Sporting Goods Retail Inventory Financing

What is sporting goods retail financing?

Sporting goods financing is any type of financing that assists in growing your sporting goods business. The funding can help you acquire the goods you are selling, your marketing materials, staffing, display racks in your store and so on. There are various types of financing available, so you will want to pick the right type of financing for your needs. If you need to fund inventory, you should consider inventory funding. If you need to finance operating expenses or equipment you may want to consider a general business loan.

How does sporting goods retail financing work?

Sporting good retail financing can work differently depending on the type of loan or funding you get approved for.

Some business owners will go to a bank to get a loan, but it can be difficult to get approved if you are starting out. The bank will want to be assured that your business will be successful which is not easy if you don’t have a track record to show. Alternative lending may be a better option.

Alternative loans typically come with higher interest rates, but they don’t have as many requirements in terms of your business record and credit score. They also usually get funded in just a few days. This compares to banks that can take a month or two before funding is approved.  

The most popular type of alternative sporting good retail financing is a merchant cash advance. This is an advance against your business’s future credit and debit card receivables. Every month, a small percentage is taken from your credit and debit card sales until the loan is paid off.

A merchant cash advance generally works with your cash flow. The lender will take less money during slow months and more money during strong months.

Sporting goods companies that sell physical products with revenue between $150k to $15mm over the last 12 months should turn to Kickfurther to find affordable inventory funding.

What type of sports based businesses require financing?

In general any company may require financing. Companies that sell products may require more financing since they have to purchase or produce inventory and store it. There are many types of sports-based businesses that may require financing. They can include, but are not limited to, the following:

Fitness Brands: Fitness brands are brands that manufacture and sell their own sporting equipment and gear. They will need financing to purchase materials to create their goods and distribute them. They may also need funding for brick-and-mortar locations if they decide to do B2C selling.

Gyms: Gyms may need financing for their equipment, staff, marketing, and locations. Gyms may also sell products which they may need financing for. 

E-Commerce Based Business: An e-commerce-based business sells sporting goods online. They may need funding for website expenses, as well as the acquisition of goods, marketing, and staffing. 

Sports Apparel: A sports apparel company sells workout and protective gear. They may need financing for acquiring and distributing goods, marketing, staffing. You will want to make sure you always have what your customer needs so the demand to keep plenty of inventory on hand is important. 

Why do sports based businesses need financing?

Sports based businesses, just like businesses in other industries, may need financing. Sporting goods can be expensive. Therefore, sporting goods companies may struggle to keep plenty of inventory on hand while covering other costs. Sports based businesses may need sporting good retail financing to acquire what they need to run their business. This includes:

• Inventory: Inventory is the goods the business sells. This will typically include sporting goods and equipment and apparel. Keeping a healthy supply of inventory can help make sure you never miss out on a sale. Since there may be a delay in receiving funds from sold inventory and needing to order more inventory, companies often use financing for inventory. Inventory financing can help improve cash flow.
• Investing in Technology: The technology required for a sporting goods company may include a POS system, inventory tracking, online payment processing, marketing analytics and more. You may even need a custom technology system for your business. You can use financing to upgrade technology.
• Upgrades or Renovations: A sports-based business may need money to rent or buy a space to operate out of. Once they secure the property, it’s likely they will require upgrades and renovations to make it suitable to their needs. The need for renovations could be ongoing due to expansions and repairs. This is where financing comes in.
• Marketing: In order to sell your products, you’ll need to get the word out about how they can benefit consumers. Marketing costs can be expensive. However, proper marketing can drive sales and profits. Sporting goods companies often use financing to afford marketing expenses and other expenses. If you plan to do more marketing, you may want to stock up on more inventory. 

Pros and cons of sporting goods retail financing

Sporting goods retail financing comes with its share of pros and cons as follows:

Pros:

• Getting the Financing You Need: Most entrepreneurs simply don’t have the funds to start their own business. Financing provides them with the money they need to get off the ground.
• Support: If you have a loan manager working on your side, they may provide you with valuable business advice.

Cons:

• Interest Rates and fees: Most loans come with interest rates and other fees that can accrue considerably over time. This is especially the case if you are unable to adhere to the payment schedule.
• Timely Process: Some loans can take one to two months to be approved. This can delay the start of your business.
• Strict Approval Process: Many loans come with a strict approval process regarding your credit score and business history. Some loans aren’t as strict, but they usually come with higher interest rates.

Types of sporting goods retail loans

There are many types of sporting goods retail loans you can apply for. Here are some examples.

Break Out Options

Break out capital is an unsecured short term business loan. The financing company will deduct an origination fee from the loan amount. So, if the total loan is $10,000, and the origination fee is 2.5%, you will receive $9750 but you’ll still need to pay back the full $10,000.

Break out loans need to be paid back with interest with rates typically starting at 1.25% per month. Depending on your loan, you may be required to make daily, weekly, or monthly payments. More flexible plans may be available, but they are usually difficult to qualify for.

To qualify for a break out loan, you must have a good credit score. You will also have to have been in business for a certain amount of time and you must meet income requirements.

Line of Credit

A line of credit is a flexible loan from a financial institution. It is a certain amount of money that can be accessed by the business as needed. The money borrowed can be repaid immediately or over time. Interest is charged as soon as the money is borrowed.

Lines of credit are usually used to cover gaps in irregular monthly income or to finance a project with a cost that can not be predicted up front.

Inventory Funding

Inventory financing is a type of sporting good retail financing that is used to pay for products that will not be sold immediately. The inventory it is used to purchase serves as collateral. Therefore, business history and personal credit are not typically considered for qualification.

The financing is often used by small privately owned businesses that don’t have other financing options. It is a good way to maintain cash flow, update inventory lines, increase supplies and fulfill demand.

How do I apply for financing for my sporting goods business?

First, you’ll need to decide what type of financing or funding you want to apply for. Next, you will need to follow the steps to apply. The application process can vary depending on the lender or platform. If you choose to work with Kickfurther you can get funded within minutes. Here’s how to get started:

• Create a free business account
• Complete the application online
• Review a potential deal with one of our account reps 
• Get funded in minutes (funding times may vary)

Try Kickfurther

How Kickfurther can help

Kickfurther funds up to 100% of your inventory costs on flexible payment terms that you customize and control. With Kickfurther, you can fund your entire order(s) each time you need more inventory and put your existing capital to work growing your business without adding debt or giving up equity.

Why Kickfurther?

No immediate repayments: You don’t pay back until your new inventory order begins selling. You set your repayment schedule based on what works best for your cash flow.

Non-dilutive: Kickfurther doesn’t take equity in exchange for funding.

Not a debt: Kickfurther is not a loan, so it does not put debt on your books. Debt financing options can sometimes further constrain your working capital and access to capital, or even lower your business’s valuation if you are looking at venture capital or a sale.

Quick access: You need capital when your supplier payments are due. Kickfurther can fund your entire order(s) each time you need more inventory.

Kickfurther puts you in control of your business while delivering the costliest asset for most CPG brands. And by funding your largest expense (inventory), you can free up existing capital to grow your business wherever you need it – product development, advertising, adding headcount, etc.

Kickfurther success stories: Featured sporting goods co-ops

#1. Phat Scooters

Phat Scooters manufactures scooters that can reach up to 20MPH top speed and can handle a 30-degree hill climb with a range of up to 50 miles. They have transformed transportation with their zero-emission, strong electric motor scooters. Phat Scooters sold their first scooter in June of 2017. By the end of 2020 they had $8.49M in sales. Phat Scooters has successfully completed 7 co-ops and counting. They have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on the Kickfurther platform.

#2. iSplack, Inc.

iSplack created a line of pregame and postgame body care products designed for athletes. Within 10 minutes of their first Kickfurther Co-Op, they were fully funded. They even repaid funders a month early. Satisfied with the experience, iSplack returned for more funding. Their first co-op raised $51,783.70 and was completed in 3.2 months representing a 15.26% annualized co-op profit margin.Their second co-op raised $104,285.75 and was completed in 4 months representing a 12.88% annualized co-op profit margin.

Conclusion

When you compare Kickfurther’s rates to other forms of funding, you’ll often see you’re saving. Companies that return for funding often see rates fall. Kickfurther is up to 30% lower cost than other options.

Beat out your competitors. . . unlock affordable inventory funding today!