It’s not uncommon to find a plaintiff in a pending lawsuit that is in serious debt. A lawsuit can take a large financial toll on a plaintiff; especially if the pending lawsuit is related to an injury or accident. This type of situation usually leaves the plaintiff unable to work and in the process of seeking compensation from the defendant in the case. Since US civil court cases can take many months if not years to reach a verdict the plaintiff can get into serious financial trouble. However, there is a solution that plaintiffs can use to prevent serious debt and even bankruptcy; a lawsuit pre-settlement loan.

Plaintiffs looking into a pre settlement lawsuit loan will learn quickly it’s a simple concept, and that it can benefit them throughout their pending case. A settlement loan is basically a loan given to a plaintiff based on the merit of their lawsuit. A lawsuit loan provider will review the current case, speak with your attorney and review past related cases prior to giving the plaintiff any pre settlement funds. Usually the plaintiff can expect a reply within 24 to 72 hours after the application has been submitted.

One of the best features of a settlement loan is the fact it’s a non-recourse debt. This is for the simple fact that the plaintiff is only required to repay the loan if they win their lawsuit. Yes, the plaintiff needs to “win” to pay back the lawsuit loan, if they lose their case they are not required to pay back the original loan. So, this key feature allows plaintiffs to know that in case they lose their case they won’t be in even more debt afterwards with a pre settlement loan.

The approval process of lawsuit loans is pretty straight forward; as explained earlier the provider will review the current case, speak with your attorney and review past related cases. They “do not” need to review your credit history, income status or employment; these factors do not play a role in a settlement loan approval process. You can safely apply knowing the only thing that matters in getting approved is the merit and current status of your lawsuit.

If you do win your pending lawsuit you would be required to pay back the original amount loaned, any fees plus interest on the initial loan amount. Interest rates vary between settlement loan providers and usually are based on the amount of money loaned and the merit of that specific lawsuit. If you’d like to learn more about lawsuit loans or even apply online right now then continue below.

When the term settlement loan is thrown around people think of a traditional loan. In reality a settlement loan is not a loan at all. A traditional financial institution or lending company would not issue a loan based on the merit of a pending lawsuit. This is due to the fact that if you lose the case you most likely could not pay back the amount lent to you. This is due to the structure of traditional financial institutions and how to generate revenue.

In fact, a settlement loan is really a settlement loan provider buying interest into your pending case. They are taking the risk that if you win the case they will give little now and gain big later. Settlement loan providers do not require clients to pay back loans if they lose their pending lawsuit. This simple fact alone doesn’t quality settlement loans as an actual loan.

This however is the main reason large interest amounts are attached to settlement loans. This allows the settlement loan provider to be able to handle a certain amount of losses per year and still make a profit. Settlement loan providers will also only accept a case that has good merit and a good chance of winning in the long run. You’ll find that more people are denied settlement loans than are accepted.

You can shop around with different settlement loan providers if one denies you. They all have their own guidelines when it comes to accepting a case for a settlement loan. Shopping around will also allow you to find the best deal. Make sure to ask about any fees and what interest rate the loan will be provided at.

Remember; don’t jump at the first offer provided to you! You’ll be surprised at the difference in fees and interest rates charged per settlement loan provider. Some instances that occur are one will apply for a loan at the beginning of the case and get denied. Then, half way through apply again and get approved. This is because as the case goes on it’s easier to determine if your will be won or not.

The very terms “software leasing” and “software financing” are confusing to many businesspeople. This is due to the fact that software is typically not seen as something that is purchased over time.

This view is shared by both end-users, and the developers of software. Companies who think nothing of financing a vehicle or a new computer system will stress over how they will pay for expensive new business software. And the producers of software see no need for offering a software leasing or a software financing option.

But times are changing.

Third party equipment finance companies – companies who offer small and medium size businesses equipment financing and working capital – have responded to a need for software financing and software leasing. Thus, they are starting to include software amongst the equipment they finance or lease. There is one big overriding reason for this shift:

The High Cost of Buying Software

The simple fact is this: Software can be very, very expensive. Oftentimes more expensive than the hardware that runs it.

Now, keep in mind that when we are talking about software in this way, we are generally talking about “vertical software”. Vertical software is software that is written for a specific, narrow industry (this can include industry-specific point-of-sale software, ERP systems, specialized databases, etc). It is not software that’s available on the shelf at your local office supply store (the software you see there, even the business programs and operating systems, are “horizontal software” – they can be used across a variety of industries, and are relatively affordable.)

A good, clear example of vertical software is an auto parts store – they use software that’s specifically written for the auto parts industry. Another example is your local jewelry retailer – they likely use a point-of-sale system specifically made for the jewelry industry.

To understand how software financing and software leasing can positively affect a business, it is important to understand the advantages of vertical software first.

For most businesses, Vertical Software usually means far more efficient business processes. In the case of an auto parts store, for example, the software will already anticipate the thousands of automobile makes and models. And will almost certainly be updated every year. The jewelry store’s software will differentiate the subtle differences between two diamonds by any number of categories. And so on.

In fact, these “vertical” software programs are so effective, and become so crucial to day-to-day operations, that businesses often need this type of software to remain competitive. In many cases, it’s not an option to do without.

However, since the software is so narrowly focused, it usually comes with a hefty price tag. The developer will sell relatively few copies as opposed to a word processing program (which will sell in the millions), so they must get a premium for their work. Vertical software can sometimes reach five figures for a single license.

This brings an obvious problem: “Businesses need the software, but it’s very costly to buy outright.”

And that’s where software leasing and software financing come in – business don’t have to “buy” it upfront.

The Advantage of Software Leasing and Software Financing

The advantage of financing or leasing software is clear:

Software leasing and software financing take the huge up-front cost of new software out of the equation. Like most other business equipment, software is now beginning to be seen as a tangible asset (this was not always the case.) This means software can largely be treated as any other equipment purchase in the case of financing or leasing. A business can finance that new ERP system instead of having to budget a huge cash outlay.

This can be very beneficial to the bottom line, as software generally pays for itself over time. In fact, since “vertical” software almost always reduces the cost of doing day-to-day business, leasing or financing said software can actually create a positive cash flow right away.

But Who Offers Software Financing or Software Leasing, and how does it Work?

It’s true that software developers have been very slow to embrace the business model of software financing or software leasing. They would prefer to be paid up front for their software.

Likewise, banks, being part of an “older” industry, are also largely reluctant to finance software.

However, third party equipment finance companies who specialize in small and medium sized business equipment financing often offer attractive software lease and software financing packages. What happens is the equipment finance company pays the developer in full, and then provides the software to the end user under a finance or lease agreement, often at very attractive rates. In all actuality, it’s fundamentally the same as financing or leasing most other equipment.

Of course, like any other financing, the agreements can (and will) vary from traditional fixed rate financing to a “software lease” with a buyout at the end, etc. And the rates and terms also vary – your individual equipment finance company will have more details.

All in all, software financing and software leasing have definitely entered the business consciousness, and because it is so friendly to the bottom line, it is a business model that is here to stay.

Software leasing and Software financing are only a few of the services provided by Crest Capital. Regardless of the size of your company, Crest Capital can provide you with the equipment financing and working capital you need to successfully grow your business. Learn about financing options that can increase your bottom line and reduce your 2007 tax bill with a free online quote today.