Alternatives to Business Credit Facilities
If you are finding it difficult to obtain a business loc or other type of revolving credit facility then you may want to solicit potential angel investors, friends, family, or other private investors for capital. As has been the common theme throughout this website, the current economic climate has made it more difficult to obtain business loc as banks and finance companies have pulled back on their lending activities. If you find yourself in this situation, then you may want to turn to private investors (often called “angel investors”).
Angel investors and private investors can provide your business with a capital infusion. Unlike business lines of credit, these investors typically provide the capital in one lump sum in exchange for a percentage of your business. This is the draw back from raising capital from a private investor. You will have to provide some level of oversight, a percentage of your business, and a certain amount of control to your company to a third party. This third party may have drastically different ideas about the direction of the business. As such, if you decided to raise capital through private investment rather than a business LOC then you should hire an excellent attorney to make sure that you are not giving up a significant amount of your business in exchange for the requisite capital required.
One of the positive aspects to raising capital in this manner rather than obtaining a business LOC is that you will not be held personally liable for the capital should the business not succeed. This is, of course, assuming that the private investor is providing you with an equity investment rather than a private loan. Additionally, this investment will not appear on your credit report. In the future, should the business grow, you can then apply for business credit lines when it is more appropriate or when the economy has improved.
Business LOC is a specially designed website for entrepreneurs that are seeking to raise capital for their startups, small businesses, and expanding existing businesses. The focus of the site is on Business Lines of Credit.