To raise capital is one of the greatest challenges for startup companies, and obtaining a loan from a bank can be difficult. This article will give tips on raising capital for startup companies by looking at different sources and ensuring that your business has the necessary market demand.
Funding for new startup companies can be raised from several sources, from friends and family to investors and grants.
What are 5 Sources of Funding to Raise Capital?
1. Borrowing from family or friends- If a startup does not have any other way to raise capital, a small business owner may be able to borrow money from family and friends. If you borrow from family or friends, consider that since your operations are limited to one location, you will have to show that you can make enough money to pay them back before receiving any backing.
2. Selling Equity in the Business- In theory, a startup company can sell equity or ownership to investors in exchange for funding. Raising capital by selling stock to investors is called an IPO Initial Public Offering. It is usually the largest way to raise capital for companies seeking initial funding. The major disadvantage of selling stock to investors is that your business may lose its identity.
3. Getting a Merchant Cash Advance- A merchant cash advance is a form of short-term financing used to pay for business expenses. The financing is based on the expected future credit card and e-commerce sales volume. As an alternative to loans, merchant cash advance lenders offer smaller loan amounts with lower interest rates, no collateral requirements, and a fast funding time.
4. Receiving Grants- Government grants have been identified as a great resource for funding projects and are socially beneficial in other ways. The usefulness of funding is that you can use it to cover expenses in the short term while leading to a profit.
5. Taking out a Loan on Your Business Assets- Lenders may consider taking out a loan on business assets, especially equipment. If you are thinking of borrowing money on the value of your business assets, remember that the lender will have a right to convert those assets if you do not pay off the debt promptly.
How Can I Raise Money for My Startup
1. You can look at finding people you know who have a lot of money and see if they are interested in putting money into your idea. Many people might be interested if you come up with a thought-provoking or controversial idea rather than just something feasible.
2. You can start delegating tasks to do not have to work on everything yourself. You can create a team that can work on specific things, such as marketing or selling, so that you don’t have to face all those tasks yourself.
3. You can start looking for places where you can save money and cut costs. For example, if you ordered ten custom T-shirts for your new business, but there are only five people in your team working on the project, you might want to get rid of 5 custom T-shirts since you won’t use them anyway.
4. You can look at raising money through private investors. Some of your friends and relatives might be interested if you have a business plan that will make them money or a project that will save them money. You can also start talking to banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions – they might want to invest in your project if you give them something in return, such as a share of the profits or shares in the company.
5. You can start looking for sponsors for your project. It can help you get the money you might not have gotten otherwise. It depends on what you are doing, the project or product, and who the sponsor is, but some sponsors might be interested in giving you money for your startup.
How Much Startup Capital is Required
You need some money to invest or save up to raise capital to start a business. In the beginning, you can probably get by with just a couple of hundred dollars to start your business, but once it grows and gets more complex, you will need a larger amount of capital.
To know how much capital you will need for your business, look at your expenses. After all, what is the purpose of a startup? It is for growth and expansion. Once you know what you need to spend, you can create a budget and start saving money.
More Sources of Start up Capital
1. Family and Friends- Family and friends are a great source of capital for starting a business, especially if you run a small business.
2. Distributing Capital- If investors have not come to your aid yet, you might consider distributing some capital from your working capital account or selling off some of your company’s assets, such as equipment and inventory. It will allow you to raise capital to start a business.
3. Funding from Banks- If you are lucky enough to have some money parked in a bank or other financial institutions, you might be able to borrow some money under the terms of a loan agreement. However, make sure that you understand the terms of the agreement and what your responsibilities are if you default on the loan.