Money — or the lack thereof — is the missing link in many a grand business plan. Startups often launch with less than they need, and struggle from Day One. And adequate financing is crucial for your business to grow and thrive. The good news is this: The Internet has made the process of finding traditional as well as alternative sources of funding easier than it once was. Funding types and sources fall into a few broad categories — either debt or equity financing from institutional or informal sources.
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Comparison shop online for multiple financing sources
There are many sources of small business loans and credit lines. To find the perfect fit and absolute best terms, you can comparison shop among many lenders.
I recommend: Enter your information at
BusinessFinance.com or
iBank – both are Web portals that match lenders with small businesses, to find the best fit for your particular needs. Or fill out a business
loan request form at BuyerZone and interested lenders will respond with loan quotes.
Shop major small-business loans providers
All banks that serve small business offer business loans and commercial lines of credit. Biggies like Wells Fargo offer credit lines that you can easily apply for online, even if you're not already a customer of the bank.
I recommend: Online offerings at these banks active in serving small business:
Wells Fargo,
Bank of America,
Washington Mutual,
Wachovia,
Key Bank. Or for strictly Web-based banking, try
NetBank.
American Express also offers credit lines to $100,000 with a short online application. There's no collateral or minimum balance requirement.
Find venture capital sources online
The best way to find venture capital financing is to first locate potential VC backers online.
I recommend: Visit
NVST.com, an Internet hub for the private equity and finance community. You'll want to plug into NVST's
Capital Motion program which provides entrepreneurs with access to angel investors, venture firms, corporate venture funds and other private equity investors. Check the listings for
venture capital and
private equity firms at Business.com.
Check SBA-backed loans and lines of credit
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has numerous loan programs for small business. But the SBA only guarantees small-business loans; it does not lend the money directly. Banks and other private lenders do that.
I recommend: Lean about different
SBA programs and find active SBA lenders.
Don't overlook Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs)
SBIC's are a hidden treasure trove of small business financing.
I recommend: Complete information on the program, including guidelines for entrepreneurs seeking funds and detailed listings of all operating SBICs in the country, is available in the
Investment Program section of the SBA Web site. Or locate SBICs under the member listings of the
National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC). The National Association of Investment Companies (
NAIC) is geared toward financing for minority-owned business.
Line up with the financing angels
For those wary of a business loan, angel investors can be a good source of financing.
I recommend: Angel Capital Education Foundation directory of member angel groups is available free.
AngelDeals.com matches entrepreneurs with potential angels.
Look to non-traditional sources
UPS – a big name in small biz shipping – is also a major small business loan provider under its UPS Capital wing, offering both business loans and lines of credit. Other finance companies specialize in credit based on your credit card receivables.
I recommend: Check the case histories of how UPS Capital is helping small businesses grow and find out how to apply
here. See Business.com's listings of
credit-card receivables companies.
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