As an entrepreneur or aspiring small business owner, you know that financing can often be one of your biggest challenges. If you’ve explored grants and traditional loans but find that these options don’t meet your needs, there’s still hope. Below are two other approaches to help you finance your small business endeavors.
Crowdfunding
You’ve probably heard this term before. It’s an increasingly popular way for all people – from independent movie directors to small business professionals like you – to raise funds. So how does it work?
With crowdfunding, an entrepreneur can attract a crowd of people, each of whom takes a small stake in a business idea, by contributing online toward a funding goal. In exchange for contributing to your business venture, you “reward” investors with something special. This can be a product or perk, such as a share in your business or exclusive access to events. Whatever you think may be of interest for folks contributing to your success can be offered.
Popular websites like Kickstarter and RocketHub have unique guidelines for use and associated fees, so be sure to read up to find a platform that works best for you.
TIP: Make sure to estimate costs precisely. If you meet your fundraising goal but it turns out you need more money than you originally thought, your business risks getting sued if you fail to deliver on promises in return for investments.
Peer-to-Peer Lending
Peer-to-peer-lending (P2P) is similar to crowdfunding in that you share your business idea in the hope that people will help make it become reality. Popular sites like Prosper and Lending Club connect people who want to lend money with those who need to borrow money, often in amounts as low as $25. The website acts as an online “middle man,” helping make sure you get your funds and your lenders get their payment amounts.
It’s up to you to establish the purpose of your loan request, how much you need to borrow and then post your listing online. Potential lenders explore site listings, checking out the purpose of loans and associated interest rates. As with crowdfunding, more than one person may join in funding your loan.
TIP: Your credit history matters. Usually, you’re not required to provide collateral for P2P loans, so your credit history is taken into consideration to determine if you qualify. So if you’ve had previous financial troubles, you may want to improve your credit history before applying to P2P sites.
Making your small business dream a reality can be tough, but exploring these and other ways of financing can help you find success.
Online Lending Photo via Shutterstock
Daniel
Funding from friends and family is a big part of most crowdfunding campaigns. Make sure to put those agreements in writing.
What agreements, Daniel? You mean when friends and family make a donation, or basically across the board when anyone makes a donation? I would have thought, by making a donation, an agreement was implicit in the terms & conditions of the platform on which the donation’s made. I could be totally wrong though, so please correct me if you feel that’s the case.
I think crowdfunding’s a great thing. Two or three years ago, I don’t think it was that popular. I think it’s reaching a saturation point though (in my opinion).
Jen
Another option is LendingKarma-
We have just launched a Local offering that enables investors to lend to borrowers within their community. We believe this added social component reduces default risk while still providing favorable returns. Check it out:
http://www.lendingkarma.com/content/lendingkarma-local-community-focused-lending/
Chris Young
Make sure too that you use the right sort of peer to peer lending. Most of the big, albeit new, lenders such as Prosper and Lending Club now have small business specific areas. Don;t be tempted to apply for a personal loan and then use it in the business unless you have been very specific that’s what you;re doing.
Chris
irene
Excellent info, considering small business represents a lot for the UK economy. If you are in the UK you can try rebuildingsociety.com, it is a p2p platform exclusively for small business and SEM accross the UK, they are well known and have lent more than £8 million.