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The Fastest Way to Finance Your Small Business

If you meet these criteria, you most certainly will quickly attract quality lenders. Having all required paperwork ready, such as a detailed business plan and tax documents, will

further speed up the process.

Loan amount

It is no surprise that the smaller the amount you request, the higher the likelihood of approval will be. Smaller loans -- those between $15,000 and $50,000 -- present less risk to lenders, and they are more likely to approve them quickly. Don't request less money than you need, but don't ask for more, either. Figure out exactly how much cash you will need to get you through this rough patch and request that amount.

You can also turn to family and friends as a source of funds. If you are comfortable bringing loved ones and friends in on your business and possibly sharing ownership and control of the company, it may prove a cost-effective way to finance your small business. Tapping into personal savings is another option—it all depends on how comfortable you are putting your personal assets on the line. The best advice to finding fast funding for your small business is to be prepared and do your homework. The more organized you are, the smoother the process will be.


Customer-Centric: The New Way to Sell
Host Hattie Bryant of Small Business School interviews Ron Willingham of Integrity Systems, a performance consulting company based in Phoenix, Arizona.