There will always be a need for your services, even during hard times, and smart entrepreneurs take advantage of economic slowdowns. According to Small Business Labs' 2009 Top 10 Small Business Trends report, "Small businesses will focus on cash flow, cost containment, customer retention and survival. But economic stress will also lead to a wave of small business innovation." You can use this time as an opportunity to make your business better.

An article by Judi Hasson on America.gov shows how some companies are able to thrive during hard times. "Companies with a niche market that provide a hard-to-find service do well, even in a down market. It is the 'unique customer base' that keeps them afloat." Look for the companies you would like as customers and focus your efforts on how to fulfill their needs. You may already be in a growth phase and jobs are pouring in faster than you're getting paid. When you don't have the cash to fund new jobs, it's tempting to turn away business. Instead of avoiding new projects, you know that you need to find some ready cash to keep up with demand for your services. Working capital can be tied up in your A/R and you can't afford to wait for those payments. To solve this problem, a factoring company can advance cash on your receivables.

Frozen cash flow can be a major disaster for a business, whether you're in a growth or innovation phase, or struggling to stay afloat. Many service companies are experiencing cash flow shortages due to outstanding accounts receivable invoices. You may offer 30 day terms, but that doesn't mean your customers always pay within 30 days. You still have to meet payroll, keep your taxes current, pay your vendors, and keep the lights on.

Growing companies can turn to Universal Funding for working capital on demand. We can fund start-ups, principals with poor credit, companies that have lost their line of credit and businesses that don't want debt. We have helped companies with seasonal or uneven sales patterns and companies that may be headed for trouble unless they can rescue cash flow. Universal Funding has the cash solution for businesses large and small, local and national.