sources of short term finance.

sources of short term finance.

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  ASSIGNEMNT ON “SOURCE OF SHORTTERM FINANCE” By: Sunil Thakur.
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  Sources of Short-termFinance In the previous lesson you have learnt about the various types of financial needs. The need for finance may be for long-term, medium-term or for short-term. Financial requirements with regard to fixed and working capital vary from one organisation to other. To meet out these requirements, funds need to be raised from various sources. Some sources like issue of shares and debentures provide money for a longer period. These are therefore, known as sources of long-term finance. On the other hand sources like trade credit, cash credit, overdraft, bank loan etc. which make money available for a shorter period of time are called sources of short-term finance. In this lesson you will study about the various sources of short-term finance and their relative merits and demerits. Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to: • discuss the purpose served by short-term finance; • identify and explain the various sources of short-term finance; • outline the merits and demerits of short-term finance.; describe the relative merits of trade credit and bank credit; • explain the advantages and disadvantages of bill discounting; • distinguish between bank over-draft and bank loans; • differentiate between bank overdraft and cash credit. • identify the types of securities required for bank credit. • state the merits and demerits of customers advances as a source of short-term finance. • enumerate advantages and disadvantages of instalment credit as a source of short-term finance. • explains the benefits and drawbacks of finance from co-operative banks. Purpose of Short-term Finance After establishment of a business, funds are required to meet its day today expenses. For example raw materials must be purchased at regular intervals, workers must be paid wages regularly, water and power charge shave to be paid regularly. Thus there is a continuous necessity of liquid cash to be available for meeting these expenses. For financing such
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  requirements short-term fundsare needed. The availability of short-term funds is essential. Inadequacy of short-term funds may even lead to closure of business. Short-term finance serves following purposes 1. It facilitates the smooth running of business operations by meeting day to day financial requirements. 2. It enables firms to hold stock of raw materials and finished product. 3. With the availability of short-term finance goods can be sold on credit. Sales are for a certain period and collection of money from debtors takes time. During this time gap, production continues and money will be needed to finance various operations of the business. 4. Short-term finance becomes more essential when it is necessary to increase the volume of production at a short notice. Sources of Short-term Finance There are a number of sources of short-term finance which are listed below: 1. Trade credit 2. Bank credit – Loans and advances – Cash credit – Overdraft – Discounting of bills 3. Customers’ advances 4. Installment credit 5. Loans from co-operatives 1. Trade Credit Trade credit refers to credit granted to manufactures and traders by the suppliers of raw material, finished goods, components, etc. Usually business enterprises buy supplies on a 30 to 90 days
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  credit. This meansthat the goods are delivered but payments are not made until the expiry of period of credit. This type of credit does not make the funds available in cash but it facilitates purchases without making immediate payment. This is quite a popular source of finance. 2. Bank Credit Commercial banks grant short-term finance to business firms which are known as bank credit. When bank credit is granted, the borrower gets aright to draw the amount of credit at one time or in installments as and when needed. Bank credit may be granted by way of loans, cash credit, overdraft and discounted bills. (i) Loans When a certain amount is advanced by a bank repayable after specified period, it is known as bank loan. Such advance is credited to a separate loan account and the borrower has to pay interest on the whole amount of loan irrespective of the amount of loan actually drawn. Usually loans are granted against security of assets. (ii) Cash Credit It is an arrangement whereby banks allow the borrower to withdraw money up to a specified limit. This limit is known as cash credit limit. Initially this limit is granted for one year. This limit can be extended after review for another year. However, if the borrower still desires to continue the limit, it must be renewed after three years. Rate of interest varies depending upon the amount of limit. Banks ask for collateral security for the grant of cash credit. In this arrangement, the borrower can draw, repay and again draw the amount within the sanctioned limit. Interest is charged only on the amount actually withdrawn and not on the amount of entire limit. (iii) Overdraft When a bank allows its depositors or account holders to withdraw money in excess of the balance in his account up to a specified limit, it is known as overdraft facility. This limit is granted purely on the basis of credit-worthiness of the borrower. Banks generally give the limit up to Rs.20,000. In this system, the borrower has to show a positive balance in his account on the last Friday of every month. Interest is charged only on the overdrawn money. Rate of interest in case of overdraft is less than the rate charged under cash credit. (iv) Discounting of Bill Banks also advance money by discounting bills of exchange, promissory notes and hundies. When these documents are presented before the bank for discounting, banks credit the amount to customer’s account after deducting discount. The amount of discounts equal to the amount of interest for the period of bill. This part has been discussed in detail later on in this chapter.
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  3. Customers’ Advances Sometimesbusinessmen insist on their customers to make some advance payment. It is generally asked when the value of order is quite large or things ordered are very costly. Customers’ advance represents a part of the payment towards price on the product (s) which will be delivered at a later date. Customers generally agree to make advances when such goods are not easily available in the market or there is an urgent need of goods. A firm can meet its short-term requirements with the help of customers’ advances. 4. Instalment credit Installment credit is now-a-days a popular source of finance for consumer goods like television, refrigerators as well as for industrial goods. You might be aware of this system. Only a small amount of money is paid at the time of delivery of such articles. The balance is paid in a number of installments. The supplier charges interest for extending credit. The amount of interest is included while deciding on the amount of installment. Another comparable system is the hire purchase system under which the purchaser becomes owner of the goods after the payment of last installment. Sometimes commercial banks also grant installment credit if they have suitable arrangements with the suppliers. 5. Loans from Co-operative Banks Co-operative banks are a good source to procure short-term finance. Such banks have been established at local, district and state levels. District Cooperative Banks are the federation of primary credit societies. The State Cooperative Bank finances and controls the District Cooperative Banks in the state. They are also governed by Reserve Bank of India regulations. Some of these banks like the Vanish Co-operative Bank was initially established as a cooperative society and later converted into a bank. These banks grant loans for personal as well as business purposes. Memberships the primary condition for securing loan. The functions of these banks are largely comparable to the functions of commercial banks. Merits and Demerits of Short-term Finance Short-term loans help business concerns to meet their temporary requirements of money. They do not create a heavy burden of interest on the organization. But sometimes organizations keep away from such loans because of uncertainty and other reasons. Let us examine the merits and demerits of short-term finance. Merits of short-term finance
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  a) Economical :Finance for short-term purposes can be arranged ata short notice and does not involve any cost of raising. The amount of interest payable is also affordable. It is, thus, relatively more economical to raise short-term finance. b) Flexibility : Loans to meet short-term financial need can be raised as and when required. These can be paid back if not required. This provides flexibility. c) No interference in management : The lenders of short-term finance cannot interfere with the management of the borrowing d) May also serve long-term purposes : Generally business firms keep on renewing short-term credit, e.g., cash credit is granted forgone year but it can be extended up to 3 years with annual review. After three years it can be renewed. Thus, sources of short-term finance may sometimes provide funds for long-term purposes. Demerits of short-term finance Short-term finance suffers from a few demerits which are listed below: a) Fixed Burden: Like all borrowings interest has to be paid on short-term loans irrespective of profit or loss earned by the organisation. That is why business firms use short-term finance only for temporary purposes. b) Charge on assets: Generally short-term finance is raised on the basis of security of moveable assets. In such a case the borrowing concern cannot raise further loans against the security of these assets nor can these be sold until the loan is cleared (repaid). c) Difficulty of raising finance: When business firms suffer intermittent losses of huge amount or market demand is declining or industry is in recession, it loses its creditworthiness. In such circumstances they find it difficult to borrow from banks or other sources of short-term finance. d) Uncertainty: In cases of crisis business firms always face the uncertainty of securing funds from sources of short-term finance. If the amount of finance required is large, it is also more uncertainty get the finance. e) Legal formalities: Sometimes certain legal formalities are to be complied with for raising finance from short-term sources. If shares are to be deposited as security, then transfer deed must be prepared. Such formalities take lot of time and create lot of complications.