SSSH ... HERE’S SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT ... PASS IT ON!

Very quietly, without any trumpeting or heavy-duty advertising, a company has been helping small businesses all over the country, from the Isles of Scilly to the Hebrides...

And they’re sponsoring the Chamber’s breakfasts in May, so I was tasked with finding out more about them...

Merchant Cash Express (MCE) provides an alternative means of finance, allowing SME businesses to take advantage of unexpected opportunities to grow and expand – something most of us have wished existed and perhaps didn’t know about.

I spoke to Ian Morrison, one of the founding partners of MCE who, together with fellow director Richard Morley, created Business Cash Advance - which gives entrepreneurial SME business owners a quick and straightforward way to fund those opportunities.

MCE only finances businesses which take payment by credit cards and base their lending criteria on the turnover through those machines. Businesses need to take a minimum of £3,500 per month and cash advances are available from £4,000 to £100,000.

An advance takes around 14-15 days from initial contact to ‘money in the bank’, sometimes even less. Anyone interested can find out more and apply on-line or phone (0845 082 6087) where there’s actually a real person (oh, joy!) who will answer any questions and set the wheels in motion.

Ian himself is a family man with a penchant for motor bikes, riding to and from his office every day. He loves DIY, having qualified as a carpenter while still working at his ‘day job’.  “I just enjoy creating things from scratch,” he told me, “like MCE and Business Cash Advance. Either way I’m helping people with building blocks, either for their companies through a cash advance or for their homes with a new pair of stairs!”

And he must build things well, as his company has grown significantly since formation, helping thousands of customers develop their business. Ian’s keyword is “honesty” as he believes in being completely straight with customers so they know exactly what the deal is and what they’re signing up for. This I found comforting, as we’ve all either been, or heard about someone who’s been, at the wrong end of a pushy salesperson trying to force us to sign up to something we don’t really need or want, especially when it comes to finance.

Ian really enjoys seeing his customers’ businesses grow as a direct result of the financial help and support MCE offers, and believes everyone deserves a helping hand when they have a great deal or opportunity, without having to wade through all the usual red tape and wait for months on end for a decision.

70% of MCE’s customers are small businesses like hairdressers, hotels, restaurants and boutiques – so promoting themselves in Brighton & Hove seems very appropriate. “Brighton is full of lifestyle businesses,” Ian added, “run by people who want to stay and grow in the area. We love the quirky, fun and entrepreneurial feel and really want to be a part of it all.”

Ian and his team want to raise their profile among Chamber members so – ssssh, this is the quiet promotion which needs to be passed round as many people as possible!

Jill Woolf
Managing Director
Chimera Communications
www.chimeracomms.co.uk
chimeracommsblog.blogspot.co.uk
01903 812275
07791 764983

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk