A business owner is always able to count on three things -- death, taxes and payroll. Payroll is an expense that is common to all businesses and its due date is practically set in stone.

It’s that time of the year again -- the season of giving. No doubt you’ve made your list and are dreading fighting the crowds to find the perfect gifts for friends and family, but have you considered the gift for your company this year?

Despite being around for centuries and being used across practically all industries, there are a lot of misconceptions about the factoring loan. Much of this misunderstanding comes from not being familiar with this type of financing. In fact, factoring isn’t all that different from many other types of short-term business loans.

Apart from fixed assets, accounts receivable are one of a business’ largest assets. A large AR balance is both a blessing and a curse. Increasing AR means that sales are coming in, but AR is just numbers on a piece of paper.

When it comes to commercial finance, you typically have limited options. One option is to tap your own finances and inject equity into the business. You could also look for an outside investor. This works well in the startup phase, but is often difficult as your business grows. This is where a loan from a bank or finance company comes into play.

When you think about business funding what comes to mind? A loan from the bank? Tapping personal credit cards? Using your own savings? Some kind of specialized cash flow financing?

Running a small business is challenging. There is usually more work to go around than there are people. With so many things to do, micromanaging cash flow isn’t at the top of the list. Yet cash flow is vital to the growth and success of your business.

No matter what industry you’re in, making payroll is at the top of the priority list for many business owners. Most employees won’t work for very long if they aren’t getting paid. If your staff walks out the door, your ship is sunk. Because of this, many businesses have some form of payroll financing in place to make sure cash is always available to take care of payroll.

When looking into the various options to finance your business you need to make sure you understand business loan rates and terms. Many small business owners are familiar with the basics of loans from dealing with their personal finances.

In business, receivables are both a curse and a blessing. A growing accounts receivable balance means that you’re making sales, but receivables are just numbers on paper until you collect the cash.