Startup Business Loans - Exploring Other Avenues for Building Capital

Startup business loans are a great way to launch a successful business. Unfortunately they are sometimes the hardest to get from lending institutions. Startup business loans are one of the few areas that even the Small Business Administration do not offer to assist in and this becomes a major impediment to banks and credit unions making this type of loan available.

The Small Business Administration is an agency of the federal government with a specific mandate to assist small business in America. It provides much of the funding for business loans made by banks in the form of guarantees for these loans. If a borrowing business defaults on a business loan or goes bankrupt the Small Business Administration will step in to cover the bank’s costs.

But when it comes to startup business loans, the agency tells banks and small businesses that they are on their own. That of course does nothing to reassure the banks who are nervous enough about lending fledging businesses any of their hoarded gold and it supports the banks’ own inclination to not provide startup business loans. In order to get approval for startup business loans the banks will normally require a personal guarantee from the business owner or a pledge of a collateral asset to secure the loan.

Meeting those conditions will only get a business to first base with the banks in terms of startup business loans. After this initial review the banks will closely examine the business plan of the prospective business borrower and want to be convinced that the business has an excellent chance to succeed before provide funding in the form of startup business loans. In addition they will likely review the personal credit history and records of the business owner to ensure that their credit history does not show any potential danger signs.

The best way is get startup business loans is probably not through banks or credit unions at all. It is much easier to borrow money from friends or family if they have the financial capacity to assist. Another avenue for startup business loans is to bring in partners or investors who believe that the business makes sense and want to share in the revenues that will be created. A third place to look for startup business loans is in the local business community.

There are often successful business people who want to assist new businesses to get started and they may be a source for startup business loans or they may be able to provide references or referrals to people who can. There’s no harm or loss of face in asking for help from these people. Even the most successful amongst them has probably been turned down for startup business loans in the past and many of them are willing to give a little back to help the newcomer on the block get started in the business world.

David Gass is President of Business Credit Services, Inc. His company publishes a weekly e-newsletter on Starting and Growing a Small Business at http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com. You can sign up for their free newsletter by visiting http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com.