Category Archives: Small Business

Self Storage Loan Closes; Cash Out Too!

Congratulations to our Texas client who recently refinanced his self storage loan. He worked closely with Senior Associate Ryan Dumas and the rest of our team.

Ryan Dumas enjoyed getting to know our client, who managed to fit in getting us documents quickly, despite a very busy work schedule. Ryan noted, “I was very pleased that we found a great match for this self storage loan using our lender network. We found a competitive loan with fixed rates for a ten year note. My client got a decent amount of cash out, just from the terms of the loan. But even better, when the appraisal results came in and they were so favorable, we worked with the lender and got even more cash out! My client has lots of plans to continue to maintain this business and preserve his profitability. ”

A Self Storage Loan is a great bet right now. Why?

• Self Storage facilities tend to be easy to maintain. Unlike homes and other businesses with more complex headquarters, self storage facilities are designed for stuff and not people. There is limited water onsite. There may be a mix of temperature controlled units and those without. Even the electricity can be very minimal in these units. The most critical components of maintenance are typically security and lighting.

•People need storage during lifetime transitions.  Most people need some sort of storage options at some point during their live. Whether customers are downsizing, moving to retirement communities, taking over the belongings of a loved one or changing locations for any reason, changing jobs or moving in and out of university settings, self storage is an affordable short term solution. Therefore, every community needs storage options of a variety of sizes and types.

• People store for longer than they anticipate. Storage customers typically rent as a stopgap measure. However, they tend to underestimate how long they will require storage. In addition, storage is so easy and the prices can be quite competitive. As a result, short term solutions often become long term patterns. This is great for owners!

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Baton Rouge bridge over river

Refinanced hotel in Louisiana: Timing a Refi

We recently closed a loan for a refinanced hotel. Our Louisiana clients own a profitable, healthy hotel. They purchased it as less experienced buyers, relying on a seller note at the time. Now they were ready to refinance this seller note. They had developed their management resumes and built up their credit. So they approached Senior Associate Ryan Dumas for advice and support.

Ryan Dumas worked with the clients to determine if now was the best time for a refinanced hotel loan. He understood their goals and their business vision. The clients wanted to have a more traditional loan and they wanted to disentangle themselves from the seller. Ryan stated, “We successfully closed this refinanced hotel loan. Their new loan is secure and guaranteed. Now my clients have a bank as a lender and not somebody from the community. They no longer have a lender relationship with the seller; they are just neighbors and colleagues.”

Is Now the Time for a Refinanced Hotel?

• Is your current note maturing? We receive many loan inquiries when current mortgages are maturing. As a note matures, either the entire balance has to be paid off or the loan has to be somehow modified or extended. Maturing notes require negotiation. For many business owners, a pending note maturity is a great date to refinance.

• Can you lower your mortgage payments or pay off your mortgage more quickly?  It is easy to determine if you can save money with a refinance. When we seek out loan offers from our network of lenders, they will provide the terms. These terms will dictate your monthly payments and how long it will take to pay off your loan. You can then determine what the best business decision is. There are closing costs associated with all loans. As a result, you will need to consider how long it will take for your lower payments to offset those costs.

• Are you looking to change your lender? Some clients are interested in developing a new business relationship with a prospective lender. Other clients, like our Louisiana ones, simply wanted to extricate themselves from a loan that felt a little too personal. This can be the case with private notes, especially ones that are held by family or community members.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Texas RV Park Purchase and Upgrade

GRP Capital is pleased to announce a new loan for the purchase and upgrade of an RV park. This facility is located in Southeast Texas.

Our GRP Capital team worked closely with his client, helping to facilitate the financing. Managing Director Krishan Patel said, “The borrowers were great to work with. They are experienced in this sector. With this purchase, we are helping them expand their portfolio. Our entire GRP Capital team consulted with the clients. We worked diligently to steer them towards a loan that matched their financing needs. Even better, we are making plans for the clients’ next acquisition.”

Why an RV Park is a Great Investment:

• Current Travel Trends: Tourism trends in the United State are favorable for RV park usage. Americans are favoring driving over flying and are anxious to arrive at far-flung destinations.

• Pandemic-Proof: Travel in a recreational vehicle or camper and lodging at an RV park make sense during our new normal. An RV park allows for sociability outside, while protecting vulnerable people from overexposure.

•  More opportunities for market penetration : While there are multiple hotels at many highway exits, this sector is not as crowded. An RV park with updated amenities can capture market share. This requires effective marketing, excellent management and maintenance and good decisions on what amenities drive occupancy.

•  Lenders Like RV Parks : Lenders, particularly SBA lenders, look favorably on this sector of hospitality lending. As a result, GRP Capital can find matches for qualified borrowers.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research  the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Texas Hotel Owner Closes High Leverage Loan

Our clients already owned a Texas hotel. They were ready to purchase another Texas hotel in the northwest part of the state.

They really wanted to minimize their equity injection.

Each of our clients have different needs. Some are more rate-sensitive, some clients want loans with lenders who will become their primary business relationship. And some, like these clients, are looking for a high leverage loan.

Our GRP Capital Team worked closely with the clients. Managing Director Krishan Patel noted that he was proud of the sensitive guidance during the negotiations of the purchase and sale agreement. He also helped his clients prioritize the aspects of the new loan that were most important to them. “I was pleased that we were able to match these clients with a loan that met their needs. They have great experience in the hospitality industry. As a result, they will maximize the profit of their new hotel. Their ability to keep their equity injection manageable was a critical component of the loan. I look forward to working on other projects with them, as I know their situation and goals well.”

Best Practices for Organizing Your Equity Injection:

During underwriting, the clients worked quickly to provide evidence of their equity injection. The equity injection is the “money down”. If you are contemplating a new loan (not a refinance), here are some tips regarding equity injections.

• Sufficient equity: The lender will require bank statements or statements from stock accounts. These statements must show enough money. Just before closing, clients transfer these funds via wire.

• Dividing it Up: Typically, all of the partners participate in putting money down. Ideally, the equity injection is divided up proportionally among the partners. Most buyers contribute towards the down payment, matching the percentages of ownership.

•  Clean sources of equity : Down payments need to consist of funds that are “clean”. This means that the money has not been recently loaned to you. As you are choosing which accounts will be the source of your equity injection, choose wisely. The lender will “source” any large movements of money into an account (typically more than $1,000). This means you will have to tell the lender where the money came from and often provide a statement (or several) from the source of the transfer.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research  the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

From Renting to Owning: Client Now Owns his Office Space

Many of our small business owners want to move from renting to owning. We think, if it is affordable, now might be the time to make that decision. Rental prices for commercially leased properties are moving up in many markets. Transforming from renting to owning allows you to control your bottom line. Your mortgage payments will remain relatively constant, depending on the terms.

Our client was renting his suburban Dallas office space. He was ready to make the move from renting to owning. However, he had never purchased commercial real estate. Our team, along with Business Associate Niraj Zaveri, worked closely with him to make the process as transparent and smooth as possible.

Is this the time to move from Renting to Owning?  

• Lease payments vs. mortgage payments : We will help you compare what you currently pay in leases to what your potential mortgage payments might be. GRP Capital finds a variety of lenders and presents clients with several different options for financing. Clients can then compare all of the aspects of these term sheets before making a decision. We help crunch the numbers so you can determine what is best for you. We will also try to forecast what your future lease rates would be if you continue to rent. Will you have additional space to rent? If so, we will help you determine a reasonable market rate for that income.

•  How Long will you be occupying the space?: Changing office locations can be disruptive to your core business. In addition, making plans to “flip” office space may not make sense in every situation. If you are planning to stay in the office for a while, you will realize greater financial stability. This gives time for the start up costs and any equity injection to be offset by lower payments.

•  What do you have in Place to be an Owner? When you become the owner of your office space, you will have more responsibilities. These include taxes and insurance, but also maintenance and upkeep. Do you have the time to take on these additional responsibilities or have you created a team to take these on? Ownership should allow you to take control of your office space and your payments, without taking you away from running your business.

Niraj Zaveri on closing this loan stated, “I was thankful that my client could work with the experienced GRP Capital team. He was nervous as a first time commercial real estate owner, but we were able to guide him from receiving term sheets to closing and funding his loan.“

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research  the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer or refinancing a current loan, we can assist you.

Gas Station Loan FAQ’s

Are you in the market for a gas station loan? There are lots of things to consider if you are seeking finance. Gas stations and convenience stores continue to be solid investments, seemingly recession and inflation-proof. GRP Capital is busily working right now on placing several gas station loans, including purchases, refinances and construction.

What do I need to know right now about a gas station loan?

• Lenders are still fans of gas stations and C-stores: Lenders consider gas stations and C-stations to be essential businesses. They have proved their resilience in these somewhat volatile economic times. This gives us more options to find you good, solid lending partners.

• Include Revenue Enhancements in your Business Plan: Many of our lending partners are still very keen on gas station loans and particularly gas station upgrade loans. They want to see your plans to maintain or even increase profitability. As a result, they are willing to finance upgrades like car washes, improvements of indoor retail offerings and adding charging stations for electric vehicles.

• Take advantage of rural business financing if applicable: Did you know that the United States Department of Agriculture offers loan guarantees for small businesses in rural areas? If your store is located near a highway but outside the metro center, this might be an option for you. USDA loans offer rates that might be more affordable for certain borrowers

Why GRP Capital Can Help Gas Station Owners:

• We Do the Work So You Can Do Yours: Lots of small business owners work hard. However, we know that gas station/C-store ownership and management is particularly labor intensive. Our clients can rely on us to fill out documents, review them, obtain signatures, and set up site visits, all while working in partnership with the lender. We also have relationships with professionals like environmental engineers which can help us make the loan process go more smoothly. Ultimately, we work hard securing your funding, so you can work hard running your business.

• We Know the Gas Station Business: We have worked with a variety of clients who own gas stations and C-stores. We have expertise in funding the purchases, refinances and construction of gas stations and C-stores. We understand the nature of the business and many of its challenges, including staff retention. As a result, we can make the case for your business, showing its profitability and its potential for future profitability.

Contact Our Team For Your Financing Needs:  

If you are considering a loan for purchase, refinance or construction and would like to discuss your plans, feel free to contact our team. We have a network of lenders and can find the best match for your funding needs, saving your time and money, so you can focus on running your business.

Gas station

What About a Gas Station Loan to Upgrade?

A gas station loan may be just what your business needs to enhance revenue. Many of our lending partners are still very keen on gas station loans and particularly gas station upgrade loans. Gas stations and convenience stores continue to be solid investments, seemingly recession and inflation-proof. GRP Capital is busily working right now on placing several gas station loans, including purchases, refinances and construction.

What Upgrades should I consider with a Gas Station Loan?

• Luring Customers inside to spend more: While gas purchases are important, owners can seriously increase revenues when they encourage add-on spending from customers. Inside store sales are a key example of this add-on spending. Car washes are also considered add-on spending. Having a variety of tasty treats, do-it-yourself beverage stations and prepared foods are all enticing. It’s important to create the infrastructure to offer more variety (food stations, etc.). However, equally important is finding and maintaining sufficient workers to tend to these new areas.

• Car Washes: Car washes are a terrific gas station upgrade. They do require maintenance and increased water and supply costs. But these can be offset with enough volume. We are also seeing gas station owners offering initial car wash specials or encouraging loyalty programs.

• Charging Stations: Gas stations can still be relevant to drivers of electric vehicles through the installation of charging stations. Additionally, there is often matching governmental funding for creating charging stations. Most importantly, drivers of electric cars have to linger at the charging stations for a little while. Therefore, they have time to kill, time which can be spent shopping in your retail area.

Why GRP Capital Can Help Gas Station Owners:

• We Do the Work So You Can Do Yours: Lots of small business owners work hard. However, we know that gas station/C-store ownership and management is particularly labor intensive. Our clients can rely on us to fill out documents, review them, obtain signatures, and set up site visits, all while working in partnership with the lender. We also have relationships with professionals like environmental engineers which can help us make the loan process go more smoothly. Ultimately, we work hard securing your funding, so you can work hard running your business.

• We Know the Gas Station Business: We have worked with a variety of clients who own gas stations and C-stores. We have expertise in funding the purchases, refinances and construction of gas stations and C-stores. We understand the nature of the business and many of its challenges, including staff retention. As a result, we can make the case for your business, showing its profitability and its potential for future profitability.

Contact Our Team For Your Financing Needs:  

If you are considering a loan for purchase, refinance or construction and would like to discuss your plans, feel free to contact our team. We have a network of lenders and can find the best match for your funding needs, saving your time and money, so you can focus on running your business.

Gas Station Loans and Gas Station Upgrade Loans

Many of our lending partners are still very keen on gas station loans and particularly gas station upgrade loans. These businesses continue to be solid investments, seemingly recession and inflation-proof. We routinely check in with our lending partners to see what their appetite is. They are telling us that they remain highly interested in funding gas station purchases, refinances, and gas station upgrades.

What are Gas Station Upgrade Loans?

• Finding Paths to Increased Profits: Gas station owners have a few ways to increase revenues. Pricing their fuel to drive traffic to the store is one way. However, many fuel center owners believe that the true revenue centers are those that encourage add-on spending from customers. Inside store sales are a key example of this add-on spending.

• Car Washes: Car washes are a great gas station upgrade. They do require maintenance and increased water and supply costs. But these can be offset with enough volume. We are also seeing gas station owners offering initial car wash specials or encouraging loyalty programs.

• Charging Stations: Gas stations can still be relevant to drivers of electric vehicles through the installation of charging stations. Additionally, there is often matching governmental funding for creating charging stations. Most importantly, drivers of electric cars have to linger at the charging stations for a little while. Therefore, they have time to kill, time which can be spent shopping in your retail area.

Why GRP Capital Can Help Gas Station Owners:

• We Do the Work So You Can Do Yours: Lots of small business owners work hard. However, we know that gas station/C-store ownership and management is particularly labor intensive. Our clients can rely on us to fill out documents, review them, obtain signatures, and set up site visits, all while working in partnership with the lender. We work hard securing your funding, so you can work hard running your business.

• We Know the Gas Station Business: We have worked with a variety of clients who own gas stations and C-stores. We have expertise in funding the purchases, refinances and construction of gas stations and C-stores. We understand the nature of the business and many of its challenges, including staff retention. As a result, we can make the case for your business, showing its profitability and its potential for future profitability.

Contact Our Team For Your Financing Needs:  

If you are considering a loan for purchase, refinance or construction and would like to discuss your plans, feel free to contact our team. We have a network of lenders and can find the best match for your funding needs, saving your time and money, so you can focus on running your business.

Your Gas Station Loan Specialist

As a premier gas station loan specialist, we love to fund gas station loans and convenience store loans for our clients. These businesses continue to be solid investments, seemingly recession and inflation-proof.

Our lending partners remain highly interested in funding gas station purchases, refinances, and construction for qualified borrowers. In fact, one of the first loans that the GRP Capital team closed after the COVID-19 pandemic began was a gas station development loan.

We we are a Gas Station Loan Specialist:

• Understanding the Business: We have worked with a variety of clients who own gas stations and C-stores. We have expertise in funding the purchases, refinances and construction of gas stations and C-stores. We understand the nature of the business and many of its challenges. These include staff retention and negotiation of fuel supply agreements. As a result, we can make the case for your business, showing its profitability and its potential for future profitability.

• Finding Motivated Lenders: We, like our clients, are carefully monitoring the ups and downs of our economy. Our lenders are doing the same. Gas station and convenience store owners have routinely demonstrated how essential their businesses are, no matter the vagaries of the stock market.

• We Do the Work So You Can Do Yours: Lots of small business owners work hard. However, we know that gas station/C-store ownership and management is particularly labor intensive. Our clients can rely on us to fill out documents, review them, obtain signatures, and set up site visits, all while working in partnership with the lender. We work hard securing your funding, so you can work hard running your business

• Fuel Supply Agreements: Fuel supply agreements set up an established “cut” for the supplier. This protects the supplier, while providing stability for the gas station owner. No matter what the price of the fuel is, the owner will still make money. Crucially, the fuel supply agreement also allows the owner to predict future revenues more accurately. This built-in stability makes a gas station loan attractive for many lenders. We have been able to assist our clients in obtaining favorable fuel supply agreements, which will positively impact their profitability for a long time.

Contact Our Team For Your Financing Needs:  

If you are considering a loan for purchase, refinance or construction and would like to discuss your plans, feel free to contact our team. We have a network of lenders and can find the best match for your funding needs, saving your time and money, so you can focus on running your business.

Contact our gas station and convenience story specialists at fuelup@grpcapital.com, our dedicated email address just for you.

Gas Station Financing Is Still a Solid Business Plan!

If you are looking for gas station financing, we have very good news for you. Gas station financing is still a solid business plan. In fact, one of the first loans that the GRP Capital team closed after the COVID-19 pandemic began was a gas station development loan.

Why Lenders Like Gas Station Financing:

• Recession Proof/Inflation Proof/Pandemic Proof: Many aspects of the American economy have changed since 2020. But lenders agree: gas stations and convenience stores are stable businesses, especially when well-managed. The fuel supply entity with retail space is a truly essential business, adaptable and popular, too.

• We Find Lenders who Know this Business: Every lender is different and has different wish lists for their loans. Some want their clients to live in certain states; other lenders prefer certain industries while avoiding others. We know which lenders are right for your loan and we go to them first to request a term sheet. When we have a few competing term sheets, we show them to our clients. Ultimately, our clients choose their lenders, but we save time and money by sourcing the lenders who are interested in their type of projects.

• Fuel Supply Agreements: Lenders like the stability of fuel supply agreements. These agreements set up an established “cut” for the supplier. As a result, there is a measure of protection for both the supplier and the gas station owner. No matter what the price of the fuel is, the owner will still make money. This built-in stability makes a gas station loan attractive for many lenders. We also have been able to assist our clients in obtaining favorable fuel supply agreements, which will positively impact their profitability for a long time.

Contact Our Team For Your Financing Needs:  

If you are considering a loan for purchase, refinance or construction and would like to discuss your plans, feel free to contact our team. We have a network of lenders and can find the best match for your funding needs, saving your time and money, so you can focus on running your business.