Securing a Small Business Loan

Insufficient funding is one of the top reasons why 80% of businesses fail within the first year and a half. As a business owner, not only do you have to cover all operating expenses, but the time and effort needed to succeed means you will almost certainly have to bid farewell to your day job and regular pay checks. Unless you’ve saved up enough to pay for everything for at least 18 months, you will probably have to find other sources of funding.

However, here we encounter another problem. A recent survey cited by the Credit Union Times showed that only about one-fifth of small business owners – incidentally about the same rate of successful businesses – rely on a small business loan. The survey showed that 62% were fearful of taking on a loan and almost one-fourth of respondents think they would not be approved for one. A Harvard Business School working paper by Karen Mills (Administrator of the US Small Business Administration until 2013) showed even more discouraging statistics. Banks continue to apply measures that restrict small business lending since the financial crisis hit, since such loans are generally always riskier than those to large businesses. Loans amounting to $1 million or less – the domain of small businesses – have gone down 21% since 2008. These loans made up half of all bank loans in 1995, but only 30% in 2012.

So what can you do to have a better chance at securing a loan?

As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.” Given the stricter requirements of banks, you will need to come up with a very convincing plan that shows your business will truly make a profit. Each number presented has to be supported by hard evidence or at least some realistic projections backed by in-depth research. There must also be a clear plan as to where the money will go and how it will influence your business’s success.

Aside from this, your entire personal finances will also be scrutinized, so make sure your taxes, mortgages, credit cards, assets and liabilities, and even your credentials are all spotless and in order.

The bottom line is, if you believe in your business idea and do the necessary due diligence in coming up with a sound budget and business plan, there should be no reason to be denied a small business loan. Otherwise, you may want to reconsider quitting your day job.

Easiest Business Loan to Get: What Factors Are Important When Looking for a Financing Solution?

Every type of business requires some sort of loan or line of credit for a wide range of reasons: start up capital, equipment, inventory, office rental, etc. Since every business and every owner is different and has unique circumstances, the easiest business loan to get for another owner might not be the easiest for you.

For start-ups or businesses that have either no credit history or a poor credit history, it will likely be difficult to obtain traditional bank loans. Also, with a low credit score, your interest rate will be high, even if you are approved for a loan.

Lenders will usually look at more than your credit history. Other factors include your time in business, industry, your personal credit score, whether you’ve had any recent bankruptcies or defaults, balance sheet, business licenses and permits, tax returns, purpose of loan, proof of collateral, and several other reasons.

If you can think that your financial situation is likely to improve, you’ll need to provide the documentation to prove it. Always have your documents and financial files ready and organized anyway, so that you’ll be able to get through the application process as smoothly as possible.

Are SBA Loans the Easiest Business Loan to Get?

Many people don’t consider SBA Loans and long-term loans to be the easiest business loan to get, as the application process is very long and complex. Only consider SBA loans and long-term traditional business loans if your credit score is high and you have all your financial statements prepared and ready to go. However, the application process still might take some time, so you’ll have to wait on approval.

If you need cash as quickly as possible, there are options such as merchant cash advances. This type of offer will help you access capital. You’ll receive a lump sum of cash, but you’ll be expected to give up a portion of future sales. You will have the responsibility for paying back the loan itself as well as fees. While there is no set fee, $15 for every $100 borrowed seems to be a pretty typical amount by many cash advance merchants.

Invoice financing and equipment financing are pretty similar with their requirements. With the former, you’ll need to show details of your unpaid invoices, as well as bank statements and other financial information. With the latter, you’ll need to explain the type of asset(s) your company needs to purchase, and provide an equipment quote, business tax returns, bank statements, etc.

There are many other options for business of all sizes thanks to the internet. Online lenders are popping up all the time, although it’s best to stick with one that has been around for at least a decade. Begin your search with US Business Funding, an accredited company with the BBB. They will help you find the easiest business loan to get for your needs.

Points to Analyse About A Business Loan

Businesses are now growing at a faster rate as compared to previous generations. And that’s where a business loan plays a crucial role in. In order for a business to keep operating, funding is something it requires of. It’s something that pulls them out of tedious situations and let the graph of their growth increasing at the same time. There are a few points that every business should analyse before taking a business loan.

The businesses have the idea about their needs and the amount required for their business. Sometimes, the businesses don’t have a clear vision why they need a loan or about the amount they need according to requirements. This a crucial decision that may decide the future of the business. In those cases, what a business need is advice. SMEs have been able to provide answers to such problems. The financial institutes are also providing advice to the businesses in order to fulfill their needs. Assessing their present scenario does also protect them from hideous situations.

Businesses are required to review their credit history before applying for a business loan as it’s something that every financial institutes reviews before giving any kind of fund. Have a look at your credit over previous times or have a credit report from different credit reporting agencies. If the business is a start-up, then have a look at your credit score. A credit score of about 700 is considered to be good and increases your chances of getting one.

After having a look at your credit ability every business should look at the options available to them. Sometimes the smaller financial institutes offer better options than that of a bigger one. Have a through review about the institutes and their financing procedures. You should have a talk with the loan officer and have a detailed idea about their terms and conditions. There are also different types of loans available such as micro finance etc. so have a view and select the best that suits your business.

Business plan is a crucial stage before having a loan. You must have a proper business plan. A business plan is something that a financial institute may view in addition to your credit ability. A proper business plan has detailed study of your past, evaluation of assets and project statements. It does also include an analysis of the market that your business serves and your growth over the years.

In order to have a security that, you will definitely get a business loan all you need to have is an appealing presentation. Fix an appointment with the loan officer and show them your presentation followed with a brief description. Do include your growth, market hold and assets in form of visual aids along with your application and required documents.

7 Steps to Get A Business Loan

Before the hard strike of the Great Recession, it was a lot easier to get business loans. You have to meet certain requirements before the lender can grant you the loan. Given below are 7 steps that you may want to follow when apply for business loans. Read on.

Develop a relationship with the lender

Before you even need the loan, you may want to develop a relationship with the lender. The main people should get familiar with your business. Keep in mind that lenders like to do business with trust worthy people. So, let them know as much as possible about your business.

Purpose of the money

You may want to decide on the purpose you applied for the loan for. Make sure you are going to get a loan for a good purpose. For instance, you can get a loan to buy equipment, property or software. However, it’s not a good idea to get a loan to finance losses or to get unimportant business assets.

Business needs

You may want to make an assessment of how much money your business needs. If you have a small business, you may not want to apply for a large loan. However, make sure you don’t underestimate the money you need to keep your business running. Both underestimating and overestimating can cause problems down the road.

Credit score

Typically, lenders consider the personal credit of a businessman before granting the loan. So, make sure you have a good credit rating. If you have a bad rating, make sure you work on it to get it in good standing.

Finding the lender

You may want to read up on the type of lender that will best suit your business needs. For conventional loans, you can go to commercial banks. However, their parameters are strict. Non-bank lenders is another option that you may consider. Then there are region specific lenders that include banks and other institutes that are interested in economic development in those areas. Lastly, you can check out crowdfunding websites especially if your capital needs are not over $10,000. For personals, you can also check out peer-to-peer websites, such as The Lending Club and Prosper.

Loan application package

You may want to get the loan application package ready. This includes the documents submitted so as to apply for a business loan. Generally, it includes a business plan, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, just to name a few. You may want to keep in mind that lenders may also check out your social media pages while doing their research.

Hang on

Once you have submitted the required documents, you may have to wait for 15 to 30 days for a response from the lender. You can check in on a weekly basis for an update. Usually, lenders may require additional documents before granting the loan.

So, if you have been thinking of applying for a business loan, we suggest that you follow the steps explained in this article.

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