Often business owners need to approach the bank for money, for example to put into their business. This is a perfectly normal part of running a business. However, there is something that many business owners are unaware of, which could jeopardise their relationship with the bank and therefore their chances of borrowing any more money in the future.
When you apply for a loan for a business, the bank may ask for a link to your Xero account (or MYBO, Banklink etc.). This is so they can check your position and make sure you meet their criteria for lending money. The problem is that unless the ledger is completely up to date and has all the entries that an accountant would do at the end of the month, then it is likely that the information you provide the bank with will be inaccurate – and in some cases, majorly inaccurate!
If you give inaccurate information, you may face a potential issue of trust between you and the bank. Relationships with banks are good if you deal honestly and provide accurate information. If you provide inaccurate information, it gives the bank a picture of how you run your business and can reduce (or eliminate) your chances of raising money in the future.
Be very wary of emailing links to MYOB, Xero etc. to banks unless your ledger is complete accurate and up to date (i.e. no end of year financial statements outstanding). Prior to giving anything to a bank, it is advisable to check with your accountant first. If you don’t, it may backfire on you in the long run. If you would like assistance getting your ledgers up to date before applying for a bank loan, contact us at GRA - we would be happy to help you.
This letter is to express my appreciation for the assistance and encouragement of both Anthony Lipscombe and particularly John Heaslip over the last financial year. The period since activating my trading trust has been one of considerable stress, as well as personal development, as I embarked on this as a relative business neophyte with virtually no awareness of the contemporary requirements of running a business, particularly the financial records aspect. During much of this period I have therefore felt considerable out of my depth. However I have been lucky enough to have had the benefit of the advice and support of John Heaslip in rationalizing what was a fairly chaotic set of records of the first year property trading. I am able to say that John in particular, has been unstinting in his attention to my needs and has done so in a manner which has never alluded to my extremely rudimentary grasp of managing a business, or even of being unable to set out a spread sheet properly. The result of the above guidance is that now, although my trading trust would still not be able to operate without the advice of GRA, I do least feel a sense of satisfaction that I have got to my present point without major disaster and that my property trust does now have some kind of firmer basis for any future activities - Name withheld by request
Investing in residential property?
If you're investing in residential property, seeking to maximise your ability to succeed and minimise risk, then this is a 'must read'.
Matthew Gilligan provides a fresh look at residential property investment from an experienced investor’s viewpoint. Written in easy to understand language and including many case studies, Matthew explains the ins and outs of successful property investment.