Lines of Credit
What is
A Line of Credit?
A revolving line of credit is a lot like a business credit card account.
Work with a lender to establish a credit limit when you open the account. You’re allowed to pull from your line as often as you need to, up to your credit limit. Making payments into the account frees up the balance to be used in the future. Lines of credit are ideal for covering expenses when business is slow. Top up your balance when your cash flow is back to normal.
Lines of credit aren’t the same as credit cards, however.
Most credit cards are unsecured, meaning you don’t offer collateral to the lender. If you have valuable assets, you can use them to secure a line of credit that gives you a portion of that asset’s value. Say you have real estate worth $500,000 and want to secure a line of credit. Your lender may extend a line for 80% of that amount, or $400,000. Borrow as often as you need from the account, up to $400,000. As you pay down the balance, you can draw again on your available credit.
When you’re developing your company’s emergency plan, a line of credit can be an important component.
Keep a line open for emergencies so it’s always there to fall back on. Most lenders don’t charge interest on an open account as long as there’s no balance. So you can add it to your planning with minimal cost. Find out more by speaking with a broker today.