Loans for Starting Up a Business

There are various options to get a loan for starting a business. This article gives a brief idea about the different types of loans for starting a new venture.

 

Having a killer business idea is not enough to start a business. 'Finance' is the key factor that is required to start any kind of business - a small business unit or a medium size one. Take time to pen down the various sources/options of loans for financing your venture. This would give you a vague idea regarding whom to approach for a business loan. You should also consider how and when you plan to repay your business loan.

There are certain things that you need to take into consideration while applying for a business start up loan. First and the foremost thing is to check your credit report. If you have a bad credit history, repair your credit before applying for a business loan. A bank or a financial institution will lend you a loan at a higher rate of interest if your credit rating is poor. Instead of paying a higher rate of interest it is wise to improve your credit score before approaching a financial institution.

Loans for Starting Up a Business

You can finance your new business by using some amount of money from your savings. Another source of loan for starting a business is to borrow from close family and friends. If they have faith in your business plan, they would be ready to finance your business. Else you can apply for a business start up loan in any of the traditional financial institutions, for instance a local bank or a Credit Union.

Small Business Administration: Small Business Administration or SBA is the single largest organization in the United States to provide assistance to any new venture. SBA assists a new business by granting loan at a reasonable rate of interest. Whatever may be the size of the business, the applicant must contribute at least 10% of the total amount of his loan as down payment. The loan amount can be used for various business purposes such as to buy machinery, furniture and could also be used as working capital. SBA business loans are long-term loans ranging from 7 to 25 years and the maximum loan amount that is around $2 million. SBA grants small business loan for anybody who wants to start a business venture.

Secured Loan: You can obtain a loan for starting a business, if you are ready to provide a collateral. A collateral is an asset such as your car, home or property, which a borrower pledges with the bank to raise capital to start a business. A secured loan is easy to acquire at a reasonable rate of interest. However, keep in mind that if you default on the monthly payment the financial institution or the bank has the right to foreclose your property.

Bad Credit Business Loan: Acquiring a business loan may not be easy if you have a blemished credit history. No bank would be willing to give you a loan if you have a credit score less than 650. A private financial institution usually grants bad credit business loan but at a higher rate of interest. Before zeroing in on a particular financial institution, check out the online and offline bad credit business loans. This would give you a vague idea regarding the rate of interest offered by various financial institutions.

Business Start Up Loans for Women: Nowadays, women are career-oriented because they are educated. Many of them are interested in starting their own business ventures. They can avail business start up loans at a reasonable rate of interest through SBA programs. Most banks and Credit Unions offer loans under the SBA program. If a woman is interested in starting a business, she should first approach a nearby bank or the local Credit Union to get information.

To summarize, there are many factors such as your credit rating that you need to take into account before approaching a financial institution for a loan. Given above are some of the loan options for starting a business. Choose a loan option that is best for you. If you are not sure about how to go about the process of acquiring a loan for starting a venture, do not hesitate to approach a reputed financial advisor. After understanding your business plan, he would be able to guide and also advise you on the type of loan that is best suited for your venture.

By Maya Pillai