| t. Hey, you. How would you like a few billion dollars in | | | | serious entrepreneur, with a serious business. |
| business funding? | | | | So where do you go to find all these investors? Here |
| Guess what. It is there. Waiting patiently for the right | | | | are some starting points: |
| project to come along. | | | | Small Business Administration. A lot of businesses do |
| $44.8 million funded from venture capital today. $77.1 | | | | start there, and a lot of businesses do get funded |
| million funded yesterday. $63.3 million funded the day | | | | there. There are great new business funding |
| before. | | | | programs for veterans, and a number of special |
| These numbers are not made up. They are actual | | | | business financing programs for minorities. |
| numbers from actual reported venture capital funding. | | | | Your Local Banks. Yes, that is plural |
| I get these notices emailed to me day after day, rain | | | | “banks”, not singular. Don’t |
| or shine. | | | | depend on just one bank. Talk to several and see |
| Where in the dickens does all this money come | | | | what they can do by way of line of credit or loans. |
| from? You’d think that with the economy in | | | | Angel Investors. There are now several hundred |
| the trenches, everybody would tighten up. The truth | | | | Angel groups throughout the US. Find the ones near |
| is that everyone IS tightening up. But the truth is also | | | | you and apply to submit your proposal. |
| that there is still a lot of money there for the taking. | | | | Venture Capital. Many venture firms are using |
| This seeming contradiction is actually very valid. | | | | venture lending as a way of learning about a |
| Venture capital works on a delayed time frame. A | | | | company before investing many millions. It is a great |
| few years ago when things were really good, | | | | option for a lot of startup companies, or those ready |
| venture capital firms gathered together hundreds and | | | | to take their companies to the next level. |
| hundreds of investment funds. Literally billions of | | | | Small Business IPO. The NYSE is notoriously |
| dollars was put into these funds. | | | | expensive, and the process is hugely time consuming. |
| Well, prudent venture firms can’t invest all of | | | | But there are other options for the serious business |
| this money all at once. So a lot of it is still sitting in | | | | that wants to raise financing. |
| those funds, waiting for the right opportunity for | | | | Cash Advances. For existing companies that use |
| business funding to come along. These numbers are a | | | | credit cards, this is becoming a very viable form of |
| constant reminder to me that companies – | | | | business funding. |
| lots of companies – are getting funded every | | | | Equipment Leasing. With an equipment lease, your |
| day, that there is still a lot, a LOT of money in those | | | | initial investment costs will decline dramatically, and is |
| funds. | | | | a strong option even if yours is an existing company. |
| And these numbers just reflect the reported venture | | | | There are lots of other options too, but these are |
| capital funding. There is probably double that amount | | | | the major ones for most businesses. |
| from angel investment and unreported business | | | | Most of these options require that you have a |
| fundings, and millions more from the multi- billion dollar | | | | business plan. And not just any old business plan. In |
| pool that SBA has this year. | | | | tough economic times, it is only the strong business |
| All in all, it’s a lot of money. That’s a | | | | plan that will get funded. A strong plan won’t |
| lot of companies and banks and groups and individuals | | | | guarantee your funding, but a weak one will |
| actively investing in small business. | | | | guarantee defeat. |
| So how come you’re still looking for | | | | No matter how much money is there, all lenders and |
| financing? | | | | investors are very wary of every type of business |
| Perhaps you aren’t presenting your company | | | | funding. Your proposal needs to be great, and it |
| effectively. | | | | needs to be presented well. |
| Or perhaps you haven’t located the right | | | | A window of opportunity is still open. No one knows |
| lender. | | | | when this amazing window of business funding |
| It’s also possible that your concept just | | | | opportunity is going to close. Spiffy up your business |
| isn’t very good, but I doubt that. The fact | | | | plan and go for it. Now. |
| that you are reading this article means you are a | | | | |