Business Services

III. Funding/Finance

Business Loans and Financing

Many small business owners will rely on their own finances to start their business but realize they may need additional funds. Loans and other forms of financing can provide the catalyst for growth or sustain the business during cyclical variations in your cash flow. When should you seek a loan? What types of loans are available? This section summarizes the basics about business loans and financing.

Prepare for Requesting Funds

Take another look at your business plan and make sure it is up to date. The plan should reflect the current state of your business and industry, your anticipated needs, and how financing will play a role. Be sure you have done everything you can to manage your existing cash flow effectively. Know your current costs, both ongoing and one-time. Understand your income patterns, if any. Determine which costs are essential and which are optional. Defer expenses for optional costs until the business is better established. Be ready to explain exactly how you plan to use additional funding. Know your debt-to-equity ratio. Add any documentation to the appendix section of your business plan.

Understand the Various Types of Financing

All loans are not equal. It’s up to you to become educated about the types of financing available, including the amount, cost, terms, and other factors. In general, two types of business financing exist:

Equity financing. Ideally, equity comes from the established value of your business. However, if your business is small or new, you may need to acquire equity through other sources. These sources may include investments from yourself, family and friends, employees, or customers. The greatest source of equity comes from venture capitalists. These investors are taking a risk in investing in your business, with nothing more secure than the hope that your business will generate higher than average profits. In most cases, venture capitalists expect your business to offer stock to the public in the future. If this happens, venture capitalists will convert their interest in your business and reap the benefits.
Debt financing. Debt financing usually occurs through financial institutions such as banks, government-sponsored groups such as the Small Business Association, or family and friends. Debt financing is usually short term, with payback and interest expected relatively quickly. The financing is secured against the business and perhaps even your personal assets. However, unlike equity investors, the financial institution does not acquire a stake in your enterprise.

Financing is usually provided for a specific purpose, such as establishing a line of credit or purchasing equipment. You may be required to demonstrate that you and other investors have invested equity into the business already, so that lenders trust that you are serious about the enterprise.

In addition, most financial institutions will request the following information:

Create history for you and your business
Ability to repay the loan, documented through cash flow statements and a list of available collateral, that is personal and business assets that could be sold to repay the debt, if needed
Experience of the business owners within the industry
Past and projected sales and profits
Competitors and their strengths and weaknesses

Note that if you have been maintaining an updated business plan, most of this information should already be within that document.

Before Making Your Funding Choices

Make sure you have the answers to these questions:

Why do you need the funding at this time? How much?
How long have you been in business?
Who is providing the funding? What is their track record with other businesses? Do they understand your industry?
What do they expect in return?
How will you manage any repayment?
What happens if your business fails to meet their expectations?
How much collateral, if any, do you willing/have to put up for the loan?
What do you need the money for?
How much money do you need?
How long will it take you to pay it back?
How long have you been in business?
What is the current financial shape of your business?
How much collateral, if any, do you have to put up for the loan?
How quickly do you need the money?

Additional Resources

Looking for Capital for Your Small Business?

Are you looking for capital for your small business? Listen to this podcast featuring SBA’s Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access, Bill Manger. He discusses options such as the SBA’s free online “Lender Match” tool, microloans and grants for small businesses at Grants.gov.

Local Capital Resources

Managing Your Cash Flow

Know What’s Coming In and Going Out

Set up a system to keep track of all your business-related costs and all your business-related income. Develop a habit of consistently tracking income and expenses include ongoing costs such as salaries or rent as well as one-time costs such as those associated with starting up the business. Bookkeepers, accounts, and other financial advisors can help, if you don’t know how to get started.

Look For Patterns in Your Cash Flow

After you have tracked your income and expenses for a while, you will begin to see patterns. For example, many businesses have a time of year when they are more likely to provide more product or services, and times of the year when things are “slow.” Once you recognize cycles in your cash flow, you can begin to find ways to manage the flow.

Explore Your Options

Keeping your cash flow patterns in mind, brainstorm options with a colleague, mentor, employee, or advisor. You might want to hire employees seasonally instead of permanently. Perhaps you can contract for services as needed in some areas of the business. Maybe you can secure loans to bridge between the lulls in income. Or perhaps you need to rethink your pricing strategies.

Anticipate Future Needs

As your business grows, plan for how the growth affects your cash flow. Will you need new facilities? New employees? New equipment? Is it time to pursue financing or new investors? Do you have insurance to cover disruptions to production, distribution, or other problems that may impact your business income?

Listen to the Podcast

Return to Step II – Structure / Formation

Continue to Step IV – Manage / Grow