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You need money to run a business. Sometimes you need funds to start and invest in equipment or staff. And sometimes you’ll already have clients but your business is frozen because of payment delays.
We have recently seen solutions take off for Ecommerce and SaaS startups but each sector has its own financing facilities available.
Here, we will start with the basics of what a small business loan, is and progressively dig into the specificities of business financing.
A small business loan is a type of financing that is specifically designed for small businesses.
These loans are typically used to help businesses cover the costs of starting or expanding their operations, such as purchasing equipment, hiring employees, or renovating a space.
Small business loans are typically issued by banks or other financial institutions and are repaid over a set period of time with interest.
An unsecured business loan is a type of financing that is not backed by collateral. This means that the borrower does not have to put up any assets, such as property or equipment, as security for the loan.
Instead, the lender typically evaluates the creditworthiness of the borrower and determines whether or not to approve the loan based on factors such as the borrower's credit score, revenue, and other financial information.
Unsecured business loans are generally considered to be riskier for lenders than secured loans, so they may have higher interest rates or more strict eligibility requirements.
A secured business loan is a loan that is backed by collateral. This means that the borrower has pledged an asset, such as a piece of property or equipment, as security for the loan.
If the borrower is unable to repay the loan, the lender can seize the collateral to recoup their losses.
A secured business loan can be a good option for a business that may not qualify for an unsecured loan, or for a business that wants to get a loan at a lower interest rate.
A short term business loan is a type of financing that provides businesses with a relatively small amount of capital, to be repaid within a short period of time (usually less than a year).
Short term business loans are often used to bridge the gap between the purchase of a business asset and the receipt of payment for goods or services, or to provide working capital to cover operational expenses.
These loans typically have higher interest rates than long term loans, due to the short repayment period and the higher level of risk involved for the lender.
A VAT loan is a type of financing that is specifically designed to help businesses cover the cost of paying value-added tax (VAT).
VAT is a type of tax that is levied on most goods and services in the UK.
If a business is unable to pay its VAT bill on time, it may be eligible for a VAT loan from a bank or other financial institution. The loan would be used to pay the VAT bill, and the business would then repay the loan over time, with interest.
Ecommerce financing is a type of financing that is specifically designed for businesses that operate online. These businesses typically sell goods or services through an ecommerce platform, such as a website or a mobile app.
Ecommerce financing is used to help businesses cover the costs of starting or expanding their online operations, such as purchasing inventory, marketing, and other expenses.
Ecommerce financing can come in the form of a loan or other financing product, and it may be secured or unsecured depending on the lender and the borrower's creditworthiness.
A merchant cash advance is a type of financing that enables a business to receive a cash advance in exchange for a percentage of future sales.
The amount of the advance is typically based on the business's credit card sales or other financial performance indicators, and the repayment is made through a predetermined portion of the business's daily credit card transactions.
This type of financing can be a good option for businesses that need quick access to capital but may not qualify for a traditional loan from a bank.
Invoice financing, also known as accounts receivable financing, is a type of financing that enables businesses to borrow money based on the value of their outstanding invoices.
With this type of financing, the business can receive a cash advance on its outstanding invoices, which can be used to fund operations or invest in growth opportunities. The amount of the advance is typically based on the value of the invoices, and the business is responsible for repaying the advance, plus any fees or interest, when the invoices are paid.
This type of financing can be a good option for businesses that need quick access to capital but may not have the collateral or credit history required for a traditional loan from a bank.
A management buyout (MBO) is a type of corporate transaction in which the existing management team of a company purchases the assets or shares of the company from its current owner or owners.
This type of transaction allows the management team to take control of the company and become its new owners.
An MBO can be structured in a number of different ways, depending on the specific goals and objectives of the management team and the current owners.
In some cases, an MBO can be a good option for a company that is looking to transition ownership to its management team without the need for outside investors or lenders. In other cases, an MBO may require the management team to secure financing from outside sources in order to complete the transaction.
Supply chain finance is a type of financing that helps businesses manage their cash flow by providing them with early payment for goods or services that they have delivered to their customers.
This can be especially helpful for small and medium-sized businesses that may have trouble accessing traditional forms of financing.
By providing early payment, supply chain finance helps businesses to meet their short-term financial needs, while also helping their customers to manage their own cash flow by allowing them to make payments later. This can help to improve the overall efficiency of the supply chain.
Working capital loans are a type of financing that is used to fund the day-to-day operations of a business. These loans are typically used to cover short-term expenses, such as payroll, inventory, and other operational costs.
The goal of a working capital loan is to help a business maintain a healthy level of liquidity and keep its operations running smoothly.
Unlike long-term loans, which are used to finance larger investments or projects, working capital loans are intended to provide a quick infusion of cash to help a business meet its immediate needs.
A revolving credit facility is a type of loan that allows a business to borrow and repay funds on an ongoing basis, up to a pre-approved credit limit.
This type of loan is often called a line of credit, and it can be a useful tool for businesses that need to borrow money to meet their short-term financing needs. Unlike a traditional loan, which provides a fixed amount of funds that must be repaid in full, a revolving credit facility allows the borrower to access funds as needed, up to the approved credit limit.
The business can then repay the funds borrowed, and the credit becomes available again for future borrowing.
This flexibility can be useful for businesses that have fluctuating cash flow or that need to be able to access funds quickly to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
Franchise finance is a type of financing that is specifically designed to support the unique needs of franchise businesses. This can include a wide range of financing products, such as loans, lines of credit, and other financial instruments that are tailored to the needs of franchisees.
Franchise finance is often provided by banks and other financial institutions that have experience working with the franchise model and understand the specific challenges and opportunities that franchise businesses face.
This type of financing can be a valuable resource for franchisees, helping them to secure the funds they need to grow and expand their businesses.
It can also help franchisors to support the growth and success of their franchise network.
SaaS finance refers to the financial aspects of the software as a service (SaaS) business model.
In the SaaS model, customers pay a subscription fee to access and use a software application on the internet, rather than purchasing the software outright and installing it on their own computers.
SaaS finance typically involves managing the revenue and expenses associated with providing SaaS services, as well as forecasting and planning for future growth.