Until recently leasing companies wouldn't even think about financing transactions that included so-called "soft costs" such as custom software. Financing for hard collateral equipment were the only programs available. Now however, leasing companies are beginning to change with the times. Many lease/finance companies have added software financing to their traditional line of equipment leasing, allowing businesses to buy expensive, even custom-designed software, immediately, and pay for it over time.
With the evolution of the Internet a handful of firms have begun a similar financing program for Web site design and development. These new programs allow a company to establish a competitive web presence without spending its cash reserves. This new finance option allows a company to upgrade its current Web site or to develop from the outset an appealing and effective site designed to implement the company's e-business plan the way it was originally envisioned.
For most businesses, the standard, brochure-type Web site is not too expensive. More and more businesses however are requiring higher-end solutions to achieve their business goals, and for businesses to really compete in today's e-world, they need to have a site with all the bells and whistles. Such as, Web-based Publishing forms, Custom programming of Java applets, Password-protected directories, Database software, Chat software, Dynamic page generation and Digitization and integration of sound/video.
Building such sites is expensive. Up to now companies have had to pay cash for their site. This has forced many companies to put up a less effective site than they wanted, or to delay putting it up at all until they had the cash to pay for it. Each of these "solutions" costs the company in lost revenues as well as market share lost to competitors who have quality web sites.
Small companies have limited options for getting on the Web. Traditional loans are next to impossible to obtain. Banks won't finance software, much less a Web site. To banks, a Web site is an intangible asset.
The few lease companies that have taken on the concept of Web site financing are by and large gearing their programs toward Web developers, who can offer this service to potential clients. By offering a finance option to a prospect, Web developers are overcoming cost objections, and are thus closing more business. The key here is that with the newly emerging financing options a company can have its web site now and let the web site generate income to pay for itself over time.
E-business is creating a brand new world. New World - New Rules!
About the Author
William H. Haynie serves as President and CEO of Websitefinancing.com, Inc. Websitefinancing.com (http://www.websitefinancing.com) is the pioneer and leading provider of e-finance solutions. William can be reached at 1-800-700-1281 x104 or william@websitefinancing.com
Written by: William H. Haynie
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