The Standard

Five ways to finance a business

Five ways to finance a business
Five ways to finance a business

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Learning how to finance a business is one of the essential things any budding entrepreneur can know. Without proper financing, it would be difficult and nearly impossible to start, let alone sustain a business that can become profitable.

If you live in Australia and want to start a business, you might be wondering what your options are when it comes to getting funds to help you get going. The answer is, there are many options when it comes to financing a business.

Here are four ways to help you get the capital you need:

  • Small business loans

There are various types of small business loans in Australia. These can be broken down into two broad categories: Secured and unsecured small business loans.

A secured small business loan is usually borrowed against an item, which serves as collateral for the loan. This type of loan is often used by business owners who want to raise funds for particular projects.

Unsecured business loans are available for all kinds of small business needs. You can find lenders specialising in unsecured business finance and dealing with both traditional and online lenders.

In both cases, the most important criteria for approval are credit and business lending history. It is recommended that you do a good deal of research before applying for any business loan to ensure that the lender will approve you for the funds you need.

  • Traditional bank loans

Small business owners with good credit histories can find traditional bank loans that require very little documentation. Often these loans will require a down payment and a decent credit score.

Some banks may have higher requirements for providing business loans, but you can always get a personal loan and use it for your business.

Personal loans are one of the easiest ways to get a small amount of money fast. With these loans, you can have the money in no time, and it usually won't cost you anything.

A personal loan is a type of credit instrument that enables you to make a large purchase, pay off existing debt, or consolidate existing high-interest debt.

Because personal loans tend to have much lower interest rates than individual credit cards, they are often used to consolidate several high-interest credit card debts into a more affordable monthly payment.

  • Lending companies

Many private lending institutions provide small business funding options. A private lending company is usually a firm that can take its funds from private investors and charge no points/ origination fees on loans. These companies are generally less expensive to work with and lend money more quickly than institutions.

Typically, they will want to see a letter of credit from your business and business plans that show a profit and a solid business funding history. They often offer a better interest rate and loan terms than banks can offer.

  • State and government funding

State and local government entities also provide some of the most reliable funding for working capital and business financing. In the case of a business that requires local permits or licenses, state and local governments can provide some or all of the funding it needs.

Examples include start-up fees for businesses seeking permits to operate, development charges to local developers, and sales and income taxes. In many cases, these investors work closely with entrepreneurs to ensure that they provide the financing they need and repay the loans over time.

  • Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is another legitimate way to finance your business. There are different campaigns you can do. Equity-based crowdfunding campaigns seek to raise money for a company by pooling small sums of capital from several investors.

Another crowdfunding campaign is reward-based crowdfunding. They work more like a rewards program; in that you receive a certain percentage of the sales for every purchase, and you get a similar rate for referrals.

This means that the reward you receive largely depends on how well your business plan does, as well as your ability to attract several investors. In many ways, this makes it a less risky investment than equity crowdfunding since you won't have as much equity to lose if your business doesn't succeed.

Summary

In today's economy and with the rise of the global health crisis, many people think that funding their business is impossible.

However, small to medium companies can get loan access from different institutions to help them get started despite the things going on today.

If you live in Australia, you can find small business loans or private lenders who can give you a loan starting capital.

You can also try going to banks for a business loan or get a personal loan so it would be easier to process. You can also try to ask for state or government funding if it's available in your area.

Lastly, you can build crowdfunding campaigns and ask people or other businesses to invest in your venture.