One of the most complicated challenges that most young entrepreneurs face is raising enough money for a business. If you don’t have the means to start a business but are eager to work hard for it, you might need convincing power. Collecting funds mean that you have to convince other people to believe that your plans and business ideals will be successful.
If you think you have what it takes to make a business stand out, then it’s time to raise your capital. Here are the different ways to fund your business.
Bootstrapping
Bootstrapping is the process of funding your business with whatever money you have in your savings. Meaning to say, you’re starting a company from the cash and assets that you currently have.
Unlike other options, bootstrapping is pretty ideal as it will give you complete control of your finances. And since you know your own money is at stake, you will work extra hard to succeed. The only downside is that young individuals don’t usually have assets or enough money to use this method. This leads them to find capital in other resources.
Family Contribution
The family contribution method is also one of the safest options. You gather capital from loved ones, including your friends. And since you know them by heart, there would be no need to process documents or paper works. Funding your business from your inner circle is a great way to avoid loans without interest.
Government Grants
The government typically awards loan grants with strict criteria. However, it can be pretty challenging to get approval. You will also need to consider the application process as it’s extensive and lengthy. Often, grants are minimal and given to businesses in clean energy, biomedical research, and sustainability.
Business Loans
If the options mentioned above did not work out, you might opt to get a loan. Getting a business loan from a private company is the traditional way of raising capital for a business. The process is simple. The first thing you need to do is submit all the required documents. Once the company checks your credit scoring using digital footprints, you will receive a message if you are approved or not.
Like personal loans, business loans require good credit standing. What does it mean? Good credit means that your loans (house, car, credit card) are paid on time. A low credit score will make it hard for you to get business loan approval, so be wise in managing your finances. Here’s how to improve your credit score:
- Always review your credit reports.
- Pay your loans on time.
- Manage your bills properly.
- Avoid getting too many loans.
- Ask for higher credit limits but don’t exceed them.
- Keep your credit cards open.
Angel Investors
Angle investors are called “angels” for a reason. They are usually wealthy individuals who provide cash assistance to small businesses in exchange for a small percentage of their equity. Even more interesting about angels is that they also help new entrepreneurs manage their businesses well for guaranteed success.
Angels are usually knowledgeable when handling businesses, and they are pretty much helpful in providing you information. Just make sure that your angel lives within your region and has the same business interests as yours.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the process of gathering money from different individuals or organizations to support the startup of a project. The contributions can come in various forms and have different purposes.
Think Outside The Box
There are many ways to generate capital for your business. Sometimes, all you need to do is step out of your comfort zone and take risks. For instance, you can partner with an established company and ask them to fund your business. In return, they will have a percentage of the revenue, depending on the terms of the agreement.
You can also collect money from side hustles. Side jobs like blogging, copywriting, and web designing are some part-time jobs that you can try. These side hustles don’t require any capital. However, they need skills, so make sure to choose a part-time job you’re good at.
These are some conventional ways to start a business, so don’t limit yourself. There’s always a new opportunity somewhere, and all you need to do is search for them. Besides, as your business grows, your financial needs will also change.
Most entrepreneurs would recommend the bootstrapping and family contribution routes first. Avoid getting big loans as much as you can so you don’t drown in debt when your business fails. Once you’ve established the capital, find resources from different platforms to slowly but surely grow your company.
