Business Incubator
Just as a baby chick needs protection and nourishment during its first few days of life, a business requires financial help until it can reliably turn a profit. A business incubator supplies cash, equipment, real estate, or other assets in exchange for equity in the business.
Several different types of people and organizations can serve as business incubators. You’ll often find incubation programs at universities, for instance, or through online portals. Some incubators refer to themselves as accelerators, but the two labels mean the same thing.
Personal Loan
Apply for a personal loan of up to $35,000 from Avant. You’ll receive your money within three business days (and often within 24 hours). Once you have the money, you can use it to buy merchandise, start an advertising campaign, hire employees, or invest in equipment for your small business. All businesses need some sort of equipment to get themselves set up, whether you’re starting a craft business and will need wholesale supplies, looking to get into aviation and in need of planes and products like aeroshell grease 64 that go into maintaining them, or something else entirely, you won’t get far without the tools you need to offer your product or service.
A personal loan offers several advantages over other funding options. As long as you make the scheduled payments, you can use the money however you want. Plus, you don’t have to part with an equity stake in the business. Just make sure your lender doesn’t charge origination or pre-payment fees.
Crowdsourcing
A crowdsourcing campaign allows you to ask the public to fund your business. Several crowdsourcing platforms exist, including Kickstarter and GoFundMe. If you decide to crowdfund your project, compare the platforms so you’ll know which one aligns best with your business goals. For instance, GoFundMe allows you to keep any money you raise, while Kickstarter takes an all-or-nothing approach and requires you to meet your goal.
Loved Ones
If you have a wealthy friend or relative, consider asking that person for seed money. You can sometimes get more favorable terms with loved ones than with strangers, but you also risk putting the relationship in jeopardy. If you decide to accept cash from friends or relatives, write out a repayment agreement so you both understand your obligations.
Alternatively, grant your loved one a percentage of equity in the business. This turns the seed money into an investment instead of a loan. He or she earns money from your business revenue.
Bartering
You can sometimes benefit as much from trading as you can from a LendingTree loan. For instance, if you’re starting an office supply company, you could offer lawyers or CPAs merchandise in exchange for their services. They get free paper clips and copy paper, and you don’t have to pay their hourly rates.
Even though you’re exchanging property instead of cash, you still need a contract. Make sure both sides clearly understand their obligations in the deal so you don’t hit any snags.
Funding a start-up small business sometimes requires a little creativity, but you’ll thank yourself for exploring your options. Until you generate enough profit to cover your overhead and make a profit, you might need to rely from outside funding sources.