Alternative resources of business growth finance

Speak to any business proprietor or browse the business section of any magazine and you also’re more likely to run into stories of struggles to gain access to sufficient finance to cultivate or maintain their business. But we have been beginning to witness a big change in how companies access finance with many now actively searching for alternative sources. Rob Warlow from Business Loan Services analyses what options can be found.

A survey completed by the Forum of Private Business discovered that 26 percent of businesses were hunting out alternative financial loans, with 21 percent seeking them outside the traditional main TRADITIONAL lenders. Actually, in another survey undertaken by the Federation of SMALLER BUSINESSES, it was found that only 35 percent of respondents used a normal overdraft facility in 2011.

So, if banks are continually reluctant to lend to all or any however the lowest risk businesses, how do the remainder of the united kingdom’s business population finance growth? Here are a few of the ever more popular alternative resources of finance to research.

Better Management of Working Capital

This might look like an odd way to obtain finance but frequently companies are sitting on undiscovered cash reserves which may be used to finance growth. A written report issued by Deloitte in 2011 revealed that the united kingdom’s largest businesses were sitting on £60 billion of unproductive working capital. Inefficiencies in how working capital (debtors, stock and creditors) is handled can unnecessarily tie up your money. Cash could be unlocked and released back to the machine thereby allowing self-financed growth plans by firmly taking a detailed look at credit procedures, how credit terms are granted and how outstanding payments are chased.

Making certain stock is kept at an optimum level via better inventory management is another area where cash could be released to aid and finance growth. Have a look at your inventory management process and identify areas where cash is trapped.

Good management of working capital isn’t just about better control of debtors and stock, additionally it is about maximising the terms distributed by creditors. Are you currently too wanting to maintain an initial class relationship together with your suppliers by paying prior to the due date? It is possible to positively impact your money position by firmly taking full benefit of terms provided by your suppliers. Perhaps you have fully leveraged your situation by seeking a thorough of terms from say 1 month to 45 days?

Being better in how working capital is managed can release sufficient funds to self-finance growth plans.

Personal Resources

With traditional avenues of funding being more challenging to access companies are now seeking to their personal resources to invest in growth. Whether drawing on cash savings, using personal bank cards or taking additional mortgages on residential properties, such sources are an instantaneous solution. A survey by the Federation of SMALLER BUSINESSES discovered that 33 percent of respondents had utilised their savings to invest in growth. Along with being more immediately accessible using personal resources is usually a cheaper way to obtain finance.

Friends and family

Sometimes known as the three Fs – family, friends and fools – this may seem to be a less stressful method of raising finance. In a few ways it can nonetheless it may also be a journey fraught with danger. Experiencing their personal network companies source finance by either seeking financing and offering to cover an interest rate greater than that available on a higher Street checking account, or supplying a slice of equity available in substitution for investment.

Raising finance in this manner can be not too difficult as the request and fulfilment is very much indeed predicated on personal trust. Typically a small business plan will be presented highlighting both investment opportunity and the risks but by the end of your day success is right down to the depth of the partnership and degree of trust.

The chance in raising funds in this manner is that the type of the relationship changes from that of an individual nature to a small business transaction. Failure to regularly pay according to agreed terms, as well as total failure to cover, can irreparably damage the partnership so tread carefully.

Asset Finance

The Asset Finance industry is founded on the idea of either preserving cash or accelerating usage of it. Asset finance, which includes invoice discounting, factoring and funding of asset purchases, has been available as a way to obtain finance for several years, yet it’s only now gaining more recognition. Figures released by the Asset Based Finance Association, a trade association representing the, show that to the 3rd quarter of 2011 the total amount financed by the Association’s members increased by nine percent when compared to same period in the last year. As the increase might not seem significant it really is contrary to the backdrop of a fall in traditional bank lending.

In a global where ‘cash is king’ asset financiers help preserve cash by financing the purchase of assets such as for example vehicles, machinery and equipment. As the financier is seeking to the underlying asset as security there’s usually no requirement of additional collateral. Based on the Asset Finance and Leasing Association one in three UK businesses which have external finance now utilise asset finance.

Asset financiers might help increase the flow of cash inside a business by allowing quicker usage of cash tangled up in the debtor book. An invoice discounting and factoring facility gives businesses the opportunity to immediately access around 80 percent of an invoice as opposed to looking forward to the agreed credit terms to perform their course. Such finance facilities will increase the velocity of cash within the business enterprise thereby allowing the business enterprise to fund a higher rate of growth.

New players such as for example Market Invoice are entering the marketplace to allow businesses to improve finance against selected invoices. Experiencing high net worth individuals and funds Market Invoice acts being an auction home with funders ‘bidding’ to advance against certain invoices.

Crowfunding and Peer-to-Peer

A comparatively new phenomenon may be the idea of raising finance by experiencing the energy of the crowd. The historically low interest rates payable on savings have resulted in depositors searching for new methods to increase their returns. With companies struggling to improve the funding they want it’s only natural a market would be intended to bring both of these parties together.

CrowdCube entered the marketplace in 2010 2010 to complement private investors wanting to be Dragons with those businesses seeking to raise capital. Once a small business passes the original review stage their proposal is posted on the website and potential investors indicate the amount of investment they would like to make with the minimum amount being only £10.

Businesses searching for a more traditional loan should think about Funding Circle. Established this year 2010 Funding Circle also matches individual investors searching for a better return with those businesses seeking additional finance. Businesses can make an application for funding between £5,000 and £250,000 for an interval of 1, three or five years. As the very least the business really needs submitted 2 yrs accounts with Companies House and become assessed to be able to reach a risk rating which guides potential investors.

Because the crowd sourcing concept matures we have been more likely to see more players enter the forex market to capitalise on the necessity for better investor returns and easier usage of business finance.

There’s More Than One Solution to Fund Growth

Accessing finance to invest in growth plans doesn’t have to be difficult in case you are prepared to search for alternative providers. Funding growth has become no more the exclusive preserve of the original High Street bank also it’s now right down to business owners to search out the choice routes.