This year has seen record breaking interest rate rises, with the Bank of England announcing thirteen base rate increases in a row. This can make asset financing a difficult task, so companies must adapt their financial strategies to the changing environment.
Although the general view on rising interest rates is negative, there can be benefits when teamed with smart financial decision-making.
We’ve collated six essential ways to navigate rising interest rates when looking for asset finance options to help you stay ahead and make better decisions.
Monitor and forecast interest rate trends
There is currently an apparent upward trend in interest rates with a record breaking 13 rises in a row. However, it is bound to stabilise and come back down at some point.
The Monetary Policy Committee regularly meet to discuss interest rates, uploading summaries of discussions and what they assume for the future here. Make sure to keep up with what has been discussed and look into the opinions of news outlets and financial experts to give yourself the best chance of making an accurate forecast.
Being able to make an accurate forecast will give you the power to make a more informed financial decision and avoid any negative surprises.
Refine your financing strategy
How you refine your financing strategy will come down to what your strategy is, but some general points that will help you are:
- Alternative financing options: Certain financing options can provide far more stability in a time of rising interest rates, such as fixed rate loans. A fixed rate contract will ensure that rising interest rates will not impact the amount of interest you pay on your loan, as the interest legally cannot change until the end of the contracted period.
- Longer-term contracts: Although long term contracts come with a slightly higher interest rate, they are generally locked in and done in a fixed rate style, so interest fluctuations will not affect your payments. This approach can be especially useful when financing assets that have longer lifecycles, as the loan term is more aligned.
- Refinancing opportunities: If you can predict that interest rates are likely to continue rising, refinancing before interest rates rise any further can be a strategic move. This can be a cost-effective way of raising cash for your business.
Improve your financial position
Try to take measures to improve your financial position, such as strengthening your creditworthiness with a better credit score, reducing outstanding debt as much as possible, improving your cash flow management etc. Even in a high interest environment, lenders will be far more inclined to give you favourable loan terms with a healthier financial position as well as providing you with more power to negotiate those terms. We work with several companies who will assist in assessing and improving your credit score – contact us to find out more.
Assess your overpayment options
Overpayments are an effective way to tackle the challenges of rising interest rates. It is worth checking with your lender about the ability to make overpayments at any point during the contract’s duration. This enables the borrower to reduce the principal amount and consequently reduce the impact of higher interest rates.
Certain lenders go a step further by permitting a full early repayment without any significant settlement penalties. This provides greater financial manoeuvrability and can be extremely beneficial in a time of high interest inflation.
Optimise your asset selection
Focus on the most critical assets that will provide the highest long-term value with steady returns. As you will be paying more on interest, countering it by maximising your return on investment (ROI) per asset is important.
Once you have determined which assets will provide lower returns and are less necessary, wait until interest rates reduce to make sure that you are profiting from all your asset investments while only purchasing what you really need at that time.
Communicate with your lenders
Building and maintaining strong relationships with lenders is essential. Stay in regular contact with your lenders, keeping them informed about your financial performance and discussing any potential adjustments or refinancing options that could be favourable. Open communication fosters transparency and allows you to explore mutually beneficial solutions that can help navigate the impact of rising rates effectively.
By implementing these strategies, you will be able to navigate the financial landscape with more confidence. At Full Metal Finance, we understand the intricacies of asset finance in a dynamic market. We tailor our comprehensive range of financial services to your needs and help you to get the best possible deal from our list of over 70 lenders. Just take a look at what other people are saying about us to get an indication as to why we are right for you.
Don’t wait any longer, take control of your asset finance journey with FMF; get in touch with us today.
