External Finance Sources
Bank loans are the classic choice for businesses needing finance over 3-5 years. For bigger purchases like offices or factories, commercial mortgages work similarly to house mortgages but for business premises. These typically last 20-30 years with lower interest rates than regular loans, though your property could be repossessed if you can't keep up payments.
Debt factoring is quite clever - businesses sell their unpaid invoices to specialist companies who then chase the customers for payment. This instantly improves cash flow and saves time on debt collection, but you'll get less money than the full invoice amount.
Debentures let businesses borrow money from individuals through the stock market whilst keeping control of the company. Government grants offer both money and expert advice to encourage new businesses, especially in certain industries or areas.
For really risky ventures, venture capital provides large amounts of funding when banks won't touch you. The trade-off? Venture capitalists usually want to part-own your business. Crowdfunding gathers small amounts from lots of people online - great for innovative ideas, but success rates are pretty low.
Reality Check: External finance often comes with strings attached - whether it's interest payments, shared ownership, or strict repayment terms.