Every business needs adequate funding to survive and grow. Ideally, your operations provide enough cash flow to handle all your funding needs. But for many a small business, cash flow isn’t always enough to satisfy the need for working capital. That’s when it’s time to consider a business loan. Let’s look at a few scenarios in which a business loan is the prudent decision.
Purchasing Equipment
Your business may require expensive or specialized equipment. In addition, you may already own equipment that no longer provides the performance you require. If you feel you are losing sales or profit margin because you lack the right equipment, you owe your business the opportunity to compete using the most appropriate gear. Sometimes, equipment manufacturers or commercial suppliers will offer financing, sometimes not. A business loan used to finance much-needed equipment is a terrific idea.
Expansion
Your product or service is selling like hotcakes, and you know you could grow the business by expanding operations and/or enlarging your selling floor. If you need more or better space, it’s going to cost money. For example, you might benefit by making leasehold improvements to your brick-and-mortar store. Or you might want to open additional stores or move from your current location to something larger and more upscale. You are looking at a number of one-time costs, which is the type of challenge that a business loan can solve. The extra profits you earn through expansion will help you accelerate your loan repayment.
Unexpected Opportunities
It really hurts when a rare opportunity comes your way but you don’t have the capital to take advantage of it. For example, one of your suppliers might have cash flow problems that causes it to offer you inventory at a sharply marked-down price. You need money to purchase the inventory, and perhaps to pay for additional storage space. You know that this will pay off handsomely, so you arrange a business loan to grab the deal before someone else gets it. That’s a smart move.
Fresh Talent
Perhaps you run the type of business where the caliber of your top employees is critical to your success. If you’ve been the typical owner, you’ve had to wear many hats to launch your business and keep it running. You and your staff are overworked, and you can’t afford anyone to burn out, including yourself. In other words, you need to recruit some fresh talent because you know it will increase your revenues and/or reduce your expenses. A business loan can help pay for incentives to hire the right employees. Remember, if you don’t hire the person, your competitor might.
Acquisitions
If you’ve been successful running your business, it’s possible you’ve taken some market share away from the competition. Or perhaps you’ve been eyeing an operating business that complements your own. In many circumstances, a business merger/acquisition is the right way to go. It makes sense to fund an acquisition with debt if it will lead to increased market penetration, greater geographic scope, obtaining key assets, or expanding your business to related markets. You’ll need funding not only to buy the target company, but also to make changes to your own operations to accommodate your revised environment. You may need to increase your marketing budget or add management talent. A business loan is completely justified under these circumstances.
Seasonality
If your business suffers from uneven cash flows due to seasonality, a business loan can provide cash to help you withstand slow business periods. You should be able to repay your loan once the busy season returns. For example, you might need to furlough some employees, but want to continue to offer them health insurance. Or you want to buy inventory during the slow season because it’s cheapest then. Use a business loan to smooth out the seasonal revenue ebbs and flows that would otherwise threaten your company’s survival.
Conclusion
There are many circumstances that justify a loan for your small business. What is never justified is settling for a slow, overpriced loan. IOU Financial offers fast loans with convenient repayment options that won’t disrupt your operations. Our loan rates are extremely competitive, and we can say yes when banks say no. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you fund your business quickly and efficiently.
