A Complete Guide to Taking out a Business Loan
Although there are numerous lenders or banks today, getting a business loan is a major hurdle, especially for startups and small businesses. Some banks have set tight lending standards that make the borrowing process daunting for small business owners across the world. However, if you follow the right process, you are likely to get a loan to facilitate the expansion of your business. A loan is necessary to grow or start your business. Many elite business moguls across the world use loans to sustain their companies, open new branches or outlets, and to cover dayto-day expenses. Although the process may be overwhelming, this guide will assist you to acquire a business loan to build a big company and earn good profits in the future. 1. Pinpoint Why You Need the Money: First, you need to identify the reason you need to borrow money from the bank or any other lender. Some of the reasons that drive businesspersons to look for loans include the following: • To expand their businesses • To start a new business • To manage the expenses of the company • To buy new equipment for the company • To have a safety cushion
However, to avoid financial challenges in the future, you should not get a business loan for the wrong reasons. Some of the bad reasons include to buy unnecessary assets for the business and to finance ongoing losses. 2. Decide How Much Your Business Needs: Mostly, startups do not borrow large amounts of money. However, whether you are running a small or big business, you should neither underestimate nor overestimate the amount of money required by your company. Overestimating may question the credibility of your business while underestimating may lead to financial problems due to lack of enough working capital in the future. Before approaching any lending institution, you should research and come up with a welldrafted budget supported by the financial projections of your business. 3. Know Your Credit Score: It is advisable to check and correct your credit score before applying for a loan. Today, lending institutions still look for personal credit scores before approving business loans. They use the scores to determine the credibility of the business owner. With a good credit score, you can secure enough money to grow your business. 4. Get a Reliable Lender: Every time you visit various online platforms, you usually find adverts from lending institutions. Some are legitimate while others are scammers. As a businessperson, you should not borrow money from illegitimate institutions. It is advisable to seek advice from experienced business people in your locality before applying for a loan. They will direct you to a reliable lender that will give you a business loan with reasonable interest and payment period. 5. Get all the Necessary Documents Ready and Apply: Once you get a reliable lending institution, you should gather all the required documents and apply for the loan. It is advisable to read all the terms and conditions keenly before signing for a business loan. In conclusion, after applying, you should wait patiently for the loan to mature. You can keep checking for the status of your loan every week. Once you get the loan, you should utilize it according to your intended purpose, which may be to start or grow your business. Phil Shawe is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of TransPerfect, a global family of companies and the world’s largest privately held provider of language and business services.