The amount of time that you put in planning and shaping the future of your business is equally important to that of the efforts and funds that you put forth. You may have seen a few entrepreneurs taking extreme measures just to keep their business floating, but you must consider all the pros and cons before taking the plunge.
Putting up your business website is not a big deal and it’s even easier for you to create a business page on Facebook. But what really matters is about edging past that initial phase of 12 months be it in terms of capital funding or extending support to your customers.
Key factors that drive your business from the beginning are mentioned below:
Word of Mouth
Word of mouth plays a crucial role in paving the way for the future success of your business. Throughout your entrepreneurial journey, it helps you in expanding your network. Your startup often owes a large extent of its success to your loved ones. While that often means extending a certain degree of emotional support, it also points at financial assistance through the rough patches of time. None wants their loved ones to suffer from a financial crunch.
Lending Organizations
Business owners often don’t want any government authorities to be involved in the funding and decision-making procedures. Private lending organizations yield a strong source of smooth capital flow for most startups. When it comes to initiating your business operations, it proves to be a convenient option. A number of lending organizations have come forward at funding startups for periods of up to 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months. You may check out a few borrowing opportunities like that of the Lendgreen quick loans. Achieving these loans ensures that the founders can focus more on their initial action plan rather than worrying about funding.
Bootstrapping
Bootstrapping is a term that’s closely associated with numerous startup businesses of late. Although not many of you will agree to bootstrap your business like Jesse Pujji, the founder of Ampush, it yields a few good opportunities for you to test your entrepreneurial skills. The lack of funds could turn out to be a boon in disguise for many of you, who have the willpower to move on against the tide. You may sharpen your decision-making skills by doing your research, developing the right strategies and executing them on a timely basis. A number of startups in the Silicon Valley that have tasted success had resorted to bootstrapping initially.
Seed Investors
A number of websites are sharing the net-worth and profile of seed investors that can help a startup grow. Visiting these sites could be a good ploy for those of you that don’t have a strong personal network. You may compensate your seed investor with equity in your business if he’s worthy of being your go-to advisor. Chances are their business network will be as lucrative as that of their net-worth. You can take advantage of these influential game-changers if you’re good at building a rapport.
Short-term Credit
Applying for credit with private banks isn’t considered a good funding option by many. However, it comes in handy when you’re searching for short-term options. Credit cards are certainly a smart way of meeting your fund shortage if you can manage your finances efficiently. You must get a clear picture of your financial situation to be able to understand if it’s affordable or not. At the same time, you ought to be prepared for meeting a bill at the end of every month. Relying on credit often helps your business cope with unforeseen financial challenges.
Among all of these options, seeking financial assistance from private lenders seems to be a viable option, especially if you’re a first-time entrepreneur. It even proves to be an effective way out when your business is trudging through those trying times. Both for the founder and the business, it’s quite resourceful even when the other four options seem to be worth exploring.
1 Comment
Hi,
This is quite an interesting piece, and I totally agree with you on what you said about the initial phase of 12 months. The beginning is always the hardest, and startups need to know of these tips to help them really spearhead their business through thick and thin.