At Trailblazer Finance, we’re excited to unveil our latest innovation – the Space Shuttle Loan. This new product is a significant addition to our portfolio, reflecting our commitment to providing innovative financial solutions tailored to the needs of brokers and other professionals in the financial services industry.
The Trailblazer Finance Journey
Trailblazer Finance has built a strong reputation in the financial industry through our diverse range of products and services. We facilitate the buying and selling of trail books, provide loans to support these transactions, and offer comprehensive valuation services for businesses. Additionally, our advisory services help clients navigate mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring, leveraging our deep industry expertise.
Our Suite of Loan Products Includes:
– Vanilla Loan: A straightforward, no-frills term loan.
– Flexible Drawdown Facility: Allows staged funding withdrawals.
– Simple Facility Loan: For agreed drawdown amounts.
– Premier Loan: Long-term amortisation for established brokerages.
– Balloon Booster Loan: Features a balloon payment at the end.
– Participation Loan: We become silent partners with no set repayment.
For 13 years, we’ve focused on lending to mortgage brokers, financial planners, accountants, and professionals with recurring cash flow. However, the Space Shuttle Loan marks a new chapter for us, offering unprecedented terms and opportunities.
The launch of the Space Shuttle Loan
The Space Shuttle Loan is designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses by offering extended terms, competitive interest rates, and higher borrowing limits. Here’s what makes this product unique:
- Extended Term: The first business loan with a term of up to 30 years.
- Competitive Rates: Lower interest rates compared to our other products.
- Higher Borrowing Limit: Borrow up to $6.5 million.
How It Works
The Space Shuttle Loan is ideal for businesses looking to diversify, expand, or acquire new assets. Here’s a breakdown of the application and approval process:
- Inquiry: Contact us via phone or email to discuss your suitability.
- Online Application: Complete a detailed loan application.
- Valuation: We conduct valuations on your trail book, business, and property.
- Consultation: We discuss your business performance and potential.
- Loan Offer: Receive a verbal loan offer followed by a formal letter of offer.
- Legal Agreements: Finalize legal documentation.
- Settlement: Complete the loan process within 4-8 weeks.
Key Benefits
– Increased Borrowing Power: Enhanced borrowing capacity with competitive terms.
– Cash Flow Protection: Flat monthly repayments with an initial interest-only period on the property component.
– Flexibility: Use the loan for expansion, diversification, acquisition, or retirement capital.
Why the Name Space Shuttle?
Similar to the space shuttle, our loan provides an initial boost with significant borrowing power, followed by a streamlined repayment structure. The loan splits into two parts:
– Property Loan: Interest-only for the first five years.
– Business Loan: Principal and interest payments over the first five years.
After five years, the business loan is repaid, leaving a competitively priced, long-term property loan.
Do I Qualify?
You need an ABN, GST registration, and a minimum of two years in business to qualify. We will also review your credit file and require directors’ guarantees and property as collateral. Our online application process respects your credit file’s integrity, requiring business statements for the past two years.
Join Us on This Exciting Journey
The Space Shuttle Loan is poised to revolutionise business financing. We invite you to explore this opportunity and see how it can elevate your business. Book your 20 minute complementary call to discuss your eligibility.
In the wake of the Covid era, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) adopted a lenient stance toward small businesses with GST, PAYG tax, and income tax obligations. However, the ABC recently reported that this period of leniency has come to a screaming halt and the ATO is now aggressively pursuing small businesses that owe tax debt, implementing stringent debt collection measures and shutting down businesses unable to comply.
The Current Situation
Rob Heferen, the new commissioner of the Australian Taxation Office, recently highlighted the severity of the issue. According to ABC News, small businesses collectively owe the ATO about $24 billion relating to their business activity statements (BAS). Heferen expressed concern over the growing trend of businesses falling behind on these payments, noting, “We are seeing an increasing number of businesses fall behind on these types of payments, from which point it is very difficult for businesses to get back on top of their obligations and remain viable.”
The numbers are alarming. Small businesses account for 65% of all collectable debt owed to the ATO, which amounts to $32.5 billion. Over the past four years, the total collectable debt, from businesses and individuals, has surged from $26.5 billion in June 2019 to $50.2 billion in June 2023 — an 89 percent increase. This sharp rise highlights the escalating pressures on small businesses across the country.
Aggressive Debt Collection
In response to the mounting debt, the ATO has intensified its debt collection efforts. Businesses with unpaid tax debts face the risk of being shut down if they fail to settle their obligations. The ATO’s hardline approach is a stark contrast to the leniency shown during the pandemic, and it serves as a brutal wake-up call for small business owners.
While the ATO is offering payment plans to help businesses manage their tax debts, these plans aren’t a get out of jail card and currently carry a general interest charge of 11.36%. Not only are you paying a high interest rate, these loans also have short repayment terms so your monthly payments can be astronomical. For many, meeting these repayment conditions may prove to be an insurmountable challenge, potentially crippling their operations.
What Can Businesses Do?
We reached out to Antony Resnick, insolvency expert and partner at DVT Group to get his thoughts on what businesses can do if they are burdened by ATO debt. He cautioned not to drown in the sea of debt but to raise your hand and ask for help. Companies that lodge their BASs but do not have the money to pay their bill are far better off from a personal liability standpoint than those who don’t lodge and don’t pay.
One option for businesses is to refinance the ATO debt through private lenders. TrailBlazer Finance is one of the few lenders willing and able to step up to the plate offering refinancing options that allow businesses to spread out repayments over five years, providing much-needed cash flow to continue operating and growing.
Take the First Step Toward Tax Debt Relief
If you’ve got ATO debt to pay don’t ignore it, raise your hand and ask for help. We understand the pressures small businesses face and are here to help you find a solution that fits your unique situation. We invite you to set up a complimentary call with our experienced team to discuss your specific circumstances and explore how our refinancing options can help you. Reach out to us today at 1300 139 003 to clear the decks and get square with the ATO.
Understanding the factors influencing trail book valuations is not just important but pivotal for making well-informed decisions in the acquisition process. These valuations encapsulate a complex interplay of multifaceted variables that can significantly impact the value and viability of an acquisition. Determining the factors influencing trail book valuations is crucial for making informed decisions. TrailBlazer Finance can help you understand the intricacies of trail book pricing across various sectors:
Mortgage Trail Books
Historically, mortgage trail books have traded at multiples ranging from 1.5X to 3X annual trail revenue. However, pricing varies significantly based on the quality of the asset. Just like buying a used car, factors such as client retention, revenue consistency, and asset quality play pivotal roles in determining the price. It’s essential to conduct external valuations to accurately assess the value of the asset being acquired.
Financial Planning Books
The valuation of financial planning books is typically based on a multiple of annualised recurring revenue (CSR), with historical norms around 3X. However, market sophistication has led to variations in pricing based on revenue streams, client base stickiness, and service offerings. Conducting detailed valuations and analysing revenue breakdowns are essential steps in determining the fair price for financial planning books.
Real Estate Rent Rolls
Rent rolls, representing real estate rentals, typically trade within the range of 2.5 to 3.5 times annual revenue. Factors such as client retention, vacancy rates, and rental reliability influence pricing. The focus is primarily on management fees and the quality of underlying properties.
Accounting Practices
Accounting practices are usually valued at 0.8 to 1.2 times annualised revenues, with considerations for achievable EBITDA. Client base stickiness, service availability, and eligibility of potential acquirers significantly impact pricing. Conducting thorough due diligence is essential to accurately assess the potential value of accounting practices.
Navigating trail book acquisitions requires a nuanced understanding of market dynamics and valuation principles.
Taking into account elements such as asset quality, revenue streams, and client retention empowers you to make well-informed decisions and negotiate equitable prices. Engaging with experts like TrailBlazer Finance and conducting thorough valuations are indispensable components for a prosperous acquisition journey.
For finance professionals gearing up for an acquisition, our team offers confidential consultations customised to your unique circumstances. Alternatively, immerse yourself in our comprehensive eBook, “Acquisition Ready,” to acquire a deeper comprehension of the acquisition process and arm yourself with invaluable insights for achieving success.
Interested in gaining insights into the crucial aspects of a prosperous acquisition? Our comprehensive eBook, “Acquisition Ready: The 10 Things Finance Professionals Must Cover,” meticulously crafted by our specialist funders, offers valuable guidance to navigate the process effectively. Download today.
Embarking on an acquisition journey entails navigating a maze of legal documentation essential for a successful transaction. Let’s delve into the key legal documents required and their significance in the acquisition process:
2nd Level: Reference ability Checks
Delving deeper, it’s essential to scrutinise the character and reputation of the vendors involved. Conducting reference ability checks by reaching out to business development managers, partnership managers, and individuals associated with the target acquisition provides invaluable insights. Identifying any red flags regarding the vendor’s integrity or reputation is crucial, as acquiring an asset tainted by poor character can prove detrimental to your business. TrailBlazer Finance has numerous methodologies to delve deep.
3rd Level: Legal Searches
Lastly, thorough legal searches are indispensable to ensure a seamless acquisition process. These searches encompass verifying ownership, clearing titles, and identifying any encumbrances or outstanding debts associated with the asset. By meticulously conducting these searches, you safeguard against potential legal entanglements that could impede the acquisition’s success.
Although every acquisition journey may unfold with its own set of nuances, certain foundational principles persistently stand firm. With the expert assistance of TrailBlazer Finance, meticulously addressing these aspects of due diligence empowers you with the optimal opportunity for success in your acquisitions endeavours.
Interested in gaining insights into the crucial aspects of a prosperous acquisition? Our comprehensive eBook, “Acquisition Ready: The 10 Things Finance Professionals Must Cover,” meticulously crafted by our specialist funders, offers valuable guidance to navigate the process effectively. Download today.
In the ever-evolving realm of business expansion, acquisitions emerge as powerful drivers of success. They present a thrilling opportunity to instantly double your business, skipping the lengthy process of organic growth. Through acquisitions, you not only achieve increased scale and efficiency but also gain the freedom to delegate day-to-day operations. Furthermore, your margins, purchasing influence, and market share undergo swift enhancement, marking the dawn of a prosperous new era.
However, the road to successful acquisitions is paved with layers of due diligence. Successful acquisitions hinge on meticulous due diligence across asset valuation, reference ability checks, and legal searches. By prioritising these critical steps and leveraging the expertise of TrailBlazer Finance, you pave the way for transformative growth and prosperity in your business ventures.
1st Level: Asset Valuation Due Diligence
At the outset, it’s imperative to conduct due diligence on the true value of the asset you’re acquiring. Engaging a third-party expert to perform a detailed valuation ensures accuracy and transparency in assessing the asset’s worth and its potential for leveraging. While some may possess the expertise and resources to undertake this task internally, most opt for the objectivity and proficiency offered by external valuers.
2nd Level: Reference ability Checks
Delving deeper, it’s essential to scrutinise the character and reputation of the vendors involved. Conducting reference ability checks by reaching out to business development managers, partnership managers, and individuals associated with the target acquisition provides invaluable insights. Identifying any red flags regarding the vendor’s integrity or reputation is crucial, as acquiring an asset tainted by poor character can prove detrimental to your business. TrailBlazer Finance has numerous methodologies to delve deep.
3rd Level: Legal Searches
Lastly, thorough legal searches are indispensable to ensure a seamless acquisition process. These searches encompass verifying ownership, clearing titles, and identifying any encumbrances or outstanding debts associated with the asset. By meticulously conducting these searches, you safeguard against potential legal entanglements that could impede the acquisition’s success.
Although every acquisition journey may unfold with its own set of nuances, certain foundational principles persistently stand firm. With the expert assistance of TrailBlazer Finance, meticulously addressing these aspects of due diligence empowers you with the optimal opportunity for success in your acquisitions endeavours.
Interested in gaining insights into the crucial aspects of a prosperous acquisition? Our comprehensive eBook, “Acquisition Ready: The 10 Things Finance Professionals Must Cover,” meticulously crafted by our specialist funders, offers valuable guidance to navigate the process effectively. Download today.
A successful acquisition has the potential to transform your business, offering immediate scalability, improved efficiency, and the ability to delegate day-to-day operations. Moreover, it can result in instant enhancements in margins, purchasing power, and market share, propelling your business towards unprecedented success.
However, when venturing into the world of acquisitions, understanding the intricacies of the approval process is paramount. Before proceeding with an acquisition, thorough familiarisation with all relevant legal documentation outlining future payment rights is essential. Let’s delve into what you need to know:
Aggregator, Dealer Group, or Franchise Approval
In the acquisition landscape, securing approval from your aggregator, dealer group, or franchise is often a prerequisite. This step is vital as it grants you the legal right to take ownership of the acquisition target. However, it’s essential to note that approval procedures can vary significantly depending on the entity involved. Trailblazer Finance can guide you through this process.
Restricted Approval
Approval may come with certain constraints. For example, some aggregators restrict acquisitions to their existing members, while specific mortgage managers may impose prerequisites such as specific guarantees and qualifications. Similarly, franchises typically require acquirers to become franchisees to access acquisition opportunities.
Failing to obtain the necessary approvals poses a significant risk, potentially resulting in the nullification of the acquisition and the loss of deposits or payments made.
Poorly executed acquisitions can spell disaster. Inadequate preparation and due diligence can devalue both the acquired asset and your existing business. Compliance issues further exacerbate the risks, potentially causing irreparable damage.
At Trailblazer Finance, we specialise in guiding clients through the acquisition process, ensuring optimal outcomes every step of the way. From conducting due diligence to negotiating agreements and securing financing, we provide comprehensive solutions tailored to your unique needs. With our expertise by your side, you can navigate the complexities of acquisitions with confidence and achieve your business objectives. Trust Trailblazer Finance to be your partner in success.
Eager to gain in-depth insights into the crucial elements of a successful acquisition? Download our comprehensive eBook, “Acquisition Ready: The 10 Things Finance Professionals Must Cover,” crafted by our specialist funders.
Connective Asset Finance has announced the appointment of specialist lender, TrailBlazer Finance, to its panel.
The addition of TrailBlazer Finance introduces a funder whose sole focus is unlocking the value of intangibles to which lenders ordinarily give little or no value. This specifically benefits financial planning, property management, accounting and insurance brokerage clients who are typically hard asset-light but have built great recurring revenue streams. This allows them to monetise their recurring revenue without needing property to secure their loan facilities.
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Understanding the drivers and what they mean for your brokerage
For the mortgage broking fraternity, like most industries, 2020 continues to present a litany of challenges that colour the future with a particular shade of uncertainty that appeals to only the most hardened opportunists.
If we get down to it, how are the smartest and most adaptable mortgage brokerages adjusting to the myriad challenges being presented? And where are the opportunities to turn these challenges into upside and create additional value in your business?
Navigating the valley of death
One thing we have learnt from businesses who have teetered on the precipice and successfully navigated through the valley of death and out the other side, is they often emerged far stronger – and done so by embracing change not just once, but again and again. Think Lego, Apple, Disney and Amazon. Each has used setbacks as catalysts for innovation, reinvention and disruption.
Mortgage brokers have also had to overcome their share of market shifting adversity over the last decade – be it threats to trail, regulation cuts, a Royal Commission and an ever-heavier compliance and educational burden. So those that are still standing have already had their resolve tested and proven their resilience. COVID-fuelled recession is just another round of fire, albeit an unprecedentedly heavy one.
Where is the value?
So far, we have not seen any notable negative impact on the value of trail book and mortgage brokerages from the current COVID-19 market maelstrom. But there has been a clear split in the pack with an increase in brokers leaving the industry. As a result, we’ve seen an uptick in stronger brokers approaching us for larger loans to fund book purchases as they sniff out opportunities.
We have identified seven drivers of trail book value and what you need to look at when buying a book or preparing your own business for sale at the optimal value:
1. Seasoning. This is the length of time individual loans have been on the book. The longer they’ve been in your book, the higher the value.
2. Underlying run off. This looks at how quickly the book is losing loans. Focus on embedding those relationships.
3. Arrears and clawbacks. Frequency with which clients slip into arrears or loans are clawed back. A potential challenge in the current market.
4. Growth in underlying loans. Growth in the number and value of those loans. Hold tight to the loans you do have.
5. Growth in trail. A growing trail book is a valuable asset, particularly in a time of uncertainty. Tap into gaps in the market.
6. Not all loans are equally valuable. A properly structured investment loan, for example, could be a more valuable asset than a residential loan. Write loans where you haven’t previously.
7. Underlying spread of lenders, borrowers and products. Focus on the mix and diversity. Concentration risk is a negative.
And a dollop of better, smarter, faster will not go astray
Innovation is not necessarily about scrum masters and setting the world on fire. It can be as simple as getting the basics right. If you look hard enough, there are quick wins out there both from a resilience and value-building perspective. Check out our five tips to help prepare your business for what comes after COVID-19.
Take two minutes to get a sense of your trail book value
Check out our free trail book valuation calculator to get a sense of the value range for your trail book today.
You can also download our valuations flyer for further information.
It goes without saying that large and small businesses alike are facing unprecedented challenges in the current environment. Brokers are certainly well-versed in how to hand tough times. What we know from those times is that where there are challenges there are invariably opportunities. Sometimes it’s simply a question of finding a partner to help you realise those opportunities when they present themselves.
In 2014, Chris Booth caught wind of an unmissable opportunity. At the time, he and his other business partners were running a successful full-service financial advisory business, Announcer Mortgages (now Infocus).
When they were offered the chance to buy an undervalued client book, an acquisition that would allow them to increase their footprint and further diversify their business, they decided to try to pull together the funds to make it happen. Knowing the book would eventually appreciate, they hoped to engage, convert and grow as many clients as possible before selling the book at a higher multiple.
Chris Booth, Head of Lending, Infocus
Finding funding
Having pooled their income streams, Chris and his partners shopped around for lenders to fund the purchase. Unhappy with the options available to them, Chris spoke to the Executive Director at his aggregator who facilitated an introduction to TrailBlazer Finance’s Managing Director, Jeff Zulman. Using a specialist trail book loan from TrailBlazer, Chris and his partners were able to borrow against Announcer’s mortgage trail book, rather than risk personal assets, in order to free up the capital to buy the book.
“In the end, we proceeded with the loan purely because of Jeff and the team. They made themselves physically available to us throughout the process and it gave us great confidence, both personally and professionally, that we were making the right decision with the right lender.”
Making growth happen
At the time of purchase, Chris was working with another part-time broker. While the business didn’t convert quite as many clients as they’d bullishly projected, they did manage to sign on around 500 fee-paying full-service clients from that book alone. By the time he and his partners decided to sell the business three years later, Announcer had increased in size to three full-time brokers, their client roster had more than doubled and the business had grown by almost 130 per cent in terms of the underlying trail. They subsequently sold the business to Infocus in 2017, repaying any remaining debt and banking a tidy sum.
Words of advice for brokers looking to grow
While Chris is the first to admit the industry is in a very different place in 2020, post-Royal Commission and mid-COVID pandemic, he would do it all over again. As a small business success story, does he have any advice for other brokers seeking to grow their business through acquisition?
“Using borrowed money is a good way to acquire clients and build your business quite quickly. You have a warm opportunity to call which makes it so much easier than building a book from scratch. Would I buy a mortgage book right now? Absolutely yes, the multiples are good, even though the market has some unknowns after the Royal Commission.
Acquisitions done properly absolutely work. However, be ready for it to take far longer than you’d expect to work a client book effectively. Ultimately, you still have to win the hearts and minds of the clients. One of the biggest learnings from the financial planning industry is that they didn’t try to win the clients. You have to call and build relationships, be proactive and be positive. Building those relationships is everything.”
Let us help
If you would like to find out about how we can help your business grow with our unique loan products for brokers and other white-collar professionals, please contact us on 1300 139 003 or at info@trailblazerfinance.com.au
In our business, we often get enquiries from people who think we deal in second-hand literary books. At TrailBlazer Finance, we actually buy, sell and lend against trail books – which are not even close to story books. But these mistaken phone calls to our office became the catalyst for us to support a charity which is doing life-changing work for people who often can’t even spell B-O-O-K.
A few years ago, our Managing Director Jeff Zulman read John Woods’ remarkable book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur’s Odyssey to Educate the World’s Children. Jeff was inspired by how one person who recognised the power of words went on to establish Room to Read, a non-profit organisation focused on girls’ education and children’s literacy in Africa and Asia.
We later discovered that one of Room to Read’s annual fundraisers was a long trail walk in Sydney. There are too many coincidences here, Jeff thought to himself. We make money from books – albeit not literary ones – so why don’t we help others to read, write and benefit from books. In that moment, TrailBlazer Finance’s support for Room to Read was born.
According to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, over 750 million people worldwide are illiterate. Two-thirds of them are women and girls. “World change,” says Room to Read, “starts with educated children.”They’re right: educating girls is much more than a gender equality issue.
As Damon Gameau’s recent documentary ‘2040’ makes clear, educating girls is a vital weapon in the battle against climate change. Why? Because empowering and educating women and girls means they are more likely to marry later and have less children, which leads to a lower population and less pressure on resources. In a recent Sydney Morning Herald article, Elizabeth Farrelly wrote that the film 2040’s “most surprising [moment] is the thought that the sixth most effective weapon (of a hundred) against climate change is educating girls…educating girls is worth 105 gigatons of Co2 due to its effect on fertility, population growth and land management.”
So now, your books – your trail books – are helping those less privileged than us to learn to read and delight in the power of words and literary books.We donated 100% of the proceeds from our recent webinar for mortgage brokers to Room to Read. This impressive organisation – which to date, has benefitted 16.8 million children and their communities – means that when you take a loan from TrailBlazer Finance, you’re also giving back: helping to combat the scourge of children’s illiteracy, to educate underprivileged girls and even to fight against climate change. Your trail book is valuable in more ways than you might have imagined.
