How Do You Find Small Business Start Up Money?

How Do You Find Small Business Start Up Money explained by professional Forex trading experts the “ForexSQ” FX trading team.

How Do You Find Small Business Start Up Money?

Question: How do I find small business start up money?

Answer:

Your Own Pockets

For small business start up money, most people starting their own businesses reach into their own pockets first – even if they also intend to get debt financing in the form of a small business loan from a financial institution or some form of equity financing from angel investorsor venture capitalists.

This is because almost all lenders or investors expect the person seeking a business loan or equity investment to make a personal financial contribution.

If you are not confident enough in your business idea to risk making a personal investment, they think, why would anyone else?

If you don’t have ready cash on hand, look to your personal assets as possible sources of funding. This includes real estate, vehicles, retirement accounts, stocks and bonds, or any other asset that can be mortgaged, sold for cash, or used for collateral.

Home equity loans are one of the most cost-effective ways to borrow as the interest rates are very low compared with other types of financing. Financial institutions will typically lend up to 80% of the value of a home. At the other end of the spectrum, credit cards are a common source of startup funding for asset-poor entrepreneurs even with the high rates of interest.

Family and Friends (“Love Money”)

What can you do about finding money to start your own business if your own pockets are empty? You might turn to the second most popular source of start up funds – family and/or friends.

This kind of small business financing often takes the form of a personal loan.

Statistics indicate that approximately 50% of private investors in businesses are family members, 30% are friends and neighbors, and the remainder are colleagues or strangers. Aside from having a high degree of trust in you, a private investor must be able to afford to invest in your business.

Many private investors are high net-worth individuals with prior business experience.

One of the main advantages of family/friend financing is flexibility. Family and friends are:

more likely to seek a lower rate of return on their investment.
more likely to wait longer to get their money back.
less likely to require collateral.
less likely to scrutinize your business plan to the same degree as a financial institution.

Borrowing from friends and family can also be fraught with perils:

Loans from one or more family members to another can create jealousy and/or resentment among other family members.
If the business does not succeed and you are unable to repay the loan(s) your relationship with the family/friend lender(s) may be permanently impaired.
Family or friends who have invested in the business venture may feel they have a right to make or participate in your business decisions.

To avoid issues that stem from a lack of clarity make sure that (with your lawyer) you draw up proper documentation for the loan(s), spelling out details such as repayment terms, interest rates, and the fact that as the owner you make the decisions regarding the operation of the business. Review and sign the documents with your family/friend lender(s).

Banks and Other Financial Institutions

And the third most popular source of small business start up money is the previously mentioned traditional financial institutions, such as banks, credit unions and caisse populaires. Generally financial institutions are reluctant to lend to small businesses. To maximize your odds of obtaining this kind of business financing, you will need to have:

a solid business plan,
a good credit rating and collateral,
(preferably) a proven track record with other business ventures.

Without the above your chances of obtaining a loan from a financial institution are slim – statistically 80% of small business owners are denied financing from institutional lenders.

Other Sources of Start-up Money

The government of Canada offers special funding for small business start ups through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).

You can read more about the start up financing the BDC offers and other possible small business financing in 8 Sources of Business Start Up Money and 5 Creative Ways to Fund Your New Business.

If you’re a woman entrepreneur, Small Business Loans for Women in Canada provides information on small business loans that are only available to women.

If your start up financing requirements are less than $20,000, a micro loan may be what you need. See 20 Sources of Micro Loans for Starting a Canadian Small Business.

Browsing the Small Business Loans section of the site will show you even more sources of funding for anyone starting a small business.

If you are thinking of seeking a small business loan for your new business, How to Get a Small Business Loan explains how to make a successful loan request.

Back to > Starting a Business FAQ Index

Back to > Small Business Canada FAQ Index