Capital can be one of the biggest hurdles when starting and growing a business. After all, you can’t grow your company unless you have the money to invest. Not every business venture will have friends and family willing to support them with an investment or be able to get a small business loan through a bank. Luckily, there are other options for raising capital. But how do you know what capital structure is right for your business? And what are some ways that you can raise capital for your business if traditional banks don’t help? Here are 5 strategies you can use to raise capital for your business.
Account Acquisition
Account acquisition effectively uses the cash flow from your existing customers and clients to fund new sales. This is one of the most common ways bootstrapped companies can raise capital without outside investors. Account acquisition is an excellent strategy if you have customers who are likely to pay quickly or if you’re looking to fund specific projects connected to your core business, for example, raising security business capital. The company will buy a portion of your accounts and you can still keep on trading as normal and as per the conditions of your partnership.
Reinvesting Profits
One of the best ways to get a business off the ground is to reinvest profits back into the business. This is often an easier route than seeking external funding, and it allows you to grow your business at a faster rate. If you have a profitable business, you should try to reinvest most of your profits back into the business to build up your resources and assets. That way, you can use those assets to fund future growth. Be careful with this approach, however. Keeping enough cash in the company to meet your day-to-day expenses and payroll is essential. If you run out of money and can’t pay your costs, you could face serious consequences such as losing your employees or having your vendors refuse to work with you.
Bank Loans
Banks may be willing to invest in your business if you’re a seasoned business owner with a proven track record of success. However, the challenge with these loans is that they generally come with many strings attached. You’ll likely have to put up a significant amount of equity in your business and agree to make payments over the long term. You may also have to use your company assets as collateral against the loan. This can be a great way to get capital for your business if you have assets that can be used as collateral. It’s worth noting that this is a very common financing method for larger firms, so it may not be an option for you if you’re starting out.
Equity Capital
Equity capital is the money you raise by selling a portion of your company’s equity to investors. This can be an excellent option for many businesses, but it can be challenging to find the right investors. You’ll likely have to raise money from angel investors or venture capitalists. And to make a deal work, you may have to give up a significant portion of your business. Still, equity capital can be a great option if you’re able to find the right investor. It’s important to note that there is no such thing as a standard equity percentage. You’ll have to negotiate with each potential investor to determine their willingness to invest in your company and what percentage of your company they’re eager to take in return.
Summing up
Raising capital for your business can be challenging. You can use a few strategies to raise capital for your business. You can raise money by selling equity in your company, getting a bank loan, or using the cash flow generated by your customers.