Starting a business of your own is both exciting and nerve-wracking. Having a business venture opens up new paths for your personal development. And of course, part of that is financial stability. However, it's also stressful since you won't know yet if your businesses will flourish.
If you're planning to open up a new business, the first thing you should ask yourself is how you'll get capital. Fortunately, there are several ways for you to raise funding to get your operations up and running. That said, you can diversify your sources, which is a good idea in and of itself.
As the saying goes, you should never put all of your eggs in one basket. Not only will diversifying your financing allow you to have backup cash flow, but it also allows you to be flexible when it comes to spending. So what are the available sources of financing you should look for? Here are some of them.
Of course, the first thing we’ll delve into is business loans. They are the most common source of business financing. However, they are also one of the most popular because of how straightforward they are.
As the name suggests, business loans are the types of loans used for business financing. Business loans work pretty much like your standard loans. You make an application to a local bank or alternative lender, get evaluated, and then get approved.
You'll then be obliged to repay your loan until it matures, along with interest in your monthly payments. Of course, this is how they work in general. The interest and repayment terms vary from lender to lender. Usually, you can get $1,000 to $5,000 depending on several factors. Such as the scope of your business and its future financial health.
Generally, there are two types of business loans: secured and unsecured loans. The only difference between the two is the collateral. You'll get a business loan much easier in secured loans if you put up an asset as collateral. For example, property, stock, or machinery.
This collateral would serve as security for the loan. If you can't pay for the loan, the lender will seize your collateral as a substitute payment. However, the interest rate will be much lower because of your collateral. Thus, your repayment terms will be much better.
You won't have to put up collateral in unsecured loans. This means you don't have to worry about having your property or stock seized when you can't pay the loan back. However, the interest rates will be much higher, and your borrowing limit may be much smaller.
One thing about business loans or any loan for that matter is that you can ask for either forbearance or deferment. For example, if you have student loans and are wondering how to pick between forbearance and deferment, there are a lot of articles on the internet that discuss them thoroughly. Make sure that you do your research properly to choose the option best for your needs.
In a nutshell, venture capitalists are pooled investment funds that organize the money of investors looking for startup businesses that have huge growth potential. It's a type of equity financing that'll invest in a business for some equity in return. This allows small startups to have business financing even though they haven't started their business yet.
Fundamentally, venture capital funds are different from hedge funds and mutual funds. They focus on a specific type of investment. Typically, the firms that venture capitalists look for have high growth potential and are very risky.
Not only that, but venture capitalists also take on a very active role in the business. They often take up a board seat. With this, they'll have a hand in the operations and management of the business. Venture capital funds often use the barbell approach when it comes to investing. They fund many young startups with the belief that at least one of them will reach its potential and yield high returns.
Private investors, angels, or seed investors, are high net-worth individuals looking for young startups or entrepreneurs to provide financial backing in exchange for equity. Angel investors can often be found among your family. However, finding one outside of your family and friends can be hard.
These angel investors typically have excess funds that they're looking to invest in young startups. They do this in the hopes of yielding a high return of investment. When compared to financing from banks and lenders, angel investors have many favorable terms. Especially since they are usually investing because of the entrepreneur instead of the business's potential. Take note that not all angel investors are that way.
Angel investors typically offer up their money, the opposite of venture capitalists who give money from their pooled-up investments. Although an individual usually represents angel investors, they can also come from an LLC, a business, or a trust fund, among others.
If you're looking to fund your very own business, there are several ways for you to raise your capital. Whether you're using your own money or getting funds from an angel investor, each has its pros and cons. Thankfully, financing can come from many sources, which makes it easier for you to find one.
