometimes don’t think about these drawbacks until the ink has dried on a contract with a venture capitalist or angel investor – and it’s too late to back out of the deal.

Different Types of Financing

One problem with bringing in equity investors to help provide a working capital boost is that working capital and equity are really two different types of financing.

Working capital – or the money that is used to pay business expenses incurred during the time lag until cash from sales (or accounts receivable) is collected – is short-term in nature, so it should be financed via a short-term financing tool. Equity, however, should generally be used to finance rapid growth, business expansion, acquisitions or the purchase of long-term assets, which are defined as assets that are repaid over more than one 12-month business cycle.

But the biggest drawback to bringing equity investors into your business is a potential loss of control. When you sell equity (or shares) in your business to venture capitalists or angels, you are giving up a percentage of ownership in your business, and you may be doing so at an inopportune time. With this dilution of ownership most often comes a loss of control over some or all of the most important business decisions that must be made.

Sometimes, owners are enticed to sell equity by the fact that there is little (if any) out-of-pocket expense. Unlike debt financing, you don’t usually pay interest with equity financing. The equity investor gains its return via the ownership stake gained in your business. But the long-term “cost” of selling equity is always much higher than the short-term cost of debt, in terms of both actual cash cost as well as soft costs like the loss of control and stewardship of your company and the potential future value of the ownership shares that are sold.

Alternative Financing Solutions

But what if your business needs working capital and you don’t qualify for a bank loan or line of credit? Alternative financing solutions are often appropriate for injecting working capital into businesses in this situation. Three of the most common types of alternative financing used by such businesses are:

1. Full-Service Factoring – Businesses sell outstanding accounts receivable on an ongoing basis to a commercial finance (or factoring) company at a discount. The factoring company then manages the receivable until it is paid. Factoring is a well-established and accepted method of temporary alternative finance that is especially well-suited for rapidly growing companies and those with customer concentrations.

2. Accounts Receivable (A/R) Financing – A/R financing is an ideal solution for companies that are not yet bankable but have a stable financial condition and a more diverse customer base. Here, the business provides details on all accounts receivable and pledges those assets as collateral. The proceeds of those receivables are sent to a lockbox while the finance company calculates a borrowing base to determine the amount the company can borrow. When the borrower needs money, it makes an advance request and the finance company advances money using a percentage of the accounts receivable.

3. Asset-Based Lending (ABL) – This is a credit facility secured by all of a company’s assets, which may include A/R, equipment and inventory. Unlike with factoring, the business continues to manage and collect its own receivables and submits collateral reports on an ongoing basis to the finance company, which will review and periodically audit the reports.

In addition to providing working capital and enabling owners to maintain business control, alternative financing may provide other benefits as well:

It’s easy to determine the exact cost of financing and obtain an increase.
Professional collateral management can be included depending on the facility type and the lender.
Real-time, online interactive reporting is often available.
It may provide the business with access to more capital.
It’s flexible – financing ebbs and flows with the business’ needs.
It’s important to note that there are some circumstances in which equity is a viable and attractive financing solution. This is especially true in cases of business expansion and acquisition and new product launches – these are capital needs that are not generally well suited to debt financing. However, equity is not usually the appropriate financing solution to solve a working capital problem or help plug a cash-flow gap.

A Precious Commodity

Remember that business equity is a precious commodity that should only be considered under the right circumstances and at the right time. When equity financing is sought, ideally this should be done at a time when the company has good growth prospects and a significant cash need for this growth. Ideally, majority ownership (and thus, absolute control) should remain with the company founder(s).

Alternative financing solutions like factoring, A/R financing and ABL can provide the working capital boost many cash-strapped businesses that don’t qualify for bank financing need – without diluting ownership and possibly giving up business control at an inopportune time for the owner. If and when these companies become bankable later, it’s often an easy transition to a traditional bank line of credit. Your banker may be able to refer you to a commercial finance company that can offer the right type of alternative financing solution for your particular situation.

Taking the time to understand all the different financing options available to your business, and the pros and cons of each, is the best way to make sure you choose the best option for your business. The use of alternative financing can help your company grow without diluting your ownership. After all, it’s your business – shouldn’t you keep as much of it as possible?