It can be difficult to secure funding, especially if you deal with traditional lenders. Banks are picky about who they lend money to. They usually lend to businesses with a lot of sales, cash reserves, at least a year of business experience, and good credit. Many startups find it difficult to fulfill these strict loan criteria.
Other than banks and traditional lenders, there are a plethora of startup funding choices to choose from. Understanding their goals and how to apply for one will help you in your business journey. To help you decide which type you need, here is a breakdown of different startup funding options.
Small Business Loans
Small business loans are one of the easier solutions for funding your organization. When working with lenders for a loan, it’s also critical to be open and honest. They will want to know why you need it and how you plan on using it.
Small business loans provide a more convenient option for getting financial assistance to meet the needs of small and medium enterprises. Such a lending option can easily cater to the urgent startup business requirements. As the loan processing and approval time is quick, you won’t have to wait longer.
These lenders understand the basic needs of a startup such as money required for employee payroll, insurance, asset leasing, and so on. For a better and work-driven environment, payroll management is important and that’s why many startups need adequate finance for the same.
As these lenders don’t have the same administrative expenses as banks and credit unions, they tend to offer better interest rates and lower service fees.
The best part is that the majority of these small business loans are unsecured (as the amount is small. This means that you don’t have to put up any collateral to get authorized. As a result, they are less risky than secured loans.
How to apply for a small business loan:
Although online lenders are not strict with loan applications, there is still a set of requirements that you need to prepare. Not all lenders require the same documents or proof of your creditworthiness. However, there are similarities between them.
The following are the common requirements to getting approved for a business loan:
- Have a good credit history
- Create a comprehensive business plan
- Have more than 2 years of business time
- Prepare your financial statements and legal documents
Personal Funding and Credit Lines
A personal line of credit (LOC) is a loan from a lender that has a maximum limit. You can use the cash under these lines of credit whenever you want, in amounts that meet your demands. Just make sure that they don’t go over the agreed-upon credit limit.
If your startup needs cash quickly to pay for day-to-day operations, this is a great alternative. Taking up a line of credit means you’ll be required to settle payments on time, plus interest. So make sure that you’re capable of paying such fees.
How to start a credit line:
This type of credit line is unsecured, meaning you don’t need collateral to safeguard the lender if you default. This distinguishes it from home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), which are secured by your house’s equity.
Since risk is an important aspect of business financing, a LOC’s interest rate will be greater than HELOC’s. As a result, it’s critical to persuade the lender that you’re a good risk. It helps if you’ve never defaulted on a loan or haven’t defaulted in years.
Your creditworthiness is also demonstrated by your credit score. Having a good credit score means you’re trustworthy when it comes to paying debts. This helps lenders determine if you’re worth the risk. You should also inform the lender about your sources of income and savings.
Venture Capitalists
Private investors that invest in startups and other small enterprises are known as venture capitalists. These lenders are usually limited partners (LPs) that participate in a single venture capital fund. After then, the funds will be managed and invested by a commission.
If you are a tech startup entrepreneur, then there are also many profitable offers from AI venture studio accelerators leveraging the newest developments in AI and IT. Venture foundings will help you not only financially but also by developing your tech solution and providing you with AI and software engineers, from product launch to scaling B2B SaaS companies.
If they agree to invest in a business, they will provide funding in return for a share of the company’s stock. These members of the committee are generally looking for startups that are ready to market their goods.
How to get funded by venture capitalists:
- Make sure you know their goals to have a better understanding of their history
- Know your startup’s potential for development
- Concentrate on showing the benefits of your products or services
- Show how much different you are from your competitors
Crowdfunding
If you need to boost your working capital or expand your cash flow, you will need a crowdfunding campaign. These campaigns bring together a group of individuals to contribute modest sums of money to a greater purpose. As you can see, it’s a perfect way of getting funds to start a new business.
The transactions take place on crowdsourcing sites over the internet. If you decide to launch a campaign, you should know the rules and regulations for each crowdfunding platform.
How to start a crowdfunding campaign:
Crowdfunding campaigns have helped small businesses to raise as much as $1 billion in a year. So, how do you get your new company idea ready so you can get people to fund your business? Here are some suggestions:
- Write a solid business plan
- Figure out who your target market is
- Include a concise title and description of your company
- Provide a simple yet compelling narrative
- Support your pitch with facts and figures
- Show an estimated timeframe for your project
- Create a fun crowdfunding page
Startup Incubators
Collaboration is sometimes the best technique for developing a business plan. Early-stage businesses can benefit from the facilities and support provided by startup incubators. You will have access to experience, guidance, and the tools you need to thrive while you’re there, including:
- Equipment
- Utilities
- Assistance with legal and accounting issues
How to apply to a startup incubator:
Incubators are usually picky and often take startups in their early phases. Your business needs to meet a certain criteria to be admitted into some of the greatest incubators. In some cases, they only accept businesses that have been suggested by a member of their network.
- Other Quick Ways to Get Finance
Apart from the ones discussed above, there are some last resorts as well worth checking to raise funds for your startup.
- Credit Cards: Business credit cards are often available quickly to fuel your startup with instant money. If you don’t have many expenses, you can use it for minimum payments. However, make sure to repay the debt quickly as the interest rates and other costs can affect your credit.
- Product Pre-sale: If your product is unique or is in demand, then selling it before launch is a highly efficient way to raise money for your business ventures. Not only startups, but big brands such as Apple, HP, Dell, and Samsung use this tactic. They start taking pre-orders before the launch and it helps in improving cash flow.
- Selling Assets: Sometimes, businesses have to make hard choices and selling your high-value assets is one such choice. It can effectively serve as an immediate funding source for your short-term fund requirements. Once you pass through the financial crisis situation, you can re-buy those assets.
Choose the Right One For You!
As you can see, there are many sources of startup funding and a lot of money to be had. It’s important to figure out which sort of funding is ideal for your company’s objectives. Before you start the process of trying to get startup money, you need to:
- Review your funding options
- Create a good business plan
- Get advice from financial experts
There is no short road to success and getting your business funded is a long process. In the end, it all boils down to what your business needs at that time, as well as in the long run.