Putting all your money in one spot has never been a clever financial decision, and this is particularly true if you’re trying to run a successful business.
Start-ups take time, and if you devote the effort to finding proper financing for the one you’re working on, your chances of succeeding could go up drastically.
When you spread your financing across several different sources, it can also help you find the appropriate financing that may fit your needs and allow you to grow your business.
On top of this, having a history of trying out several different financing options can show your future lenders that you were serious about running your business and willing to try anything to get it to work.
Of course, different types of financing each come with their own requirements, and we’ll go further in-depth on those later on.
Personal investment
This is pretty self-explanatory, as it refers to your own money that you put forward to help develop your business.
Oftentimes it’s either cash or collateral, in the case of it being the latter, it usually refers to your other assets.
By investing your own money into a start-up, you can increase your chances of getting a loan from lenders as it’s an indicator that the business is a long-term commitment for you.
Naturally, you shouldn’t invest your own money if you don’t see the business ever developing into a fully-fledged one, as you’ll practically be bleeding money from that moment on.
Instead, do your research and see how far ahead of your competition you really are, and if you feel there’s potential to explore and take hold of a niche market, go for it.
Venture Capital
One thing to note is that Venture Capitalism isn’t for everyone, and it’s usually tech-driven businesses that receive funding from these individuals.
This is due to the immense potential that businesses in the IT and communications sectors have, which also means that the company’s growth ceiling is much higher as well.
By investing in a company, venture capitalists essentially take a shareholder spot in the company, allowing you to take on riskier projects that you wouldn’t normally be able to go through with, no matter how promising they may sound.
Normally, these individuals are expecting a significant return on their investment, and they tend to generate it when the business begins selling shares to the general public.
If an investor does show up, make sure they’ve got enough experience and knowledge in the field before accepting their offer, as an experienced investor can be a massive help when growing your business.
Crowdfunding
While many will tell you that crowdfunding is akin to panhandling, just remember that it’s your business and not theirs, and if you absolutely need the funds, you’ll find ways to procure them.
Oftentimes, crowdfunding consists of a larger company asking for small donations from a group of people, which then help spread the word of your crowdfunding effort to others.
Every small donation counts, and at the end of the day, money is money, and so long as it helps you grow your business and you acquired it legally, it doesn’t matter where it came from.
Business incubators
Often referred to as accelerators for start-ups, these incubators usually focus on businesses in the high-tech sector, as they offer support through the various stages of business development.
Despite this, local economic development incubators exist all across the globe, and their main focus is the generation of jobs and the revitalization of certain areas.
Most of the time, an incubator will offer companies the ability to share offices and resources, meaning that if your business requires a lab with equipment to operate normally, a local incubator may be able to provide that for you.
This also allows some businesses to test their products before committing to production, and this process can last up to two years sometimes.
After this, the business should be ready to hit the market, and it is usually when they enter the industrial market and move on to bigger projects on their own.
Grants
The best money is the kind that you don’t ever have to pay back, and the federal government has loads of programs that offer grants to up-and-coming businesses.
This funding may be used to help cover a portion of your expenses, including research and development of your products/services, as well as any expenses that may come with buying and renting equipment.
Even though you’re not required to pay this money back, you’re contractually bound to spend it only on the agreed-upon expenses, and if you don’t respect the contract, the lender may ask for their money back.
However, it’s important to remain professional and handle this money responsibly, as taking out one grant and utilizing it properly may also help you receive a second one if your business still meets the requirements for it.
Loans
On the other hand, loans typically have to be paid back within a set amount of time, and they usually come with interest rates to incentivize you to pay the money back as soon as possible.
All lenders have their own terms and conditions, and each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, meaning that it’ll be up to you to decide which plan is best suited for your business.
Due to this, it’s crucial to shop around a bit before committing to a certain lender, as it’ll allow you to explore the market and see what’s on the table before going for the first option that pops up.
Unfortunately, a start-up may have a much harder time acquiring a loan compared to a fully-developed business, and this is due to the risk that comes with investing in a start-up, to begin with.