Image title:Illustration of a Loan

Alt Image TitleA Illustration of Getting a Loan

Image DescriptionIllustration of two people holding magnifying glass and staring at the dollar.

Do you plan to open a new business? We know it’s a clichéd question, and you wouldn’t be here otherwise. We are confirming that you can find capital for your small business if you’re looking. 

Before you start researching which business loan options you should go for, the more important thing to focus on is to know how much you need and how you’ll use it! The former can be found online in a lot of detail. The latter topic is what we will be covering. There are other important things to remember, like taxes and business insurance. But those topics will be covered in another post.

The importance of getting a loan for your business

Business loans can help you start your business and keep it running. For many reasons, business owners turn to a loan, including short-term goals and cash flow boosting, as well as purchasing expensive but essential equipment. You can consolidate any high interest debt with a business loan. 

Let’s look at the benefits of a business loan:

All Control over Your Business

Contacting investors can cause you to lose part of your company. You will have to share decisions with your investors and decide which project should be pursued. You will get funding from your bank within weeks or sometimes as fast as 24 hours. Although a loan does come with an interest rate and processing fee, the majority of your profits will be yours.

Funding is Fast

It is easy and quick to get a loan, as mentioned earlier. A good credit rating and a few eligibility requirements are all you have to get a loan. It can take several months to complete paperwork for venture capitalists.

Lower Interest Rates than Credit Cards

It is not wise to make business purchases using a credit card. With a “Good” credit score, you can get a small business loan with an interest rate between 2% and 13%, whereas for credit cards, the range starts from 13.9%. 

Now that you know how a business loan can assist you, we will move on to the “How to Use It” part of this blog post.

Create a plan

Perhaps you have some goals in mind for how to achieve them. Well, they aren’t going anywhere if you don’t start working on them. To make that happen you must have a plan. It should include these things:

Inventory

The inventory is your primary concern when it comes to products. You don’t want to stock too much so that you don’t get stuck with merchandise worth thousands of dollars if something goes wrong. Still, you don’t want to stock less, which will affect your sales.

Your inventory should be based on your target audience and the product’s popularity. Reach out to retail shops to see if the product is available. 

Service is key. You need employees that understand your company vision and mission.

Equipment

You will need to have basic office equipment even if your product has been outsourced (as is the case with dropshipping companies). You can save money by purchasing second-hand machinery and supplies, as you are only just getting started. It will enable you to put your money where it matters most, marketing.

Operational expenses

From the physical space that you are renting to the internet, gas, and utility bills, and more, don’t forget to add all these up. They make up the majority of your expenses. All such expenses can be added to your taxes, so that they appear in your report prior to the BAS due date.

Marketing

Your business’ marketing strategy is crucial because it allows you to build brand recognition and trust. Without marketing, you have don’t have a brand but an indistinguishable product that doesn’t stand a chance in the competitive landscape. Your USP can be used to convince your audience that they should purchase your product or use your service. 

Learning and Hiring

Most business owners think they don’t need to invest in their staff. Nowadays, it’s not hard to find a qualified person. What’s difficult is finding someone who can blend in with your office culture and work as a team member. Find the best person to join your team and help them develop their skills. It might be necessary to hold regular training and workshops so that your employees stay current with technology and trends.

And this is why a business loan is a much better option for supporting your business’s goals and keeping operations running.

Entrepreneurship Life’s first article was How to Best Use a Business Loan.