Here’s one way to keep your independence as a company founder: don’t sell equity. Of course, there aren’t too many ways to do that and still meet the capital needs to launch and grow.
One area that’s often disregarded by entrepreneurs — often because it’s perceived as hard to access — is lending. While the past several years have made substantial lines of credit or outright loans hard to find, they aren’t impossible. Beverage brands of the right kind of size and scale or capital structure have been able to use credit to their advantage, if they are willing to accept the risk that comes with creditors instead of investors. But beyond risk, there are operational issues — few entrepreneurial companies are aware of the kind of internal financial processes they need to have in place in order to ease access to credit.
To develop a picture of the lending market with regard to beverage entrepreneurs, BevNET Live will feature a talk with a pair of experts on financing and access to capital: IDB Bank, a commercial lender with a strong background in the food and beverage space, and Anchin, Block, & Anchin, an accounting firm with numerous food and beverage clients.
During their presentation and discussion, Louis Barone, SVP and head of IDB Bank’s factoring division, will explain the kinds of lending options that may be open beverage companies of varying sizes from debt and working capital lines of credits and their requirements. Meanwhile, Greg Wank, who steers Anchin’s food and beverage practice, will offer advice on the proper procedures and accounting controls that are important to have in place to satisfy lenders.
Depending on the objectives of the founder and the stage of their business, it might make sense to borrow rather than to sell. The upcoming event will help those in the audience identify which way to go.
Only a few tickets are available for BevNET Live, which takes place on June 2 and 3 at Metropolitan West in Manhattan.
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Special Offer for Startups and Early Stage Beverage Brands:
If you’re in the planning stages or you’re brand is under two years old, a limited number of discounted tickets are available. Please contact Jon Landis at jlandis@bevnet.com or (617) 231-8834 for more information.
About BevNET Live
BevNET Live takes place on June 2 and 3 at the Metropolitan West in New York City. The BevNET Live program is designed to help entrepreneurial beverage companies of all sizes explore potential strategies for growth while building community. Speakers address the problems and challenges associated with moving across channels of trade, building established organizations, and consider capital structures that can fuel long-term success. Thought leaders like investors, retailers, distributors, suppliers, marketers and entrepreneurs join in moderated conversations and case studies designed to provide executable ideas for innovative beverage companies that are trying to reach their next level, while also sharing and enjoying networking in a highly collegial environment.
About Louis Barone
Louis Barone heads IDB Bank’s Factoring Division which provides mid-market companies in a diverse range of industries working capital facilities as well as accounts receivable management and credit guaranty for everyday operations and growth. IDB Factors has offered these full outsourcing solutions, secured by accounts receivable and inventory as well as Letters of Credit for importation of goods for over 15 years.
Louis’ career in factoring, asset-based financing and related services has spanned 35 years with nearly half of those years spent on the international level. As Managing Director of the international factoring groups of GMAC Commercial Finance, HSBC Business Credit and Republic Business Credit he has traveled extensively throughout Asia, South America and Europe in his dealings with clients and correspondents. As a former board member of International Factors Group he has given numerous presentations on Supply Chain Finance, Import and Export Factoring and International Trade Flows. His background also includes senior management positions, portfolio management and business development.
About Greg Wank
Gregory Wank, CPA, CGMA, is an accounting and advisory partner at Anchin. Greg is the Practice Leader of the Firm’s Food and Beverage Industry Group, providing accounting, business, and tax planning services to privately held companies throughout the industry, including many emerging brands, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. In addition to his keen focus on food and beverage companies, he also advises other consumer product companies as well as finance companies.
As one of the metropolitan areas’ foremost thought leaders in the food and beverage industry, Greg is often a featured expert panelist at industry events. He assists the growth of emerging brands as a strategic partner with AccelFoods. Greg authors the Firm’s Food and Beverage industry news alerts, distributes the only regional industry survey, and hosts regular industry events, including the upcoming 9th annual State of the Food & Beverage Industry event in June. Greg is frequently quoted in various publications including USA Today and the Washington Post and has been featured on Fox 5 News and Bloomberg Radio.