The Cardinal Provides ‘White-Glove’ Service to Help Prospective and Existing Franchise Owners Achieve Their Goals
Dan Casanta has a corporate background and a lifelong affinity for small business. As founder of Cardinal Business Financing Inc., Casanta, the son of a small business owner, understands the aspirations and challenges of those seeking franchise funding. His mission with The Cardinal is to provide “white-glove” service from the initial consultation to the close of funding to help prospective and existing franchise owners navigate a sometimes complicated process to achieve their goals.
“At Cardinal Business Financing, we believe there is a superior alternative to the current financing processes available to small businesses today. We are not constrained by outdated, ineffective or limiting procedures. Whether it is equipment leasing, lines of credit, bridge loans or working capital loans, our mission is to provide the best franchise financing options available,” Casanta says. “We reject the status quo and embrace innovative thinking. We are driven by the belief that franchise funding should not be an arduous process.”
Casanta, who worked for Titleist golf company before taking an early retirement and launching Cardinal Business Financing, says the greatest reward he now gets is in helping secure funding for a client who wasn’t likely to get it otherwise. “The payoff for me isn’t the income. The payoff for me is when somebody says, ‘I couldn’t have done it without you,’” Casanta says. “That’s more rewarding than anything I could ever ask for because we’re helping that person go to the next level. We’re helping somebody who felt stuck.”
White-Glove Service in Franchise Funding
The Cardinal process begins with a consultation and thorough examination of the prospective client’s business achievements, challenges, goals and needs. “Our objective is to ensure that the financing options we provide align with their business plan and contribute to increased revenues and profits,” Casanta says.
He says the distinction his firm offers – “The Cardinal Edge” – is in its “white-glove” service. “We strive to ensure our clients’ experience is as stress-free as possible. We never leave our clients to navigate the lending process alone. From the initial conference call involving our lender, the client and our team, we remain actively engaged throughout the entire process. We assist our clients in providing the necessary information for the lender to make an informed decision. Equally important, we ensure that our chosen lender progresses at an acceptable pace, leading to a timely and efficient closing,” he says.
Cardinal Business Financing maintains partnerships and affiliations with more than 75 different lenders including traditional lenders, institutional lenders, private investors and family offices, Casanta says. “We offer a comprehensive range of financing tools for our clients, whether they are new franchisees or existing franchises. We have established partnerships with several Small Business Administration lenders whom we have thoroughly vetted. These lenders either specialize exclusively in SBA loans or have dedicated SBA departments within their institutions. Additionally, we provide equipment financing, lines of credit, bridge loans, inventory financing, purchase order financing and accounts receivable financing. We also offer commercial real estate financing, which constitutes approximately 10% of our lending portfolio.”
Navigating the Financing Labyrinth
Understanding the various financing options and then navigating the funding labyrinth has gotten more complicated than ever. Having a trusted expert to guide the way can save time and money for prospective and existing franchise owners. According to the Federal Reserve Bank’s Small Business Credit Survey, only 42% of small businesses have their financial needs met. The majority of these rely on banks as their financial services providers, indicating a possible lack of knowledge of other financing options, according to an article by Forbes Advisor. And, only 31% received all the funds they sought in 2021, compared with 51% in 2019, according to the article.
Casanta emphasizes that “banks are our friends!” But he says The Cardinal receives numerous referrals from banks that were unable to successfully process small business loan requests because of various parameters including governmental constraints or minimum loan requirements that often are greater than the amounts requested. And that’s where the experts at Cardinal Business Financing can make all the difference.
“Our approach is to understand our clients and their businesses personally, rather than relying solely on algorithms and FICO scores. We recognize the value of their time and strive to provide answers and lending processes that are efficient, transparent and swift. We take pride in offering financing solutions and funding within days, not weeks or months,” he says. “If we cannot meet their financing needs, we will promptly inform them and collaborate to find suitable alternatives.”
For more information about Cardinal Business Financing Inc., visit https://www.cardinalbusinessfinancing.com/.
