Most entrepreneurs find a sense of pride in funding their own businesses. However, you cannot expect your business to take off unless you have enough capital. If you are short on finances, there is no shame in asking for funding.
If you are still hesitant about looking for money to fund your business, you should consider the following stats:
1. About 8 out of 10 business owners crash within the first few months of starting their businesses, which makes up 80 percent of startups that fail due to lack of adequate capital.
2. Only 30 percent of businesses break even while another 30 percent lose money continually.
3. More than half of the businesses that started in 2011 failed within the first four years and only three percent got into their fifth year.
The bigger challenge for many entrepreneurs is that it is now harder to get funds for their startups because many of them are vying for funding. As a result, investors are setting higher benchmarks for startups because they want to ensure that they are funding a promising project.
Many startups think that they need to raise large amounts of money to move forward, which is not true.
To get funding, you need to play your cards right by doing things differently. Here are tips that will make it easier for you to find funding:
Be prepared to fund yourself
If you are not willing to invest your money into your own venture, you should not expect any investor to do it. Investors are smart and they know what they are doing. He/she needs to know that you are serious about your startup, which is why investing in it is important.
Master your business plan
The business plan that you show investors can either make or break your deal. For this reason, you need to go beyond superficial things and make it evident that you understand your business plan well. Moreover, you should also demonstrate that you know how to accomplish the goals outlined in your business plan.
You should provide insightful market information about your target audience and competitors while expounding on the overall vision and financial metrics of your business startup. If your venture entails the launch of a product, you should include the specific date of the launch.
When you go the extra mile, the investors will see your seriousness.
Do not rule out other sources
Other sources of funding include loan programs and grants. Although they are easy to ignore because they do not work out for most companies, you should consider them. For instance, if you are planning to join the biotech or renewable power industry, it would make sense to apply for a federal grant.
Bootstrap
For most startups, every penny counts. Therefore, it would make sense to manage your financial resources better while paying. You should consider bootstrapping at every stage of your business to get good market validation.
You can save costs by doing the following:
– Collaborate with other offices
– Share office services
– Eliminate travel expenses by holding teleconferences
– Defer capital purchases
– Approach interns from local businesses
– Use existing equipment such as printers and computers
– Strike a mutually beneficial deal with suppliers
Network
Oftentimes, the easiest way to find funding is by networking, finding people who can help you to raise capital. A great networking strategy is to share office space with people who can connect you with investors. According to the owner of debtconsolidation.co, mistakes are inevitable and necessary. Therefore, you should not be afraid to try new ideas if you think they can work.