Reasons and options for seeking finance

Cash flow is one of the most common reasons businesses seek finance. But before you do, carefully analyse your cash flow. Some of the finance options include:

• overdraft facility
• line of credit
• fully drawn advance
• factoring
• invoice financing
• loan/cash flow lending
• trade credit from suppliers
• credit card (be careful – they should fund very short-term working capital needs)

You may need property for a shop front, factory, or to store inventory. Whatever the reason, consider whether a purchase or a lease would suit your business better. Some finance options include:

• a loan
• a fully drawn advance
• venture capital
• leasing

Whether you need one vehicle or a whole fleet, there are a number of finance options available. Before you choose, decide whether a purchase or a lease would suit your business better. Some finance options include:

• a loan
• hire-purchase
• chattel mortgage
• trade credit from suppliers
• leasing

Need finance to purchase or replace machinery or equipment? Think about whether a purchase or lease would suit your business better. Some finance options include:

• hire-purchase
• chattel mortgage
• fully drawn advance
• leasing

You may require finance for the purchase of stock to sell (your inventory). Do you need to pay upfront or when the goods are delivered? If you’re selling inventory, it might be worth asking larger clients to pay a deposit to help you financially.

Some finance options include:

• a line of credit
• a commercial bill

Whether you're starting a business from scratch or buying an existing business or franchise, some finance options include:

• a loan
• a fully drawn advance
• venture capital
• private investors (such as business angels)
• crowdfunding
• self-funding

Note: Investors such as business angels and venture capitalists may expect some level of self-funding or existing equity in the business before investing.

Getting finance can help you grow your business by improving goods or services, diversifying, expanding or franchising. Some finance options include:

• a loan
• a line of credit
• private investors such as business angels
• trade credit from suppliers

Another way of growing your business is by exporting overseas. Some finance options include:

• a loan
• venture capital
• bonds, finance and guarantees to help exporters declined by other lenders from the Export Finance Australia
• government grants

As well as traditional sources of finance there is also government finance available. Some options include:

• government grants
• venture capital
• private investors such as business angels
• the R&D Tax Incentive
• crowdfunding

Do you need finance for growing debt to survive tough times? Before you consider further debt, first try to improve your financial position. Some options include:

• government grants for disaster-affected businesses
• financial counselling services
• personal counselling services

Once you have done all you can, talk to investors or a lender about finance options to improve your situation.