You’ve got a clear business idea but your pockets are empty. That’s okay! As the old saying goes, where there’s a will there’s a way, or maybe even 10 ways… To finance your business. Be sure to know your options!
Pre-sales
One possible course of action encompasses selling your product before you release it. Many startups, particularly e-commerce newbies, engage in this tactic to procure the necessary funds needed to pull their products through the value chain in the first place. The trick is, advertise well to rack up your preorders and get the necessary momentum to fuel future purchases.
Your Circle
In technical terms, family and friends are not ‘accredited investors’, approved to invest due to a certain level of (disposable) income. This protective measure of investor accreditation was implemented to protect investors from being ripped off by stock scams. Although not accredited, a limited amount of family and friends are still allowed to invest, so consider them for seed funding rounds! Here’s how to get started now.
Angels
Angel Investors, on the other hand, are accredited and actively looking to invest in companies. These investors make use of their own money, tend to invest in groups, and vary in their business and financing savvy greatly. The most sophisticated angels are similar in their business analysis to our next type of investor, Venture Capitalists. To find out how you can find investors, check out this article from Forbes.
Venture Capitalists (VCs)
VCs are professionals taking on the task of investing other peoples’ money in companies. Generally, the sum of money conjured up through Venture Capital is the largest compared to the two previous sources and often reaches the multi-millions. Here’s how you might be able to attract VCs.
But wait, there’s more! This modern age has provided us with mass customization, hover boards, and also…
Crowdfunding
Harnessing the power of the world-wide-web, we are now able to raise money from people all over the world in small instalments, sometimes creating large pools of money for different causes.
Check out the following platforms:
1) Symbid
2) TruCrowd
If you choose this way of business financing be sure to check out our posts on crowdfunding and tips on your crowdfunding campaign.
Credit Cards
Using credit cards to cover your initial payments could be a wise choice, provided payments are made on time – otherwise (just as in the case of personal financing) your interest rates can skyrocket and you might end up in a worse situation than before. Tread lightly and weigh your options!
Online Loans / Microloans
Gone are the (make or break your startup) nerve-wracking days of waiting to see if your bank loan gets approved or not. Now entrepreneurs can turn to the modern love-child of the internet and bank loans: online loans like Kabbage.
Save your Money and Dump your Assets
Perhaps the most obvious financing option involves self-financing. Investing out of your own pocket and injecting these funds into your business plan. Not only would this directly fund your business growth, but it will signal to investors that you are fully committed to your practice.
Join Airbnb
If you have some extra room at home and feel like going down the alternative route of financing, consider signing up to be an Airbnb landlord. Meet new people, have an incentive to keep your place clean and neat and put the cash toward your venture today.
Microloans
Another option which largely overlaps with the online loans mentioned above would be to procure a microloan (which can reach up to $35,000) from a nonprofit or other companies to use as a jumping off point to start your business. Check out Kiva and and learn how to secure a microloan.
At this point, you should be feeling pretty good about the prospect of getting financing for your venture – in one way or another. Be sure to consider that this list is just a jumping-off point! Perhaps your perfect mode of financing isn’t included, so make sure to do your research and find the best financing fit.