If you are planning to start a business or are looking to expand an existing business, you have to spend a fair amount of money at the onset. You will no doubt have heard the saying ˇ§you have to spend money to make moneyˇ¨. Well, you better believe it! The good news is that if your business starts doing well, you will recover your money in no time and it will all have been worth it.
Like most people, you probably donˇ¦t have much spare cash lying around. Even if your business is doing well and growing rapidly, you still would not want to tie up huge sums of your own capital into upgrading your venture. This is where business financing comes in.
Business financing can be a great way to go. There are many options that can help you when you are looking to start up, expand, or if you are having a bad month. All of these options can help you keep your business in business, and help you make a profit in the long run.
One of the most basic business financing options is overdraft protection. This is protection that allows you to exceed what you have financially available. Because most institutions cap overdraft protection at around $5,000 for businesses, this is not viable for major expansion or start up. But it does help if you had a bad month but you have some supplies to buy.
Operating lines are among the more popular business financing options. This is because they allow you to dip into a line of credit that acts as additional cash flow. This is usually to help with minor expansion to increased operating costs due to other factors. You do have to pay the money back, but the line is usually very easy to dip into, and it is usually there when you need it.
But the preferred option for new companies and those looking to expand in a big way comes from term loans. They can make over $100,000 available to you, and you can opt for a fixed rate or variable rate, as you wish. With so much cash in hand, you can take off in a big way when you're starting out, getting the premises and all the trappings that with it in the bargain.
Government loans and incentives are similar to term loans but have lower interest rates. They are however, difficult to obtain unless you can show a special need or special qualifications. Before running to the bank though, you should investigate what government schemes are out there.
Finally, credit cards are business financing options that can be very helpful. They are usually not very viable for the main start up costs (like purchasing a facility), but are very helpful when you buy supplies your business needs. Many credit card companies offer special business cards with special rates and reward programs, and this can help you more efficiently get your business on better financial footing.
