Step-by-Step Guide: Where to Apply for Business Funding That Fits Your Needs

Step-by-Step Guide: Where to Apply for Business Funding That Fits Your Needs

Whether you are starting a business or expanding an existing one, you need funds. Fortunately, in this advanced world, there are a plethora of funding options. But this also creates confusion about choosing the right funding option. Here we provide a detailed guide, comprising the needs of a startup, funding options, and more. Keep reading till the end to discover how you can secure instant business funding for your venture.

Necessities of a Startup

Before moving to funding, you should know what your business requires, because it will be a major investment. Below, we list the startup necessities; explore them.

Payroll

First, you need to consider payroll. It is related to your current workforce, its pay, and how many employees you will have in the next six months.

Insurance

Determine whether you will offer health insurance to your employees.

Licensing, Permits & Taxes

Next, you must determine the cost for obtaining all necessary licenses, permits, and taxes so that you can avoid legal problems.

Rent and Utilities

If moving your business into a physical space, ensure you can afford your lease and utility costs. Also, before signing a lease contract, understand its terms and conditions.

Equipment

Do you need computers, phones, machinery, or other equipment, and can you rent them? How much personal protective equipment do you need for the safety of your workers and customers?

Inventory and Upcoming Orders

Make sure you have enough raw product to fulfill customer demand and operate the business; otherwise, you will need to invest in more.

Advertising and Website

You need to let others know about your business. For this, you may buy social media ads, rent billboards, put an ad in a local magazine, or optimize your site for better results. All of these cost a hefty amount.

All the Extras

At last, consider whether your employee will need to travel a long way. Will you need a lawyer for small business matters, such as obtaining a copyright?

Types of Funding

In the following points, we discuss different types of business funding solutions. Check them and choose the right one for your company.

Traditional & Personal Loans

Traditional and personal loans are the first solution to fund your business. For a loan, you need a strong credit history. If you have, some banks and NBFCs even provide business funding without collateral.

Online & Microlenders

If you don’t have a good credit score, get help from online lenders. You can also explore some microlenders. They offer minimum loans of less than $50,000.

Self-Funding

If you have savings or a monthly income, try bootstrapping your business. But first, determine whether you can handle the business expenses.

Investors

You can find potential investors in your entrepreneurial community. Find them and discuss terms and conditions for funding.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding means pitching your business idea on popular sites, like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, to receive pledges of funding. For this, you need to know the market and be savvy with web content.

Friends & Family

You can get funds from friends & family, but let them earn interest or equity in the company, or give them monthly payments.

Invoice Factoring

You can sell outstanding invoices to a factoring company and use the amount as funds. You receive 75-90% of the invoice’s worth.

Government Grants

Government grants offer business funding for veterans and budding entrepreneurs. Some grants include MDBA loans and the SBIR program.

How to Make Your Business Attractive to Investors and Lenders?

You need to make your business attractive to get funding easily from investors and lenders. For this, use the following tips.

Solid Business Plan

You should conduct thorough market research and write a solid business plan. It helps you tell your personal story and properly present your business to banks and potential investors.

Build Your Credit

Next, you should build a solid credit score, as many banks and online lenders demand it. You can also open a business credit card, letting you build business credit every month.

Display Financial Track Record

You should show the bankers and potential investors the financial record of your business. It helps them understand the condition of your firm. If you are a startup, craft a plan for how you will complete your financial goals and pay returns to investors.

Craft a Narrative

Prepare a strong narrative to explain how you came up with the business idea, your driving force, and the impact your business can have on the world. The better your narrative, the higher the possibility that investors will fund your business.

Clear Investment Structure

Build a clear investment structure that includes information like whether the investors will be shareholders or partners, whether they will be able to make business decisions, and more.

Where and How to Apply for Funding

It is the final section of this blog and shares steps on how and where to apply for business funding.

Identify Your Funding Goals and Business Needs

You should determine why you need funds for R&D, expansion, or something else. The clearer your purpose, the better your pitch will be.

Choose the Right Funding Type

Choose the suitable type of funding depending on your stage and requirements. If you are a startup, self-funding is better; if you are a growing firm, explore loans.

Prepare Documents

For funding, you need to prepare documents like business registrations, KYC, financial statements, income proof, projected cash flow, business plans, etc.

Shortlist Platforms and Lenders

As per your chosen loan type, shortlist platforms and lenders; for instance, if you are opting for a traditional loan approach, you can select banks or NBFCs.

Apply Smartly

Submit your documents when receiving funds from banks or online lenders. For investors, tailor your pitch to attract them.

Follow up and Negotiate Terms

Check interest rates, repayment schedules, and any hidden fees for funds. Understand the process and take time to sign contracts.

Getting business funding is not a piece of cake. It involves choosing the right funding options according to your business needs, document preparation, and other things. If you are looking for instant business funding, you have come to the right place. We are Lion Investment, your number one partner for business funding. Whether it’s minority business funding or another kind of funding, contact us to discuss your business needs.