Financing CHF 500,000 with PrestaFlex :

Your needs

Heavy investment (machines, imagery, fleet), smoothing a tight WCR, securing imports, taking over a business, renovating a site, deploying solar power... PrestaFlex designs, compares and negotiates the best architecture for CHF 500,000, as a single solution or a combined basket.

PrestaFlex solutions - detailed explanations

1) Amortizable investment credit

What's it for? To finance equipment, works, IT, fixtures and fittings, launch marketing.
Arrangements: straight-line depreciation, grace periods, sometimes limited final ballooning.
Typical terms: 12-84 months.
Guarantees: surety(ies), pledge(s) of assets, assignment of receivables, sometimes "light" mortgage.
Costs: interest rate (index + margin), application/commitment fees, early repayment penalties, if any.
When it's ideal: you want to own the asset from D0 with a stable, predictable monthly payment.
Things to watch out for: simple covenants (DSCR, debt ratios), drawdown schedule aligned with the construction site.

2) Cash line / Revolving credit

Use: to smooth seasonal fluctuations, absorb peaks in working capital.
Operation: drawdown/repayment by hand; interest on used amount; sometimes charges for non-use.
Strengths: extreme flexibility; renewable.
Points to watch: ceiling adapted to cash cycle, possible "clean-down" clause.

3) Campaign credit / Advance on orders

Use: to finance inventories and advance payments prior to peak season or launch.
Backing: order book, historical turnover, gross margin.
Strengths: adheres to operating cycle; milestone disbursements.
Points to watch: proof of orders, purchasing discipline, release schedule.

4) Factoring

Purpose: transform B2B invoices into almost immediate cash.
Cost components: financing (rate/margin) + service (management, optional credit insurance).
Plus: reduced DSO, delegated dunning, customer risk coverage.
Watch out for: receivables eligibility criteria (concentrations, disputes, returns).

5) Asset-Based Lending (ABL)

Use: raise debt against assets (receivables, inventory, machinery, vehicles).
Strengths: useful when balance sheet ratios are tight but assets are rich.
Points to watch: advance rates, deferrals, inventory controls, asset valuations.

6) Leasing & Sale-and-Leaseback

Use: new equipment or equipment already on the balance sheet (sale-and-leaseback).
Strengths: preserves cash flow; deductible rents; residual value (RV) to lower rents.
Points to watch: realistic RV, insurance, maintenance, buy-back conditions at the end.

7) Professional fleet & mobility

Usage: commercial vehicles/VP, telematics, fuel cards.
Arrangements: operational/financial leasing, buy-back, integrated services (maintenance, tires).
Objective: smooth, predictable TCO.

8) Short-term bridge

Use: pending certainty of receipt (subsidy, M&A closing, asset sale).
Strengths: rapidity, exit defined from the outset.
Watch out for: secure exit schedule, consistent guarantees.

9) Commercial mortgage "light" / Bridge immobilier pro

Use: leverage on an owned asset (business premises, warehouse).
Strengths: cost often lower than unsecured debt.
Points to watch: LTV, schedule, recent valuation, notary delays.

10) Trade Finance (import/export)

Tools: documentary credits, bank guarantees, import pre-financing.
Strengths: secures suppliers & logistics, reduces risks (non-compliance, foreign exchange).
Points to watch: compliant documents, issue/confirmation costs, currency hedging.

11) LBO light / buy-out financing

Use: acquisition of funds/portfolio/targets < 2-5 MCHF.
Structure: senior debt + contribution + vendor earn-out / vendor loan.
Key factors: recurring quality of flows, customer dependence, integration plan.

12) Project finance Energy & Efficiency

Usage: solar PV, high-performance HVAC, LEDs, heat recovery.
Strengths: repayment via savings/revenues (PPA/CPE).
Points to watch: deliverability, performance guarantees, O&M, indexation.

13) Cofinancing / mini-syndication / club deal

Use: diversify lenders or sector risk, from CHF 500,000 relevant.
Strengths: more capacity, stabilized terms.
Points to watch: inter-creditor, distribution of collateral, governance.

12 typical use cases from CHF 500,000 (concrete examples)

  1. Microtech / watchmaking - CNC line
    Leasing of machines 380'000 + revolving 90'000 + ABL inventories 30'000.
    → Heavy capex financed, BFR cushion, secure parts rotation.
  2. Imaging clinic - cone-beam + sterilization + fit-out
    Medical leasing 420'000 + sale-and-leaseback 50'000 + revolving 30'000.
    → Deductible rents, release of dormant cash, consumables flexibility.
  3. Renovation/secondary works - large backlog + customer deadlines
    Factoring 250'000 + campaign credit 150'000 + revolving credit 100'000.
    → DSO reduced, purchasing secured, peak WCR absorbed.
  4. E-commerce importer - new range
    Trade finance 300'000 + campaign 150'000 + revolving 50'000.
    → Secure supplier payments, initial stock, flex on late deliveries.
  5. Transport & logistics - 6 vans + telematics
    Fleet leasing 400'000 + ABL receivables 60'000 + revolving 40'000.
    → Smoothed TCO, advance on receivables, fuel & contingencies covered.
  6. Hotel - refit rooms + professional kitchen
    Bridge immo 250'000 + kitchen leasing 150'000 + inv. credit 100'000.
    → Fast work without suffocating cash flow, equipment leased.
  7. Engineering office / IT B2B - ramping up recurring contracts
    Factoring 250'000 + investment loan 150'000 (recruitment/IT) + revolving loan 100'000.
    → Growth financed by recurring flows, light capex secured.
  8. Takeover of a fund/portfolio (price 500'000)
    Senior debt 350'000 + earn-out 100'000 + contribution 50'000.
    Timing option: comfort bridge 3-6 months then switch.
  9. Industrial site - solar roof (capex ~500'000)
    Project finance Energy 500'000 (PPA/CPE).
    → Production/economy pays the debt; integrated maintenance & warranties.
  10. Food processing - packaging line
    Leasing 360'000 + ABL stocks 80'000 + revolving 60'000.
    → Seasonal purchasing peaks covered, capex in rent.
  11. Retail network - multi-site refit + launch stock
    Credit inv. 280'000 + campaign 150'000 + revolving 70'000.
    → Work + stock, flex on logistic delays.
  12. Industrial services - 90-day key account contracts
    Confidential factoring 300'000 + revolving 200'000.
    → Accelerated collection without impacting customer relations, margin protected.

Winning combinations at CHF 500,000

  • 380,000 leasing + 120,000 revolving: heavy capex + room to maneuver.
  • 300,000 factoring + 200,000 inv. credit: reduced DSO + investment.
  • 250,000 bridge → 500,000 depreciable: awaiting subsidy/disposal, will switch once received.
  • 200,000 ABL + 200,000 inv. + 100,000 campaign: activate balance sheet to loosen ratios.

Indicative budget ranges (non-contractual)

Amortizable loan CHF 500,000 (examples)

  • 36 months: ≈ 14'550 - 15'440 CHF / month
  • 48 months: ≈ 11'070 - 11'970 CHF / month
  • 60 months: ≈ 8'980 - 9'900 CHF / month
  • 72 months: ≈ 7'600 - 8'520 CHF / month

Actual monthly payments depend on profile, collateral, sector, drawdown schedule and market.
Leasing: rent influenced by duration and residual value (often < equivalent credit).
Factoring / ABL: cost = financing + service; reduced DSO often offsets part of the cost.

What PrestaFlex optimizes (beyond the "rate")

  • Architecture: 2-3 scenarios compared (costs, monthly payments, flex, covenants, guarantees).
  • Competition: banks, factors, leasing companies, specialized private lenders.
  • Total cost: fees, penalties, drawdown schedule, level of collateral, indexation, VR (leasing).
  • Execution: legible term-sheet, documentary checklist, coordination through to disbursement.

Indicators & criteria considered by lenders

  • Cash flow: EBITDA/EBE, DSCR, seasonality, customer concentration.
  • Balance sheet: equity, gearing, LTV (if real estate).
  • Operations: inventory rotation, DSO/DPO, contract quality.
  • Assets: value, liquidity, obsolescence; maintenance/insurance (leasing).
  • Governance & KYC: shareholding, compliance, country/FX risks (trade).

Flash file to accelerate

  • Articles of association, organization chart, management documents
  • N and N-1 financial statements (+ interim statements if available)
  • Customer/supplier schedules, major contracts, order book
  • Budget, estimates/proforma, investment planning
  • Assets: lists/values/serial numbers; real estate: RF extract, schedule/appraisal
  • Energy: deliverability studies, PPA/CPE/perf guarantees, if any

PrestaFlex-type process

  1. CHF 500,000usage brief (capex, WCR, trade-in, energy, import...).
  2. Pre-qualification and scenarios: 2-3 costed and compared architectures.
  3. Negotiation & closing: competitive bidding, term-sheet, KYC, release.

Getting started?

Send us your target + 2 sets of accounts and key quotes/contracts. PrestaFlex comes back with ready-to-decide scenarios for financing CHF 500,000 at the best total cost, with the right dose of flexibility and calibrated guarantees

An article by Munur Aslan, Managing Director of PrestaFlex

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