Coming up with capital

When starting a small business, one of the first things you will need to do is come up with the necessary capital to fund your business. This money is used to cover all start-up and operating expenses until you begin to make money, including licensing, marketing, and product development.

While there are a number of ways you can go about this, the following are a few options for coming up with capital:

Get a small business loan
Many start-up companies will look into getting a small business loan to use as capital for starting a business. When determining qualifications for your loan, lenders will look at your credit history, first and foremost (you must have excellent credit to get a business loan), when loaning you capital to start a business.

Banks will also take into account your collateral, or assets they can take should you be unable to make your loan payments. If you don't have a business already, this will most likely include things like your home and car. They will also look at your business plan, references, financial statements for a period of time (usually three years), tax returns, and other pertinent documentation.

(Make sure you have a well thought out, well written business plan in place before applying for a loan, or you might be turned away. You can find books and websites on how to write a successful business plan.)

You can increase your chances of securing a small business loan by making sure your credit score is up to par. Take care of anything that may stand in the way, such as collections or late payments. In addition, make sure you have a solid business plan that outlines projected finances.

Apply for credit cards
If you come up with capital you need but still fall short in other areas, you may consider using credit cards to fund some of your business needs. This type of funding, however, is not ideal and should be a last resort, as interest rates can be upwards of 20%. Shop around carefully for a card that has a low-interest rate, and get a card that pays you back in some way, either through cash back rewards, frequent flier miles, and so forth.

Borrow money
You can also consider borrowing needed capital from friends and family members with the means to help you. This can be a sensitive area for some people, so take care and be organized and professional when it comes to keeping track of the money. Even though they are your friends and family, you can cause problems in your personal relationships if you are not careful. That's why it's important to keep detailed records of payments and payment plans and make sure everyone agrees upon the terms.

Use your personal savings.
While it is a risk, using your own personal savings is something many business owners do in order to fund their small business. Some also take liens out on their homes. If you are going to use your personal savings as collateral, make sure you are confident in your business and have a good chance of succeeding.

Coming up with capital for your business is crucial, but it can be difficult if you don't know where to turn. These are just a few ideas you can use to get capital for your business.