Ways to Get Funds to Start a New Business

The first and most important step in starting a new business is finding the money necessary to make one’s business ideas a reality. Unfortunately, some funding opportunities, such as grants, provide very limited capital. A typical grant will not cover all the needed costs for a new business and are often denied to entrepreneurs with for-profit enterprises. If the new organization is a non-profit entity, then the chances of receiving grants are much higher. With the many existing pros and cons of funding, the most common inquiry of prospective business owners is how to go about finding the most appropriate type of funding for their new business.

Help onlineOne way to find information about small business funding is by finding helpful resources online. There are a considerable number of sites that can provide topics about everything there is to know about funding opportunities and how to go about receiving financial assistance for starting a new company. If there are some unanswered questions, there are always forums to visit as well as live help on many funding websites.

GrantsThere are two common situations that entrepreneurs may face when trying to obtain grant funding. The first one is when the individual has a clear idea about how s/he will utilize the grant. Due to the fact that they already have a solid understanding of the dispersal of funds, they may have a higher possibility of obtaining a grant to help start their new business as opposed to someone who is not sure how the funds will be distributed. The second situation is when the outcome benefits an agency of the government. In fact, there are some associations that can also provide great resources to businesses in the fields of education, science, ethnic organizations, etc. Often times, grants do not have to be paid back, making it a very competitive option for many small business owners.

Bank loans
In an entrepreneur’s quest to find money, a bank loan may have to be considered. Therefore, it would be wise to research different banks and the types of loans they offer. By evaluating these different options, the small business will be able to choose a bank loan that fits their company's financial abilities and needs.

Before accepting any loan, the entrepreneur must first determine if s/he will be able to afford monthly costs. This is extremely crucial, especially since the fate of any new business is considered a risky venture. Entrepreneurs have to make sure that payments are made on time or else they will be at risk for accumulating large amounts of debt and having poor credit ratings.

Business investorsAnother option for small business owners is to find an investor who is interested in partnering with them. Angel investors and venture capitalists can provide the entrepreneur with large amounts of money rather quickly; however, they often demand a large ROI as part of the business deal.

In addition, they may also request part ownership in the new enterprise as well as an active involvement in regular company operations. When obtaining funding from angel investors or venture capitalists, the new business owner will have the relief of not worrying about the expensive monthly payments as traditional financial institutions offer.

Family and FriendsAn entrepreneur can obtain startup funding by asking their family and friends for some much needed financial support. This is a great alternative because family and friends are often aware of how important a company is to their loved one. Family and friends can make some donations as a start, and this can be a wonderful asset to the company. Since the amount of money that family and friends can provide a startup is often very limited, the entrepreneur will have to obtain additional funding to meet the needed equity gap.

ConclusionAnyone who is interested in obtaining funding for a new venture can easily find such information online. Grants are often awarded to enterprises that are non-profit and contribute to the fields of science, education, and research. Bank loans may be another alternative; however, the entrepreneur must be able to make monthly payments to prevent accumulated debt and poor credit ratings. On the other hand, business investors may provide immediate funding and require no monthly payments but often expect partial company ownership and a large ROI in return. Another option for funding is by asking family and friends for financial help. They may not be able to provide a large amount of pooled money, but it is certainly helpful in meeting the entrepreneur’s needs