So, you have come up with an awesome business idea, and you would really love to see it in action? Well, the problem almost every young entrepreneur has to face has a simple name – money. Another thing is the fact that not everyone will understand your idea, and this is why a lot of business idea never actually come to life. You don’t really care whether your friend or acquaintance gets the point, but if the people that you hope are going to help you with finances are in question, then it matters more than anything.
There could be a variety of reasons why you’re having trouble funding your great business idea. Maybe your background simply isn’t as rich as it should be, or you are a complete newbie to the whole world of entrepreneurship. No matter the reason, every start is difficult for a business, and it is very common for people to look for a good way to finance their initial efforts. Just make sure that you do your research about loans and investors before you take any steps that might end up being a mistake.
If you can, start with bootstrapping
Before you venture into the world of lenders, investors, and so on, it might be a good idea to first try to scrap for all the funds and resources that you can come up with on your own. This is what is usually referred to, in business, as bootstrapping. Look into your own savings account, check your credit cards, and see what you can do with what you’ve already got.
If applicable, this tends to be a good business strategy, and many young entrepreneurs stick to it until their business begins to generate profit. If you are able to do this and want to skip the whole part about paying back loans on a monthly basis, then go ahead and give it a try. But remember, if you want fast growth, and there is a chance that you end up needing more funds than you have, it has come to the point that this approach has run its course.
Try crowdfunding
If you want to go and look for a way to fund your project online, then you might want to take into account a very popular way of doing this – crowdfunding. What crowdfunding is all about is gathering a strong community which is going to support your business idea. In the essence of this approach is so-called crowdsourcing. It means that you’ll basically be outsourcing duties of a contractor to the very community that you generate, in terms of an open call out for help.
There is a variety of crowdfunding websites out there, with Kickstarter being probably the most famous one. They all have their own set of rules. However, what is common for all of them is that in most cases they work like this – you pitch the great business idea that you’ve got, set what the fundraising goal will be, and finally, determine a deadline. Now that you’ve got your crowdfunding page, people will be able to take a good look at your pitch and decide if they think it is worth supporting. In return for their support, you reward them in a variety of ways, depending on how much they put into your project.
Look for angel investors
There is a number of people who used to be entrepreneurs or professionals and are now so-called angel investors – people who want to support you in terms of capital so that you can bring your great business idea to life. An angel investor is, basically, a willing contributor. You should keep in mind the fact that these people do this on their own because it means that their finances may be limited. It doesn’t, however, have to mean that it isn’t enough for you to get your project on its feet. Of course, you have to go through a certain evaluation process, so you need to be prepared for how you approach a particular angel investor.
Take out a loan
Taking out a loan is a step that young entrepreneurs commonly turn to as a kind of a last resort. While it is certain to provide you with the funds that you need to get your business running and bringing your business idea closer to the light of day, it tends to be a complicated process. A home loans expert from Sydney will tell you how necessary it is to get advice from someone who will guide you through the process step by step, in order for you do to it right.
Keep in mind that this kind of venture is not something that you can just google free advice for, because there are all kinds of articles out there, and there is a huge chance that you will end up losing money instead of making a profit.
Turn to your friends and family
If you don’t want to take any of these routes, then maybe it would be a good idea to turn to your family and friends. This usually means that your initial financing won’t be that big, but you won’t have to worry about interest rates, the need to make sure that your shareholders are satisfied, and other loan-related issues.
Of course, lending money is always a serious thing, so make sure that there is a line when it comes to how much you will take. You might even want to come up with a contract and make sure that you pay your dear ones back regularly.
There is a variety of ways that you can find the necessary funding for your business ideas. It all depends on your preferences and momentary capabilities. Sometimes it’s smart to start with all the funds you have and hope that your business will soon start to generate enough profit. Otherwise, you can try crowdfunding, angel investors, taking out a loan, or even turning to your family and friends none of the other options suit you.
Leave Comment