Did you know that a fifth of all new businesses fail during their first year? That’s according to stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And what’s the reason for their failure? Usually, it’s down to a lack of business financing. 

So, the lesson we can learn from the failure of others is that sound financial management and adequate small business finance will help your company out of its first year in existence. 

But getting financial loans isn’t the easiest thing to do, particularly if you’re just starting out in business and you don’t have a wealth of sales data to back up your business plan. 

Let’s take a look at some of the loans that are open to fledgling small businesses with their money management in this helpful guide. 

What Preparation Should You Make Before Applying for Financial Loans?

If you’re planning on raising small business finance, you’ll need a fully-formed business plan that includes an executive summary that sells your skills as an entrepreneur as well as financial forecasts, marketing plans, and growth strategies. 

You’ll also need to check your credit rating to make sure that you’re creditworthy enough for lenders to even consider you as being viable. 

Traditional Bank Loans

The first place you’d probably think of going for small business finance is the bank. Obviously, there are countless different banks, each offering different finance products with varying interest rates. 

It’s essential to shop around if you’re looking to the banks for financial help. Make sure you understand the full terms and conditions of the loan and understand how long it’ll take to repay.

Banks aren’t the easiest place to acquire funding from, particularly if you’re just starting out and don’t have any trading history to substantiate your projections.

You’ll also need to factor in the issue of your credit rating. This needs to be high enough that the bank will accept you for lending. 

Small Business Administration Loans

The Small Business Administration is a government-led initiative that’s been going on since 1953. The purpose of the SBA is to help entrepreneurs to live the American dream. 

SBA loans can be taken out from SBA offices based in most major towns and cities. The loan itself will need to repay this over a set period of time and will be subject to lower interest rates than bank loans. 

You’ll need to ensure you have a good credit score before applying, although the application process is very straightforward. 

Bridging Loans

If you have short-term financial worries, need to boost your cash flow while you buy stock, or are waiting for customers to pay you, you may want to consider a bridge loan. 

A bridge loan is lending designed to help you with a temporary financial shortfall. These should not be regarded as a long-term funding solution but may help plug the gaps. 

Financing Your Business

Taking out bad credit business loans with collateral is very commonplace in business. They can help you with set up costs, or buying stock to generate profit from. 

For more great articles on a wide range of topics, check out the rest of the site.