After you have identified a business idea, the next question that comes up is that of capital. How are you going to raise enough money for the investment? There are so many ways that you can use to raise money for your business. Below are some of the ways that you can use to create enough capital for your business:
Yourself
To tell you the truth, there is no way you are going to start a business if you have nothing yourself. It is important that you start saving some money now if you plan to start a business in future as this will form a basis on which other players will give you more money. However, you don’t need to have millions, you just need a substantial and reasonable amount of money.
Family and Friends
The next person who you should ask for financial assistance is your family members and friends. However, this should not be confused with begging, you should be very professional when asking for money from family and friends. You should present your business idea to them professionally and then politely ask for their input. You should make a commitment to returning their money later as this will make you accountable for any decision that you make.
Banks and Financial Institutions
As you probably already know, some banks offer small loans at great and affordable interest rates. However, this largely depends on your credit score as well as the nature of collateral you can afford to offer. To get financial assistance from the banks and the traditional lenders, you need to draft an attractive and a promising business plan as this is the only way that you will woe these financial institutions. Securing a loan with financial institutions helps in raising your credit score (If you repay on time) and also lets other investors see you as a ‘’real business owner.’’ You should always take time to analyse the terms offered by these financial institutions, including the interest rates as well as the terms of payment.
Crowdfunding
If for any reason or the other you don’t get someone to give you a small loan, there are a number of crowdfunding options for you to consider. Ensure that your business idea and plan are well structured. You should then do a thorough research and select a company with a great history. When selecting this company, it is essential that you consider their success rate and their level of professionalism. After you are satisfied that that is the company you want, you should then approach them and sell your idea to them. It is however important that you analyse their rates and terms, and in some instances, it is advisable to have a legal advisor to guide you through this phase.
After you have successfully raised capital for your business, it is time now to get back to business and to actualise what is now in your business plan. Remember that, sooner or later, your financiers will be knocking at your door asking you to honour your side of the bargain, so settle down as soon as possible and start making money!
