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Here are some effective ways to finance a business start up. Before taking on any of these options, make sure you've weighed them carefully and realize both their advantages and disadvantages:
Borrow funds from friends and relatives. If you have friends or relatives that you feel are capable of providing financial assistance, you can ask for their help on providing additional fund to start up a business. Why is it worth it to seek assistance from friends or relatives?
For one thing, you don't have to worry about the status of your credit history since families and friends would not bother to check on them. Second, you don't have to submit paper work such as a business plan or financial statements to get the money. These are the advantages of borrowing from friends and relatives.
However, keep in mind that when borrowing money either from family or friends, it's best to put everything in writing. Don't simply rely on verbal understanding. A written contract that is signed by parties will protect you and your lender in case problems or conflicts arise. It will also protect both of you from damaging your personal relationships.
Get a bank loan. If borrowing from your friends or relatives is not an option, perhaps you can also obtain a bank loan. Businesses who need additional funding for expansion can apply for a loan. However, for businesses that are still on the planning stage of starting up the business, a bank loan can be a difficult shot since most banks would require a business to be in operations for at least two years. In addition, banks generally prefer a client to submit a security for the loan such as a property or an asset. For these reasons, most business owners seek other option other than a bank loan.
Seek angel investors. You can also try seeking angel investors that support businesses in your industry. Angel investors can be individuals, household, an independent group or a financial association who offer funding for businesses.
Try to win a government grant. If you think you are qualified for a government grant, why not apply for one? However, you need to be aware that applying for a grant can take some time, and can even take up to a year of waiting. If you can't wait that long to start your business, better try other options as well.
Business equipment leasing. This is an option if you're on a limited budget in starting up the business. Equipment leasing enables a business to acquire all the necessary devices, machines, or equipment it needs for operations. Thus, you can use the money you have as a working capital or for other purposes in the business.
Obtain a Business Credit Card
A business credit card works much like your regular credit card but with more options that are specially designed for businesses. For instance, business credit cards come with a higher credit limit, which means you can charge more of your business expenses on your credit card without exceeding your allotted credit. The only disadvantage of using a business credit card is that you need to ensure that you can keep up with your payments if you don't want to pay high interest rates and penalty charges.
Home Equity Loans
A home equity loan is a loan secured by your property. The value of your home property will determine the amount of loan you can borrow. A home equity loan is payable after your loan's term which gives you ample time to save up for the money. However, since it puts your home on the line and nobody can guarantee the success of a business, this is not an advisable choice of funding a business.
