Luke Willson Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Hi Guys! I've decided to bite the bullet and see if I can get funding for a steadicam. I'm off to the bank this friday and wondered if you guys had any tips or advice. Any figures about the industry that might help instill confidence. I've already got my best and worst cash flow forcast and profit and lost statements in order along with a pretty sound business plan. Just wondered whether you guys had any pearls of wisdom? Cheers Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Philip J. Martinez SOC Posted March 12, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Bring the brochure for the system and accessories you are hoping to buy. All of the stuff is collateral for the loan and it helps the bank understand what you are buying. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Karavite Posted March 13, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Hey Luke, More important to the bank will be how much you work, instead of industry statistics. When I purchased my first rig, I showed the bank how many days a month I was already working, vs. how many days would pay for the monthly loan commitment. It worked out to about 1.5 days per month on a 3 year term. Also mention that owner / operators are the norm, so work will naturally increase once you own a rig. Since you are financing the package, go ahead and get everything you need. It will help your cash flow to finance a full package, instead of having to pull several thousand dollars out of your pocket for necessary items down the road. I see too many people saying, I'll buy that later, only to wish they had gotten it right away. Why shell out 100% instead of 30%. Shop a couple banks as well. Interest rates, length of term, etc... are different, and sometimes negotiable. I have financed 3 rigs with the same bank, but more than once I have beaten them up on the interest rate, because I showed them what the competition was offering. Good luck, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Hoare Posted March 13, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 When I had my meeting with the bank manager about becoming a steadicam operator, they suprisingly gave me the cash with no questions asked. I have a business bank account with them and another business, and they seem to trust me which is great, but I took my laptop with photos and videos of steadicams at work to show them what it was I was buying. i also printed off emails that I had sent and received with Robin at Tiffen and James Blackburn who inspired me to start out in the first place. Since I already did video work and they could see that I was serious about it, they had no problems with lending me the cash. How much are you asking to borrow? I bought the flyer system which I thought was good for my first system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Willson Posted March 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Thanks for all the advice guys.. I've taken it all on-board. Just about to go.. just need to get suited and booted then im off. Wish me luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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