Business confidence is a changeable concept, and one that remains perennially vulnerable to economic trends and events. We have seen considerable evidence of this in the wake of the Brexit vote in the UK, which has impacted the European and US markets while impacting on the level of sentiment among international businesses.
Such volatility presents a huge challenge to business start-ups across the globe, who must commit to funding their venture amid stagnant wage growth, reduced consumer spending and a bleak economic backdrop.
This is far from ideal, while it means that entrepreneurs must think creatively if they are to seek out risk-averse and viable funding options.
Securing quick finance for your startup: 3 innovative ideas
Fortunately, we live in an age of choice and digital innovation, which has driven the development of diverse and accessible funding options for entrepreneurs. Here are some of the most effective in the current climate, taking into account an oppressive economic landscape and the need to minimise risk: –
Take out a vehicle title loan
If you are starting from scratch have nothing in the way of business assets, applying for a car title loan may prove the ideal solution. This type of financing strikes the ideal balance between secured and short-term lending, as it requires minimal collateral while remaining accessible and affordable for aspiring business-owners.
The lower collateral requirement for car title loans makes them appealing to novice entrepreneurs in particular, who can use the equity in their personal vehicles to take their first, tentative steps in the commercial world.
Not only does it reduce the risk associated with traditional secured lending, for example, but it is also offers the advantage of competitive interest rates and low repayments.
This represents the best of both worlds for entrepreneurs, particularly fledgling start-ups with minimal resources and assets.
Invoice finance and factoring
For service-driven businesses, a funding option may lie in the working orders that have been secured to date. If you have a burgeoning client base and have been able to book in some initial orders, for example, you have access to pledged income that can be used as collateral to secure up-front investments from third parties.
This is known as factoring (or invoice financing), and there are actually online marketplaces where you can auction your invoices in front of independent investors.
This is a popular and relatively risk-free method of securing funding for your start-up, and one which allows you to manage your initial cash-flow when dealing with prohibitive 60 or 90-day payment terms.
This type of funding works in a similar way to a bank loan, but it is more advantageous as you are not required to use external assets such as your home as security.
Driving pre-sales through an affiliate
For product-orientated start-ups, you may find that you have nothing except stock to shift when you enter the marketplace. This is all you need in some instances, especially if there is a proven demand for your product but no viable way of marketing, selling or distributing orders.
In this instances, you can partner with an established affiliate in a similar market, or perhaps a large online marketplace such as Amazon. These partnerships create an initial platform through which you can drive pre-sales, generating significant revenue that can be subsequently reinvested into the development of a business infrastructure.
The only consideration here is that you will have to sacrifice some of your margin in the form of a commission fee (usually 10%), so your pricing may need to be adapted to ensure that a viable profit is made through the arrangement.
