Share
Written By :
There comes a time in the life of any business when it needs financing. Some hints on how to structure your approach and improve your chances of getting the necessary financing, be it at the start up phase, during an expansion or for an acquisition are presented below.
1. Be realistic about the possibility of getting subsidies
While business owners may dream of getting partly or fully non-refundable contributions to finance their business, this option is not available to everyone. It might look like some businesses have a knack for easily finding subsidies, but, often, it’s a matter of circumstances.
It’s unlikely, for example, that you can get major subsidy financing to open a restaurant. On the other hand, in some cases, over 80% of the research and development activities of a biotechnology company could be financed. Generally, the agri-food (other than restaurants), culture, high tech and industrial manufacturing sectors are more likely to qualify for subsidies than retail or service businesses. Nevertheless, regardless of the type of business you operate, you should look into the programs available, particularly in the areas of labour training or product development.
2. Don’t start your business without having planned the financing
Believe it or not, some entrepreneurs start their business plan without validating all the costs beforehand and ensuring that they have the necessary financing. Most of the time, they quickly find themselves short of funds and unable to finish their project. That’s when they turn to their financial institution for financing and end up having to deal with complex and endless processes.
Other than the lack of funds, what makes creditors reluctant in such a situation is the manager’s attitude. Entrepreneurs who launch a project without first validating the costs and their ability to cover them show a decided inability to plan and manage. A potential investor could view this as risky behaviour.
3. Make sure you have sufficient guarantees
Investors always want to protect their investment, so asking for a guarantee is an essential step. It’s not surprising that your financial institution will want to use the equipment you’re about the purchase as collateral. People often forget, though, that a business’s financial health is a far more important guarantee than a mortgage. Your financial institution will not automatically grant a loan simply because you can provide the equipment as security. The lender generally has no interest in realizing the guarantee if the business is not doing well. Creditors rarely come out ahead by seizing a client’s property and having a bankruptcy trustee sell it. However, they will be on the winning side if their client is successful and wants to borrow again for a future expansion phase.
When financing a business, common practices include requiring a mortgage and personal guarantee and sometimes, other guarantees may be required. This may be the case, for example, if your financial institution requires a universal hypothec on all of the business’s present and future property. This is not necessarily a problem provided you have a good business relationship with your bank and know your projects will be supported. It could become a burden though if you don’t have your creditor’s support.
4. Consider alternative financing sources
Business owners sometimes forget that banks are not the only sources of financing. There is a considerable range of organizations that provide funding, such as government departments, business development banks, local organizations and specific funds. In fact, there are so many potential sources that financial institutions and organizations are developing increasingly persuasive strategies to attract new clients. What they all have in common is the will to finance a project with minimal risk on their part. If your financial situation is precarious and your project quite risky, you may not find anyone willing to lend you the funds. In some cases, you could consider having several creditors share the risk. In others, you could resort to more costly strategies, such as lease financing for equipment. This option should not be considered without first having examined all other possibilities.
5. Build a relationship of trust with your creditors
Getting financing can depend on the relationship of trust you are able to develop with your lender. There is nothing to be gained trying to gloss over any financial difficulties your business may be experiencing or even trying to hide a bankruptcy that dates back 20 years. In any event, this will likely come to light anyway. Your honesty in dealing with your lender will certainly be a factor should you need additional financing because of difficulties. A poor manager will almost certainly fail, even with a good project, but a good one finds a way to pull through, even during difficult times. It’s up to you to show your lender what type of entrepreneur you are.
6. Plan your working capital requirements appropriately
In most business projects, you need to plan properly so you have sufficient working capital to see you through until you start earning some income. Usually, it’s not easy to accurately predict when and how much money will be needed. Not only must you avoid underestimating what’s needed, you also have to provide for enough manoeuvrability in the event sales are not as high as anticipated. It’s better to have some excess cash at the beginning rather than having to ask for a new loan, which could be seen as an inability to assess your needs and your business project’s potential profitability.
One of the most complex aspects of working capital is being able to convince your lender to inject significant cash from the outset, even if you don’t think you’ll really need it. This requires preparing sufficiently optimistic financial forecasts to convince the lender that are also just pessimistic enough to justify the need for considerable working capital. It’s a very fine line that divides the two.
7. Consider your lender as a business partner
When lenders refuse a loan application, it’s not necessarily because they don’t fully understand the project. On the contrary, they may have understood it very well. Lenders generally have extensive business experience and a wide range of clients. They know which businesses are profitable and which are not. They are in an excellent position to grasp your project’s potential, especially if you are newcomer to the business world.
Good lenders will consider themselves to be a business partner. Unless they see serious problems in your business, they won’t tell you how to manage it, but they will help you find ways to improve your management if necessary. As with any business partner, they’ll support you during difficult times, but not at any cost. When you’re earning income, they are as well, but if you’re losing money, oftentimes, they are also. They may be prepared to inject more funds in your business when you need some, but they will expect you to be prepared to do the same. Business managers who consider their lenders as their business partner significantly increase the chances of building attitudes that contribute to obtaining financing when they need it.