Business financing should be carefully planned long before a particular project takes place. The success and longevity of a business by definition will depend on its carefully chosen Financial Structure. Let's do it one step at the time.
First you need to know exactly what you are planning to do:
Starting a new business?
Exploring opportunities for an existing business?
Buying a competitor?
The second question you should ask yourself:
Do you have enough capital or you need to obtain an additional financing for your project?
If you require financing and you want it to fit into your business structure, you need the right financing at the right time. In order to appraise your business's financing needs ask yourself the following questions before seeking financial assistance:
Q. How soon do you need the money?
A. In order to get the best possible terms for you financing it is always a good idea not to do it in a hurry, to have a time cushion.
Q. Have you evaluated you business' risk?
A. The more risk you have the less favorable terms or financing you will get. If you do not have enough knowledge on this topic, you can hire a financial professional to do that.
Q. What is your business development stage?
A. Start ups are more vulnerable and need more cash than established businesses.
Q. What is the purpose of this loan?
A. Start up, business opportunity, etc.-You will have to define it to any
borrower.
Q. Do you have a professionally written business plan?
A. The most important information any lender will require is a business plan (your business plan must evaluate your business and show your ability to pay back a loan).
Q. Which industry your business belongs to?
A. It is much harder to get financing for depressed than for stable and growth industries.
Q. Is your business cyclical or seasonal?
A. Loans designed for cyclical industries, such as construction, are usually issued with a longer terms than loans for seasonal industries.
Q. Can you show a strong management team that has enough experience in the industry to convince lender to give you a loan?
A. The answer should be yes, otherwise chances of getting financing is very low.
Before seeking financing please become knowledgeable on the topics above. The knowledge will help you when you work with lenders and will give you a competitive advantage against you competition.
Yury Iofe, MBA
Universal Business Structured Solution