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Expert Answers to Biz Questions

Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.

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6 Ways to Increase the Chances of Getting Funds for Your Business

 

When your business is relatively young, getting a favorable funding opportunity can be quite helpful in helping you take the business off the ground or even finance some critical expansions. Nevertheless, getting your business funded is no mean feat.

Basically, searching for the right funding requires significant investments in terms of time and dedication. Basically, you’ll have to be diligent how you spend your time and money during your pursuit for funds. Here, you’ll find some ways to increase your chances of getting your startup funded.

Beware of your credit scores

A credit report is one of the most trusted tools when lenders want to make a lending decision. As such, it is important that you consider where you stand. Basically, lenders will be reluctant to work with you if they discover that you haven’t been diligent when dealing with your previous debts.

However, you shouldn’t let the credit scores erode your dreams of getting a business loan. Today, there are tons of alternative lenders who rely on alternative credit scoring to make lending decisions. Instead of focusing on your credit scores, these lenders look at your ability to service the direct credit loan you are requesting. If you have a good income, then getting the funds won’t be a problem.

All the same, you have to be ready to pay more for the funds offered to your business. Generally, people and businesses that lack good credit scores are often viewed as risky customers and lenders compensate by charging higher interest rates.

Create an impressive plan for your business

When you are looking for business funds, the creditors are more interested in businesses that have sound plans in place. At all times, working according to a well-thought plan always beats spontaneous action.

While most small businesses lack adequate business plans, they can be denied funds based on the same. In most banks, you will be asked to provide a quantitative business plan before you commence the loan negotiations. It is therefore important to have a ready forecast of your revenues so that you can help your prospective creditors know how your business will be performing in the future.

At the same time, have a plan ready outlining how you intend to spend the funds you are requesting. While it’s not necessary to have an eloquent pitch, it is very important that you put together a straightforward pitch if you intend to get the funds. This involves having a plan for the capital requested.

Involve a financial expert in the decision-making process

When you want to inject some cash into your business, you need to prove to the potential creditors that you’ve engaged financial experts prior to reaching a conclusion. Basically, having the input of an experienced accountant can go a long way in helping you get a funding approval.

Most importantly, it’s important to reach out to organizations that connect new startups to retired business people for mentoring. Most of these individuals have a wealth of knowledge in the business world. As such, they will be quick to point out the most appropriate form of business funding for your startup. Once the lender realizes that you’ve consulted with experts in your industry, they are confident that you already know the pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Start working with applicable and realistic budgets

As far as an investor is concerned, a good company has a good track record and devotes time to understand their customers. To do this, you need some sort of a budget especially when it comes to securing your share of customers.

When a business has some level of success to show, it becomes easy to get positive answers when pitching to investors. Once you are ready to talk to investors, it’s time to figure out how much time and cash you need to dedicate to this course. At times, this may take up to six months before you get the right match.

Pitch the right people

If your business is relatively new, you need to concentrate on investors who fund new businesses. To be on the safe side, start with smaller investors with a propensity to invest in your business.

As your startup grows and you’ve achieved significant t success, you can now upgrade to pitching the bigger investors with a capacity to inject huge funds into your business. In a nutshell, don’t waste your time pitching to an investor who doesn’t invest in your industry, at the same time keep improving your odds with bigger opportunities.

Don’t give up prematurely

It’s true to say that getting your startup funded takes time and patience. Therefore, you need to stay motivated and keep working towards achieving the goal. If you find that your pitches are not getting the results you envisioned, don’t give up. Instead, try to analyze the factors that could be contributing to this outcome.

The idea here is to maximize the things that potential investors like about the business. At the same time, try to rework anything that received criticism. To do this, make sure you receive the criticism with an open mind in order to re-strategize.

No matter the outcome, don’t close shop to look for funds. Make sure you are doing t=your best to keep the business running. If you understand investors, you definitely know that they tend to funds businesses that have been operational for some time.

Final words

Funding is an important factor in the business arena. Whether you are looking for investor money or business loans, you have to make sure you are targeting the right firms and investors. Most importantly, you need to be diligent in your search for the funds. Even when you don’t receive the answer you expected, keep on improving your pitch and you’ll eventually succeed.

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