The Value of Understanding Your Financing Options

When business owners think about financing, the conversation often starts with how much capital they need. At Financing International Transactions, hosted by AMCham West in Calgary, the discussion highlighted why understanding the available options earlier can be just as important.

Accord Financial attended and sponsored the event, which brought together William Nurnberger, Vice President, Business Development & Originations at Accord Financial; Ahmed Khalil from RBC; and Samir (Sam) Musayev from Export Development Canada (EDC), sharing perspectives across alternative lending, trade finance and export support.

For Accord, the discussion reinforced an important message for Canadian entrepreneurs: financing can take different forms and understanding those options early can help businesses make more informed decisions.

Finding the Right Structure for the Business

William shared how alternative lending can approach financing by looking closely at the assets supporting a business and determining what structure may work around them.

“Our whole goal is to find solutions.”
— William Nurnberger

As William explained during the discussion:

“We don’t finance companies based off of cash flows. We’re 100 percent committed to their asset groups.”
— William Nurnberger

Receivables, inventory and equipment can potentially support different financing structures depending on the business and its circumstances. This can also include working alongside other financial partners rather than replacing an existing relationship.

William summed up Accord’s approach simply by:

“It comes down to, again, what works for the client.”
— William Nurnberger

Understanding More Ways to Access Capital

Factoring was one example explored during the discussion. The panel addressed the perception that factoring is mainly associated with businesses experiencing difficulty, when it can also provide a way to accelerate access to cash tied up in eligible receivables.

William also explained how Accord can adapt a structure to the realities of a business. In discussing companies with customers that regularly take longer to pay, he noted:

“The solution is to do what’s working at the time.”
— William Nurnberger

That thinking extends beyond receivables. Alternative lending can include asset-based lending, factoring, equipment financing and revolving facilities, depending on the assets and financing need.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

RBC and EDC added important perspectives around customer risk, contracts, payment terms, trade credit insurance and letters of credit. EDC also highlighted resources available to help Canadian businesses better understand new markets and prepare for the risks associated with new opportunities.

Together, the perspectives demonstrated that financing does not need to operate in isolation. Different financial and trade resources can play different roles depending on what the business is trying to accomplish.

Have the Conversation Earlier

One of William’s clearest messages came at the end of the panel:

“You need to start early. Don’t be afraid to talk to people.”
— William Nurnberger

He also emphasized the value of having experienced people around the business:

“Make sure you have the right people around you.”
— William Nurnberger

That is a conversation Accord wants to continue beyond the event. Our goal is to provide Canadian entrepreneurs with more practical education about alternative lending, the assets that may support financing and how different solutions can fit alongside their broader financial strategy.

The goal is not simply to introduce more financial products. It is to help businesses better understand what options exist and how they work and when they may make sense.

There may be more financing options available than you realize.

Connect with Accord Financial to explore what may work for your business.