Startup Business Financing Can Make the Difference

Jan 23
09:11

2012

George Duffy

George Duffy

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Building a business takes hard work and discipline. There are many obstacles to overcome along the way and finding enough start up cash to work through those obstacles is one of the keys to success.

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Building a successful business is one of the more difficult undertakings one can attempt. For every successful business you can point to,Startup Business Financing Can Make the Difference Articles you can point to hundred or thousands that failed. You see, it takes an idea to start a business but it takes drive and a lot of hard work to make it successful. Not everbody is wired to make it work but those that are stand a better than even chance of working through the problems that will invariably get in their way.
One problem every new business owner faces is the money problem - specifically, not having enough of it to get a good running start. It takes money to get businesses off the ground and that usually means more money than you have in your savings. Yet lots of new entrepreneurs gamble their life savings on their dream only to run out before the dream takes flight. What they're left with is a broken dream and a zero bank account.
Most business experts will tell you that you need enough money in a startup business to keep the doors open for at least a year. Without that minimum amount of cash you're looking at only a small chance at success. Savvy entrepreneurs know this too and therefore give themselves a solid chance at success by finding their capital in the form of startup business financing.
Now many financial institutions see startup loans as risky. In fact, some lenders shy away from them completely. That can make securing a startup loan a drawn-out and frustrating experience. But with a little bit of knowledge translated into the proper preparation you can shave the odds considerably in your favor and give yourself a better chance at overall success.
You've Got to do the Math
You need to start by taking a cold and calculated look at what your operating expenses and potential returns will be. You've got to be realistic and even conservative. Figure there will be unexpected expenses and build them into your plan. Also figure that your sales or returns will be less than you hope. Add up the numbers enough so you have a reasonable figure of how much money you'll need to make it through your first year of business.
Now you need to figure out how much of your own savings and assets you can bring to the business. Again, be conservative. Don't commit all of your available money (experienced entrepreneurs never do). But you need to commit some of your holdings because every lender you deal with will want to know you believe in yourself. And taking a financial stake in your own new business will show them just that.
You've Got to Work Out a Business Plan
A solid business plan increases your chances of obtaining short term business loans dramatically. A business plan is the proof lenders want to see to convince them that your idea will truly work. They want as much evidence as you can compile to show that your products or services will have a market and that people are willing to buy what you’re selling. The more tangible the evidence you can offer, the better your chances of receiving a loan.
When you're building your plan you should focus on what kind of revenues you can generate and why you're going to be able to generate them. Describe the market you're going to sell to and how much money that market can spend. Also, make sure to highlight why your product or service is better than any of your competitors
Don't Forget the Rest of the Detail Work
There will no doubt be certain extraneous paperwork you'll need to prepare as well. For instance, you'll need to gather up all of your personal financial information - tax records, salary records, bank account statements and the like. These tell another piece of the story to a bank or lender and are routine in just about all startup business loan applications.
There are also several legal documents you might need as well. Depending on the type of business you’re trying to start, you may need certain licenses or permits. Your potential lender will want to know that you have already obtained, or at least can qualify for, any of these necessary requirements.
Starting your own business is almost always a rough road. Having enough money to navigate that road and give yourself a chance to succeed is perhaps the most important factor in your success. That's why startup business financing is so important. Acquiring that financing takes more than just a dream, it takes planning and organization. If you can pull those two things off, you have a good chance to succeed.