Let's face it, if you want finance for your business, times are hard out there at the moment. Banks and other lenders are a lot more cautious about who they're going to lend to...at the end of the day they want to be paid back! So bearing that in mind, here are my top do's and don'ts for getting finance for your business.
DO....WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN
You're not going to get very far without doing this tip. Lenders will want to see that you've thought everything through. They may also come back with questions, comments and concerns about your plan - don't expect that the first time you hand it in will be your last. But as long as you're patient and are prepared not to give up, you should eventually get what you're looking for.
DON'T...THINK IMMEDIATELY ABOUT A BUSINESS ANGEL
How many times recently, have I heard people saying they'd like to get money from an investor or business angel? There are other options you know. And if you're looking for less than £100K, you might be better off going to see what a bank can do for you.
DO....SHOP AROUND
These days, shopping around is more important than ever. Visit all the lenders you can think of and see what they can offer you. Don't be tempted to go with the first lender who offers you money - make sure that it's the right deal for you.
DON'T...GIVE UP
Lenders want to see that your business idea is viable and want you to be realistic about being able to pay the loan back. Bearing this in mind, it is highly likely that they'll come back to you asking for some more information. Don't take this personally - they're just trying to reassure themselves that you're a good risk. Give them the information they're looking for without getting stressed and don't give up until they say no for the final time. I recently worked with a client on his business plan and it took 7 attempts to get the funding he needed. He was ready to give up, but we hung on and got the money.
DO...HAVE SOME PATIENCE
Your loan is NOT going to be sorted out next week. In this current climate it is taking between 1 month and 6 months to get the money you need so plan your business around this.
DON'T...BE UNREALISTIC
Time and time again I hear people say "I'd like to borrow £x" and when I ask them what the money is for, often they're unable to tell me. Make sure you know exactly what you're borrowing the money for and be realistic about this. There is no point wanting to borrow £20K and only being able to spend £5K. Would you lend me the money if I told you that? No - and neither will lenders.
If you found this article useful, you might also be interested in the other guides we've got:
• How to get the money you need to start your business - price £20
• How to pitch successfully and wow investors - price £50
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