Читать книгу Launching & Building a Brand For Dummies - Amy Will - Страница 73

Private individuals and banks aren’t the only source of business loans. Here are a few alternative financing options you may want to consider:

 Merchant cash advance: If you’re selling stuff online and need some quick cash to cover an unforeseen expense, such as the cost of additional product when you experience a bump in sales, consider a merchant cash advance — a financing option offered by companies such as Kabbage (https://www.kabbage.com) through Shopify. Here’s how Kabbage works: You apply for a loan, and if it’s approved, Kabbage deposits the money in your bank account. Then it takes a percentage of your Shopify sales until the loan is paid off.

 Online business line of credit (LOC): Banks offer LOCs, but if your business needs some additional cash flow in a hurry, consider an online business LOC, which is easier and faster to get. With an LOC, you’re approved for a certain maximum loan amount and draw money out as you need it, paying interest only on the money you borrow. An example of a company that offers online business LOCs is OnDeck (https://www.ondeck.com), which offers an instant funding option that provides access to up to $10,000.

 Business credit cards: One common but often-overlooked option for short-term financing is credit cards, particularly business credit cards, which work just like personal credit cards but for businesses. Search the web for “business credit card,” and you’ll find a host of options.

 Microloans: Microloans are small loans with relatively low interest rates offered by traditional lenders, individuals, or groups of people. These loans are good options to consider if you don’t have much collateral or credit history. They’re typically prioritized for entrepreneurs in undeveloped countries and communities and for minority business owners. You can find microlenders through organizations such as Headway Capital (https://www.headwaycapital.com/microloans) and Accion (https://www.accion.org).

 Crowdfunding: With crowdfunding, you get a lot of people to donate, lend, or invest small amounts of money in your business. One of the most popular crowdfunding sites for businesses is Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com). With Kickstarter, you post your project, your funding goal, and your deadline, and members can choose to chip in to make it happen. Financial backers get nothing in return, except maybe a T-shirt, a sample of your product, or a copy of a book you wrote. Mostly, they get the satisfaction of having helped bring something of value, fun, or interest into the world.