Business & Personal Finance

Starting or growing a small business takes planning, hard work and money to make it happen. So how much money do you think you will need to start your business? Some typical startup costs involve purchasing office supplies, furniture, equipment and machinery, legal fees, permits and licenses just to mention a few. But a lack of cash doesn't mean you have to give up on your dreams. Each small business is unique and has its own specific finance needs and finding the funds you need isn't as difficult as you might think. According to the Canadian Bankers Association there are various ways to finance your small business:

1. Debt financing is money that you borrow (usually from a bank) to run your business. This is a loan that must be repayed in full, usually in instalments, with interest. The lender will need to assess your business plan, management capabilities and financing in order to determine your company's chances of success. Debt financing can include some of the following: line of credit, credit cards, business term loan and leasing.

2. Equity financing is usually provided by you or people you know. You need to do a good job selling your idea to potential investors especially if you don't have a track record. An investor will make money available for an ownership share in your business and a say in how you run your business. Using your own money has its advantages especially when it comes to making decisions. You won't need to get approval from any of your investors and you get to reap the rewards of your success. Possible sources of equity financing can include: personal savings, loans from friends and relatives, government programs and angel investors.

3. Government programs are another way to get the funding you need to start your business. The Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) is run in collaboration with financial institutions and was created to increase the amount of money available to small business owners who are just starting a business or for existing small businesses needing money to expand, modernize and improve operations. In the event of default the federal government will reimburse the financial institution 85 percent of the lender's losses. The federal government has several other financing programs that are specific to certain provinces. These programs range from summer/student companies to businesses located in Northern Ontario to programs for people with disabilities. The Ontario government also offers industry-specific incentive programs including credits, business and tax incentives, and has introduced generous venture capital funding for some business activities.

To read more about how to finance your business, you can borrow the following books and ebooks: