Top 20 Sources of Business Finance

Not sure what type of business financing your company needs?

Well, first it’s important to familiarize yourself with all the different sources that are available to small business owners so you can decide which direction works best.

For starters, here are my top twenty sources of business finance:

1. Angel Investors - Angel investors have been responsible for funding over 30,000 small businesses each and every year. With over 250,000 active angels in the country you may want to consider an to simplify your search.
2. Asset Based Financing – If your company has collateral such as accounts receivable, inventory, equipment or real estate these assets can be used to secure the financing you need but keep in mind you still own your assets, but if you default, the lender can seize them.
3. Bank Loans – Large banks tend to be much more conservative in lending so you may want to consider a community bank or credit union for a small business loan.
4. Business Credit Cards – A fast and easy way to access cash for business expenses but be careful carrying a balance because the interest can be costly. Also make sure your payment experience reports to your business credit files.
5. Business Charge Cards – This is a cash source that has all the convenience of a business credit card without the costly interest.
6. Crowd Funding – is a creative way to raise capital without having to rely on investors or banks.
7. Equipment Leasing – Leasing equipment is a source of financing that allows you to purchase or borrow new equipment with 100% financing.
8. Factoring - With factoring, you sell your company's accounts receivables to a company (known as a factor) at a discount, in order to free up your cash. The company that purchases the receivables then assumes the responsibility for collecting them.  
9. Grants – To see if your company qualifies check out the Grants.gov web site.
10. Letters of Credit – Using a can be a great tool for processing smooth payment transactions overseas when dealing with foreign customers.
11. Line of Credit – A works like a revolving credit card but with much lower interest rates and higher available credit limits.
12. Merchant Cash Advance – A merchant cash advance allows you to borrow off of your future credit card sales.  You get a lump sum amount in exchange for an agreement which outlines the percentage that will be taken from every future credit card transaction until the amount you borrowed is paid back.
13. Merchant Line of Credit – An excellent source of cash (merchant card) that is strictly based on your company’s monthly sales volume.
14. Microfinance Loans – Microcredit loans are less difficult and time intensive to qualify for with loan amounts ranging from $500 to as high as $35k.
15. Purchase Order Financing – This finance option provides your business capital to pay suppliers upfront so your company doesn’t have to deplete its cash reserves.  
16. P2P Loans – P2P Loans removes traditional lenders from the finance equation and instead allows lending to take place directly between individuals.
17. SBA backed Loans – SBA backed loans are much more flexible than traditional bank loans but still require supporting documentation.
18. Social Loans - Social lending provides individuals an opportunity to borrow and lend money to each other. Companies like Lending Club and Prosper have spearheaded this funding source.
19. Vendor Lines of Credit – Vendor credit  also known as trade credit is when a business extends credit to your company in order to allow you to buy its products upfront but defer the payment for a later date.
20. Venture Capital - Venture capital is neither easy nor fast to be able to tap into but can be a viable source of funding.

What other sources of financing would you like to add?

Marco is founder of the Business Credit Insiders Circle, a step-by-step business credit building system. You may contact Marco directly at: marco@businesscreditblogger.com Follow Marco on Twitter @MarcoCarbajo and read more of his insights on business credit.