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Without the right financing, the chances of your business succeeding are slim to none. Whether you’re looking for start-up capital or funds to keep your business operating, it’s important to know the best way to go about finding it. Below, w’ve created an ultimate guide that combines our best business articles to help our Community members do just that.
Before Financing
Before you make decisions or fill out applications, check out these resources for valuable tips that will help you in your ’preparation’ phase:
How to Find and Attract Investors – Finding the right investor to finance your business plan can be a daunting task. Then, once you locate potential investors, convincing them to invest in your business is a whole new challenge. For small business owners who are looking for investors, read on to learn about places to find investors and tips to presenting a winning business case.
I’m Applying for a Loan. How Do I Know if I Have Enough Collateral? – For most lenders, a great credit score will only get you so far. Whether entrepreneurs try to take advantage of using business credit, or rely solely on their personal credit scores, at one point or another they will be required to show some form of business loan collateral.
Tips for Getting Your Small Business Loan Request Approved (Even in Today's Economy) – Knowing how to position yourself as an attractive and viable investment for banks and lenders requires more planning and preparation than was required in the days when banks were a lot more ‘credit happy’. If you are seeking a business loan, whether a traditional loan or one backed by the SBA, here are some tips to help you position yourself as a fiscally responsible candidate.
Need a Small Business Loan? Tips for Researching Lenders and Preparing a Winning Loan Proposal –If your small business has struggled to get financing in the past, or you are thinking of getting a loan to fund new growth, here are some tips to help you understand what SBA-loans are available, where to get them, and how to prepare a winning loan application.
Looking for Financing
Once you have positioned your business to be attractive to potential investors, i’s time to start looking for the best financing options. These articles give general tips on different opportunities and how to choose the best one for your business.
Bootstrapping Your Business – Is It for You? – Yo’ve got a great concept and a solid business plan, but have no money. Sound familiar? If You're tired of chasing investors or venture capitalists, you can get the ball rolling on your start-up the old-fashioned way by bootstrapping’ your business. Entrepreneurs with very limited capital are finding the funds to startup by reaching into their pockets and pinching together a mixture of credit, loans, and supplemental income.
I Need Money – Where do I get it? – Each day, the Loans, Grants, and Taxes forum is filled with posts asking for general help in finding money for small businesses. The type of business and financing need varies, but the bottom line remains the same – business owners need money and they’re looking for as much guidance as possible in getting it. You’re in luck because this article is dedicated to making sure you know what we know.
Grants & Loans: Break Through the Myths & Find the Right Financing for Your Needs – Whether your small business is established or you are new to business ownership, it’s important to understand the variety of low-interest government-backed business financing available to you in the forms of loans and grants. Here we explain away some of the myths about government finance programs for small businesses and also helps build a picture of the available loans and grants for which you might be eligible.
Financing Programs
Many Business.gov articles are dedicated to highlighting specific financing programs. These articles give an overview of SBA programs and government loans and grants, and alternative financing options.
SBA-Approved Franchises: How do they work and How does the loan application process change? – The popularity of franchises over the last several decades has contributed to the massive growth of related jobs and new businesses. To help facilitate their development, the Small Business Administration has created a franchise program to simplify their financing process.
Grants 101: An Overview of Grants Available from the Federal Government – Without question, the majority of our users are looking for information about business grants. That’s why we built the Loans & Grants search tool, and published numerous articles on the topic of grants. This overview provides some additional context surrounding grant information that is useful to small business owners.
A Quick Guide to Microloans – If you’re a small business and are looking for just a small amount of money, a microloan might be just what you’re looking for. Designed to provide more loans to small businesses, microloans have made small amounts of capital more readily available. Since conception, the microloan program has awarded over $112 million in more than 12,500 loans.
Venture Capital & Equity Capital Programs – If you plan on being the next Apple, Google, or Genentech, venture capital is a viable financing option. Venture capital refers to investments made into start-up or emerging companies with high potential for growth and return. Venture capitalists not only provide money, but also business planning expertise and assistance to help start-ups succeed in its industry.
Managing Finances
Getting funds isn’t the only hurdle business face when it comes to money. Proper financial management of your money is just as important as receiving it in the first places. These articles give tips to help owners succeed when it comes to managing their financial resources.
Understanding and Expanding Cash Flow – For small businesses, cash is king. You need it to start, operate, and expand your operations, but many small business owners often have trouble managing and maintaining appropriate levels of cash. Inaccurate cash flow statements – or lack of available cash – can affect not only your business’s everyday operations, but also impacts outside factors like loan eligibility. Learn how understanding your cash flow trends can help you take control of your business finances.
Manage My Money – Government Resources for Financial Management – To help you manage your money, we’ve highlighted several government sources intended to help business owners practice effective financial management.
Financial Recovery
No matter how well you run your business, owners can’t foresee every potential danger. From time to time, many business owners find themselves in need of financial recovery. These resources will help your business stay afloat when you most need it.
Loans for Business Owners with Poor Credit Scores – The government has made efforts to rescue small business lending over the past several years. Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily help the business owner who, because of these poor economic conditions, may no longer be in position to qualify for a loan? If you find yourself in this position, here are a few options.
Managing Small Business Debt – Government Loans and Refinancing Lifelines – From the housing market to Main Street, cash flow strapped individuals and business owners struggling to stay on top of borrowed credit have increasingly found that traditional refinancing options are harder and harder to come by. Here is a ‘non-political’ summary of all the recently launched government-backed initiatives that can help small business owners address the challenges of mounting debt and financial hardship.
Small Business Survival: Last Chance Lifelines for Keeping Your Business Afloat – If your business is experiencing financial difficulty and is struggling to survive, here are some steps you can take to keep the creditors and the IRS from your door, as well as some potential lifelines and refresh business strategies that can help you stay afloat.
When the Worst Happens – Disaster Assistance Loans, Tax Relief and other Lifelines for Your Business – For small business owners the consequences of a natural disaster or emergency can be devastating. Here are some steps you can take to help you prepare for a disaster as well as an explanation of the financial lifelines available to you and your business should the worst happen.
Related Resources
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