Business Credit Scoring: Is It a Killer Application or Application Killer?
In his 1968 seminal novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur Clark introduced HAL, a spaceship computer with artificial intelligence. Mission engineers designed HAL to carry out an array of technical orders to safeguard the ship's mission. HAL operated flawlessly until it reported the failed operation of a ship system that was operating perfectly. Rather than correct the mistake, HAL's logic dictated that it would be more efficient to kill the ship's crew. Ever the polite computer, HAL killed quickly and quietly until it was unplugged by the sole remaining crewmember, Dave Bowman. Many small business owners believe that HAL's progeny are carrying out HAL's murderous mission in the small business credit arena. Computers now make important credit decisions for major banks and financing companies. Each day in the U.S., computers with fancy algorithms score thousands of small business credit transactions. Though credit-scoring models work well for most small companies, many believe these systems, like HAL, have run amuck. Routinely, transactions with low scores are turned down and applicants are notified of the decision by computer-generated rejection letters. By gaining a better understanding of the credit scoring process, you may be able to help your firm maneuver in the new world of credit scoring. Here are some key points about business credit scoring worth noting: 1. Credit scoring automates the credit evaluation process. Credit providers use these systems to speed up loan processing, to cut processing costs, to quickly adjust rates and terms to match credit risks, and to add a high degree of objectivity to credit decisions. 2. Credit scoring is a predictive system based on statistical modeling. Scoring systems are designed to forecast whether borrowers will be successful in repaying loans. Many systems use up to 20 factors to evaluate credit worthiness. 3. Many lenders and leasing companies use credit scoring for business transactions under $100,000. Over 90% of major credit providers use credit-scoring systems on transactions below $ 50,000. 4. A pioneer and leading credit scoring service, Fair Isaac and Company, researched statistical credit modeling in the 1980s. They determined that the personal credit behavior of a company's key principals/owners is a strong predictor of their business credit behavior. Simply stated, a business owner who pays personal bills on time generally will cause his/her company to pay bills on time. 5. The Fair Isaac scoring model produces business credit scores ranging from 50 to 350. Credit providers usually consider a business credit score above 220 to be a good risk. They consider a score of less than 175 to be a high risk. 6. The overriding factor in business credit scoring is the credit history of the business owners or the key principals. In addition, there are other factors related to the owners'/principals' personal credit profiles used to score small business transactions 7. Business-related credit factors scored include: the company's time in business; company size; industry; form of company organization; history of paying bills on time; business net worth; average bank balances; ratio of debt service to cash flow; and recent judgments, bankruptcies or agency collections. 8. Many large lenders, such as Well Fargo Bank and Bank of America, have developed their own predictive business credit models. Several have even fine-tuned the Fair Isaac model to better meet their needs and preferences. 9. If your firm is rejected for credit based on a scoring model, ask the lender to explain the rejection. Some lenders will reconsider if requested, but may require additional credit information. 10. Some lenders have special pools for higher risk credits. They usually charge higher rates and offer terms that are less advantageous than for high-scoring transactions. Others may ask for credit enhancements to grant approval, such as additional collateral or outside guarantees. 11. Here are ten ways to improve business credit scores: * Improve the credit habits and profiles of the key principals or business owners * Pay all back taxes * Settle outstanding liens and judgments * Pay bills on time and be consistent with payments * Eliminate supplier disputes by settling with any suppliers or former employees * Sell or factor accounts receivable to improve cash flow * Establish your firm's credit record by registering with the Secretary of State where your business is incorporated * Try to improve individual and company credit for at least twelve months * Buy from vendors who report activity to the major credit bureaus * Set up automatic account debiting with creditors to help eliminate the possibility of paying slow Credit scoring is not designed to predict individual loan performance with certainty. Rather, these systems do a great job of quantifying risks for groups of borrowers with similar characteristics. A disadvantage of credit scoring systems is that they are easy to misapply. If the lender's customers don't share characteristics and behavior patterns with the model's underlying base group of credits, then reminiscent of HAL, many transactions with great potential may be eliminated. If your firm doesn't score well under a scoring model used by a major lender, you may face an uphill battle for credit approval. Some smaller credit providers try to differentiate themselves by not using scoring models. Instead, they actually listen to borrowers, sort out unusual circumstances and use old-fashion human judgment to make credit decisions. One of these lenders might make sense for your firm. George Parker is a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. ("LTI"). He is responsible for overseeing the company's marketing and financing efforts. One of the co-founders of LTI, Mr. Parker has been involved in secured lending and equipment financing for over twenty years. Mr. Parker is an industry leader, frequent panelist and author of several articles pertaining to equipment financing. Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in direct equipment financing and vendor leasing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at http://www.ltileasing.com.
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Federal Debt Consolidation Loans For Students
For American students, the U.S. Government came up with a plan that can help a student manage their student loan debt. The plan they came up with is called a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan. It does not matter if you are a recent graduate student, well into your career already, still at school, or in your grace period for repayment of a student loan. For any of those student categories, a Federal debt consolidation loan may be applied for.
What is a Home Owner Loan?
A UK Home Owner Loan Can Unlock Your Capital To Use Today.
Car Loans for People With Bad Credit
Car loans for people with bad credit are readily available online. After completing an online car loan application, you can expect an approval within a few minutes. By the next day, you can have check in hand to purchase your vehicle.
Poor Credit Car Loan - Get Approved Online
Poor credit doesn't have to stop you from getting a car loan. In fact, car loans are one way of rebuilding your credit history. Online car loan lenders make the application process quick and easy, so you can buy your automobile the next day.
No Income Verification Loans ? When Income Doesnt Show on Paychecks
Financial statements, salaries, income proof, documents, paycheck, W-2 forms, 1099's - there is an exhaustive list of some of the forms that you may require to provide for a loan. Income documentation is not always easy for someone who is self employed or retired or for any person who doesn't have a fixed source of income. You may have high income and assets. Undocumented income can get good gains in the context of tax deductions. However, it might frustrate a loan borrowing attempt because the loan borrowers usually require two to three years of employment proof even for self employed. A no income verification loan can counter this situation when you can't adhere to conventional loan demands.
Secrets & Benefits of Secured Loans
Borrowing money has become more and more popular in the UK over recent years, and this is partly due to the fact that it has become far easier to borrow money. The rising popularity of consumer finance has also been aided by the wide variety of deals and the low interest rates available these days. Secured loans have become very popular with those that own property, and this type of finance deal offers affordability and excellent value for money. Secured loans are available from a wide pool of lenders, which means that consumers have plenty of choice when it comes to selecting and applying for secure loans.
How to Get a Business Loan in Five Steps
Need funds to startup or expand your business? Follow these steps:
What are Personal Loans?
As the term implies, Personal loans are simply loans for any personal use. They're known as personal loans because the money is for personal use, such as buying a car or home improvements. Most lenders do not stipulate what you can spend your personal loan on, generally allowing for any purpose.
Guide to Personal Loans
Here is a useful guide to Personal loans. What is a personal loan? A personal loan is money lent to an individual by a financial institution for a specific personal purpose.
No Credit? ? You Will Need a Bad Credit Loan
So you have never taken out a loan? You don't have a credit card and you don't have a mortgage? You always pay cash? You're a student, a recent widow, a divorcee or from an ethnic minority group who have a tendency not to have any lines of credit? If you are any of the above then your credit score will not necessarily reflect your ability to pay as you have little or no credit history whatsoever. This will make it difficult to obtain any form of loan and in these circumstances you may have to take out a bad credit loan.
Refinance Car Loans - Refinancing Your Car Loan Online is Convenient
Refinancing your car loan online is now more convenient. Your online application can be approved within an hour with most online car loan lenders. In as little as a day, you can have a check in hand to pay off your old lender and start saving money.
Taking the Time to Find the Best UK Loans
When looking for UK loans, it's always important to take your time so that you can compare loan rates and terms from a variety of lenders.
How to Finance a Small Business
Confused by how to finance a small business? One key to a successful business start-up and expansion is your ability to obtain and secure appropriate financing.
Let Us Uncover The Mystery Of Secured Loans
Okay, so one day you wake up and realize that you are far away from understanding your finances, let alone managing them. Finances are a gamble where you ought to win. If you lose you lose everything - whatever you have build, you have bought, you have worked for and most importantly you have secured. In today's world we compete at every level to secure for us the basic necessities of life i.e. food, clothing and housing.
Secured Personal Loans - What You Need To Know About
Loans that are secured against property are called secured personal loans. They are suitable for when you are having difficulties getting an unsecured personal loan, are trying to raise a large amount, or you just have a bad/poor credit history. Usually, lenders are more flexible when it comes to secured personal loans, which makes them worth taking into consideration if you want to buy a new car, make home improvements, or take the luxury holiday of your life.
How To Apply For a Business Loan
Worried about how to apply for a business loan? Although it may seem like a daunting task at first, it can be made less so by careful preparation. When applying for a business loan, you must prepare a written loan proposal. Make your best presentation in the initial business loan proposal and application; you may not get a second opportunity.
Finance Your Home Business: Six Ways Under Your Nose
There are lots of ways to get additional capital to expand a home-based business. But before you look outside for financing, leaving the decision about your company's progress and merits to someone else, consider these six ways under your nose to finance your home-based business:
Title Loans - Get More of the Title to Your Vehicle
Title loans have the same features as a secured loan, except for a single aspect. While secured loans do not spell out the type of collateral that will suffice it, title loans specifically require cars or any other vehicle to act as collateral. Vehicles may be used to guarantee secured loans too. Secured car loans, for instance, offer borrowers money to help them purchase cars. In this case, either the new automobile or an older automobile may be used as collateral. Thus, secured car loans too may be termed as a title loan.
Useful Information About Homeowner Loans UK
Homeowner loans UK are a very versatile type of personal loan that are offered to the owners of homes or real estate.
Small Business Loans Can Help You Write Your Success Story
Scene one: you are sitting on your office desk surrounded with files and work overload, you are thoroughly frustrated. You work hard and get paid. But somewhere something is lacking.
|
