Small Business Loans: Qualification and Benefits
The internet has made it easier than ever to start a new business. If you're ready to take the leap but need some financing, there are many different loans that will help you get started.
This article discusses some of the most popular types of loans that can help you get your small business off the ground.
Colorful charts and graphs illustrate how much money these loans can provide, what their qualifications are, and which ones are available for your type of business. It includes a list of the various types of qualifying businesses and what each type can benefit from. It also explains how to get your business started, including how to fill out the loan application forms.
Article Source: Small Business Loans: Qualification and Benefits
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Small Business Loans: Qualification and Benefits
Posted by Guest Blogger at 05/12/2010 07:00:00 AM | |
Introduction to Small Business Loans
By Randy K. Fulton; with Lynn Neely, Jim Neeley & Amanda Turner; First National Bank (USA), Charlotte, North Carolina; March 2010 More than half of all U.S. businesses are owned and operated by individuals with less than $10 million in revenue, or what is known as a “small business.”1 Businesses in this size range can be classified into four different categories based on their annual sales: micro-businesses (annual sales of less than $100,000), small businesses ($100,000 to $5 million), mid-sized businesses ($5 million to $50 million), and large businesses ($50 million or more).2 There is no set definition for a small business. It all depends on the industry you choose for your venture. The following chart shows how many businesses fall into each category of the economy:3
There are different requirements that must be met in order to qualify for a loan. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small business as one that has less than $7 million in annual sales (or $7 million in annual gross receipts) or three or fewer employees, whichever is greater.4 To qualify, these small businesses must have been in existence for at least one year and their owners must be U.S. citizens or eligible immigrants (i.e., permanent resident aliens). In addition to the above-mentioned assets, these businesses must have a written business plan, business records, and financial statements.5
There are many different types of loans that can be used for small businesses. To learn more about these loans as well as other resources designed to help new small businesses get started, you will want to visit the SBA's website at: http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-startup-services .6 After reviewing this resource and any other information you may find helpful, you should have a good understanding of what kinds of loans are available and how they can be used for your small business needs.
Financial Analysis
Small businesses most often have to borrow money to start up, so any way that you can make your small business more financially stable is beneficial. The source of finance is usually a credit card, personal checking account, or other forms of unsecured debt.7 This type of credit is not always the best solution and should be used only as a last resort. Furthermore, these types of loans are often only useful for a limited amount of time.8 There are, however, other options available for small businesses that can give them more flexibility in terms of how they choose to finance their company.
One way to get money for your business is to put it up as collateral. To do this, you would need to apply for a loan from either a commercial bank (i.e., Wells Fargo or Bank of America) or from the SBA.9 The advantage of applying for an SBA loan is that these loans can be approved faster than a bank's and have lower interest rates, but there are some disadvantages, such as a longer term and higher interest rate on the loan.10
An SBA loan is a loan that is guaranteed by the SBA in case your business becomes unable to pay it back. In order to receive an SBA loan, you need to provide the lender with a strong financial analysis. The table below shows some of the key areas where you will have to explain how you plan to use the money and how your business's financial statements will be affected by doing so.11
To complete a good financial analysis, the borrower should look at the borrower's cash flow statement, profit and loss statement (P&L), balance sheet, and other financial statements.12 The SBA's Small Business Guide to Financing can be used for this purpose.
The good thing about a financial analysis is that it will help the lender better understand how your business will be affected financially if you take out a loan. This in turn will help the lender to make a sound decision about whether or not to approve your loan request.
Types of Small Business Loans
Below are some of the most popular sources of financing for start-up small businesses and are described in more detail further down in this article.
Personal Loans
Personal loans are one of the most common forms of financing for small businesses, especially because they are generally quick and easy to get. The SBA's 7(a) Loan Program is probably the most popular form of small business loans. There are also other programs, such as the CDC/504 Loan Program, that offer financing to small businesses. The following chart shows some of the details you will want to know about all of these programs:13
Another type of loan commonly used by small businesses is an operating line of credit. An operating line of credit is basically the same thing as a personal line of credit except that it is usually at a lower interest rate and can only be used for business related expenses. Depending on the program you are using, interest rates for an SBA 7(a) Loan Program may be as low as prime plus 0.25% or as high as prime plus 1.5%.14 When applying for this type of loan, you will have to fill out a form similar to this one:15
Personal loans should not usually be used to finance all of a small business's operating expenses until cash flow problems (discussed later in this article) materialize. The main reason why personal loans should only be used in an emergency situation is because there is some risk involved with them; offering a loan for such a short amount of time puts your money at risk until it is paid back.
Conclusion
The following is a brief summary of the information you should know about financing your small business:
In order to complete the financial steps involved in starting a small business, you will need to understand how to do financial statements and make a financial analysis.
There are many different types of small business loans available and each loan has its own pros and cons.
Your lender will most likely take into account what your financial analysis looks like when deciding whether or not to approve your loan request.
Conclusion
Now that you have finished this article, you should have a good understanding of how financial statements work and how they can be used by entrepreneurs.