How To Get a Loan To Start a Business

You have a good idea and a lot of enthusiasm for a new business, but you need money to get it off the ground. In this early stage of development you might want to get a bank loan to fund your new business. 

However, it may be difficult for you to get a bank loan to start a business if you have no business history or  no prior relationship between you and the bank. So how do you improve your chances of getting a loan in the face of these obstacles? 

Determine How Much You Need

Being approved for a business loan boils down to reliability and assurance. Banks don’t want to loan money to someone who may not be able to pay it back. When applying for a loan, you’ll want to have a strong case for exactly how much you need and how you plan to pay it back. You can show the lender that you need the amount you’re requesting by:

• Identifying the ‘why’ behind the loan and specific needs it would cover 
• Making your estimates for each item as exact as possible 
• Describing how each item would support business growth
• Writing a compelling business plan

If you account for every penny in your business plan, you are more likely to have a successful application.

You must show the bank that you understand the market and industry that you are about to enter. As part of the business plan that you present to the bank, you should include a detailed analysis of the market, the customer base, and the broader industry. Include a statement of how much market share you think your business can capture and how that translates into dollars. Based on similar companies in the industry, develop income, expense, and ​​cash flow projections for the business. This will help convince the bank that your firm will generate the cash flow necessary to repay the business loan.

Check Your Personal and Business Credit

One key thing that lenders look for is your personal and business credit score. If you demonstrate creditworthiness through your personal and business credit, it decreases the risk for the lender. The higher the score, the less risky you and your business are to the lender.

Every business has a credit score that assesses past behavior, but some are too new to have an accurate credit score if at all. In that case, your personal credit score is weighed more heavily in the bank’s review. 

Review your business credit by going to one of the major business credit bureaus, such as Dun & Bradstreet. Different reporting bureaus scale differently, though 1 to 100 is the most common business credit range. You can check your personal credit score at a major credit bureau, your banking institution, or even on financial apps. 

Get Your Documents Together

You should gather or prepare all the documents you want to present to the lender, including a business plan, an expense sheet, and financial projections for the next five years. Make sure you have:

• A detailed analysis of the market, customer base, and the broader industry
• Your market share and how that translates into dollars
• Income, expense, and cash flow projections

Together, these elements show the bank that you understand the market and industry you’re about to enter. Further, it will help convince the bank that your firm will generate the cash flow necessary to repay the loan. 

Pledge Your Personal Wealth as Collateral

If you are applying for a business loan for a startup, you’ll have a better chance at approval if you pledge your personal wealth as collateral. Some loans require personal collateral to secure them. 

If you are a homeowner, you can use your home as collateral and perhaps take out a home equity loan. You can also use other personal assets, such as cars, stocks, or bonds.  

Following the four steps above can prove your creditworthiness and make you a reliable candidate for a loan. If you believe in your business and have done the necessary research, a bank will have an easier time saying yes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)