Property Services Finance

Premises are one of the major costs for a business, and the maintenance of property of all kinds, from land to office buildings, rented homes and public buildings is vital to protect their investment.

It means plenty of opportunities for property services companies. By offering cleaning, maintenance and repair for the owners and operators of commercial premises, they can provide a vital service, and build a rewarding business.

Property services tasks include:

• Cleaning
• Grounds maintenance
• Plumbing
• Painting
• Light repairs
• Electrical work

Building services have become a multi-million sector of the UK economy. However, it is fiercely competitive, and clients are cost sensitive. To provide an effective service, you will need a trained workforce, and equipment which will let you perform all tasks efficiently and to high standards.

Getting the right financial solutions to fund your staff and equipment needs is essential. At Rangewell, we can help you find the solutions you need.

Funding options for your property services business

Whether you are already working in private practice or considering setting up your own surgery or specialised clinic, we can help you find the right type of funding option to:

• Set up a new practice
• Acquire equipment and assets
• Provide working capital and finance growth
• Deal with tax

Setting up a new business

Setting up your own property services business could start by simply buying a van and using your skills as a handyperson. However, if you are serious about building a business you will need to put it on a professional footing.

There will be premises to pay for. You may need vehicles, a workforce, and a range of equipment, from hand and power tools to cleaning machines and access machinery.  if you are operating a mobile service, serving care homes or individual clients.

Remember, simply opening the door for business will not bring in contracts. You will need funding until you become established and build a client list. You will also need a website, where property owners can see what services you offer and the properties you are already working with.

You will also need to budget for marketing, insurance and administrative support, and professional support from solicitors to draw up contracts.

You should be able to calculate your needs as part of a detailed business plan. You may be surprised to find how large an investment may be required. You may also find that raising the necessary finance is a challenge as many lenders avoid startups, preferring to lend to established businesses which can already demonstrate profitability.  Although you may be able to provide projections for your business, most would expect to see accounts for one or two year’s trading before making the decision to lend.

At Rangewell we know lenders who are able to take a more positive approach, and can often help arrange funding for startup ventures, based on solutions such as Secured or Unsecured loans.

We can also find solutions if you want to buy a property services business. Although the costs may be much higher than those required for a startup, the ability to demonstrate profitability and a list of ongoing contracts can help secure the necessary sums. One solution for acquiring a business with existing assets is a ‘jigsaw’ finance deal, which uses a variety of funding types to provide the most cost-effective funding for each aspect of your finance needs.

Operations

Once your property services business is up and running you may have further funding needs. You will be faced with ongoing overheads even while you are building your business up to profitability.

Marketing will remain a substantial cost in the early months of your business. You will need a website and an online presence, which may require substantial investment.

You may need to provide a steady cashflow for the initial period when you are concentrating on bringing in business. Working capital finance and a revolving credit facility can both be useful in providing the additional funds you need.

Working Capital Finance

Working Capital Finance can help you stay afloat and pay staff and suppliers during the early stages of your business. It is designed to provide the operating expenses, from staff costs to supplier bills while cashflow is slow. It is a loan usually designed to be repaid in the short- to medium-term, once your property business is fully on its feet.

Revolving Credit Facilities

Overdrafts are a well-known form of business finance, but banks may be reluctant to provide overdraft facilities since the credit crunch. Revolving Credit Facilities can be an alternative, providing a line of credit, with an agreed limit that you can call on when you need it. You only pay for the money you take out, so it can be a cost-effective way to raise funds if you need them.

Funding for your equipment

Your equipment needs may be substantial, with tools and machinery and vehicles to provide, as well as office equipment and IT. At Rangewell we have found that asset funding can provide the most cost-effective solutions for most kinds of equipment you will use

Asset Finance covers a range of funding solutions:

Hire Purchase – buying your equipment

Hire Purchase offers a straightforward way to spread the cost of equipping your practice. You will need to put down a deposit, usually between 5%-25% of the total price of the asset in question, and repay the remainder, together with the interest, over an agreed period from 6 to 60 months.

You pay a fixed rate of interest and agreed monthly payments, making budgeting simple.

You may also have the option to structure your payments to fit your projected cash flow. You may be able to arrange smaller monthly repayments by agreeing to pay a final lump sum, known as a balloon payment, at the end of the loan period. This can help you reduce the cost in the early stages of your business.

Equipment manufacturers and dealers will often offer HP arrangements during the sales process. These can look very attractive, and can even include 0% options. These deals often mask hidden costs. You may be able to save money by paying cash, and arranging finance with our help. See how we can help you beat 0% finance deals.

HP can be the most appropriate solution for items such as your treatment bench, which will be working hard for you long after it is paid for.

Leasing – equipment without capital costs

With a lease, equipment is owned indefinitely by the finance company. You hire it for the period of the agreement. It remains their property, avoiding any need for capital expenditure from you. Monthly payments are fixed for the duration of the contract, and you can pay for your equipment from the income it generates each month. You may also be able to choose a lease which makes maintenance and repair the responsibility of the finance company.

Technology-based equipment such as TENS which can require skilled maintenance and can become obsolete can be best suited to leasing. Replacement and updating can be easy.

Funding to buy your premises

Secure premises to store your vehicles and equipment will be essential.

You may need to borrow for a deposit on a long-term lease.

Alternatively, you might want to buy with a Commercial Mortgage. Not only will buying your premises protect your practice from rent increases, but it could also provide you with a valuable asset.

We can provide all the answers you need for Commercial Property Finance. Whether you want to acquire your existing premises from your landlord or look at a new location we can help you find the most cost-effective solutions. 

Running and growing your business

Running your business will mean ongoing costs – and it is vital to keep your cashflow healthy, even when faced with unexpected expenses. You may want to bring in extra staff or invest in new machines, or you may simply want a way to deal with an unexpected cost.

There are a number of solutions to consider:

Tax loans

Large quarterly VAT bills or annual tax demands can cause problems with your cashflow, particularly when they fall at the same time as other costs.

Tax Loans help you to spread the cost of your tax demands into affordable monthly payments, ensuring that your business does not have to go through cashflow difficulties because of a minor tax liability.

See how a Tax Loan can mean better control of cashflow with fixed monthly payments.

Working Capital Finance

Working Capital Finance is designed to boost the working capital available to a business. It's often used to provide cash to pay staff during the early weeks and months of opening a practice or during a period of growth. It is designed to be repaid in the short- to medium-term.

Our finance experts can help solve your working capital needs. 

Growth Finance

Large-scale finance can be vital if you have major plans for your business, such as acquiring a competitor with lucrative contracts or taking on more people with key skills and experience.

Even if your practice does not have an established profit record that lenders usually require, we can help you find solutions based on specialised Growth Finance lending.

How we can help you capitalise your Property Services business

Property services throw up many funding needs. Not all lenders will be able to offer the right solution for every need, or the most competitive rates. At Rangewell we can help find the lenders and the lending solutions that are right for your business.

We know the lenders who can offer the most competitive rates for all types of finance, including Professional Loans, Unsecured and Secured Loans, Invoice Finance, Asset Finance, Commercial Mortgages, Growth Finance and more.

As well as conventional loan products, we can also help you find Alternative Funding, using new loan providers and innovative funding solutions.

Whether you have a straightforward, small-scale funding need, or require a complicated ‘Jigsaw’ funding plan made up of a combination of financial products, we can work with you to find the answers to help you make the most of your business.

Call us now to get our experts working for you - from property services businesses to property selling agents.