Every business needs funding. You might have started your small business with a collective fund from friends and family or your own nest egg. But, in the long run, you will need financing to grow your business. However, today the biggest hurdle for small business owners is to secure finance to grow their businesses.
The traditional options have stringent rules and want the small business owners to be stellar performers to get their finance request approved. Alternative financing comes to rescue for all those small business owners who are stuck and in dire need of cash flow. There are different types of alternative funding – each has its specific criteria and benefits. In this quick guide, we will talk about different alternative lending options for your small business.
Merchant cash advance: It is a type of alternative financing that is available online and is easy to get with a fast approval rate. Merchant cash works this way – it is an advance payment that is given by the lender based on your future earnings. The lender will then recoup the advance and the interest based on your daily sales. So, you pay more if you have more sales and pay less if you have fewer sales. In short, the amount will vary depending on your daily sales.
Line of credit: This works similar to a credit card. You are approved for a large amount and can withdraw a certain amount of money from this limit when you have a cash crunch. You need to pay the interest only on the amount you withdraw. Line of credit is a good online financing option if you don’t require a specific amount of lump sum cash but have an occasional cash crunch. For example, to meet payroll during the offseason.
Equipment financing: The term is self-explanatory. You can use this type of financing if you need to get equipment to run your business. If you are looking to purchase a piece of equipment for long-term use, you can borrow money for the down payment of the equipment. If you are looking for a piece of equipment for short term use or if you need to upgrade it frequently, an equipment leasing is the best bet for you. Both options come under equipment financing.
Invoice factoring: It frees up cash from outstanding invoices. The factor or an invoicing purchase company will buy your unpaid invoice with an upfront payment of a part of the invoice. The factor will then collect the due amount against the invoice from your customers and will send you the remaining amount after deducting a fee. If you frequently face cash crunches due to delayed or slow payments from clients, then you can benefit from invoice factoring.
Crowdfunding: Crowdfunding is another alternative financing option where you raise funds from your friends, family, and network online. There are different types of crowdfunding models – debt, rewards, equity, and charity. However, crowdfunding is only appropriate for a handful of business types.
If you’re looking for alternative funding, Cresthill Capital is the best place to begin your search. Read the Cresthill Capital reviews before you make any financial decisions.