Financing Your Start-Up

All businesses require some form of financing. An integral component of starting a successful business is raising sufficient capital. There are many challenges here, but numerous resources are available to help you.

General Financing And Accounting

• Start-Up Costs
  Plan for the initial expenses your business will have.
• Estimating Costs
  Learn to anticipate your initial business cost.
• Breakeven Analysis
  Know when your business breaks even and when you can expect a profit.
• Financing Basics
  How do you plan to finance your business? This is especially important for new enterprises.
• SBA's Role
  What the SBA offers to help your small business grow and profit.
• Equity Capital
  Learn about the pros and cons of offering stock.
• What's A Surety Bond?
  Learn what a surety bond is and if it can help your business.
• Learn About SBA's Surety Bond Program
  Detailed explanation about how this program operates.
• Handling Finances
  It is essential for the business owner to know how to manage his/her finances.
• Personal vs. Business Finances
  You must know your personal finances and credit before starting out on your own.
• The Benefits Of Making Your Banker Your Friend
  Cultivating a friendly relationship with your banker will benefit your business in many ways.
• Borrowing Money
  Know the essentials in borrowing money. Can your business afford it?
• Fair Credit Reporting
  Learn where your credit report comes from and how it affects your loan prospects.
• Credit Scoring
  Know how the bank uses a credit scoring system to determine their acceptance of your loan application.
• Credit Factors
  The basic elements examined in every loan application.

Loan and Funding Information

• Finding Capital
  Know how to find various sources of capital to begin your business.
• Federal Grant Resources
  A list of federal resources that could give your business a grant.
• Basic Requirements
  The basic requirements for a business to receive an SBA loan.
• Eligibility Size Standards
  Required size standards for a business to receive an SBA loan.
• SBA's 7(a) Loan Program
  Explanation and requirements of the SBA's most basic and used loan program--the 7(a) loan.
• Applying For A Loan
  Help in writing a loan proposal.
• Loan Proposals
  Develop and organize your loan proposal.
• Loan Package Checklist
  Make sure you have everything you need in your loan proposal.
• SBA Loan Programs
  Learn which program is right for your business.
• Microloans
  Details about the SBA's Microloan program.
• Certified Development Company (504) Loan Program
  Detailed explanation about the SBA's (504) loan program for a non-profit Certified Development Company to assist in the economic development of its community.
• Export Working Capital
  A program designed to create short-term working capital for exporters.
• Export Express
  Program designed to help small businesses receive export financing.
• International Trade Loans
  This program is designed to help businesses in international trade overcome competition from imports.
• Delta Loans
  Loans that help small contractors transition from defense to civil contracts.
• Community Adjustment and Investment Program (CAIP)
  Program designed to help businesses in communities negatively affected by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
• Communities Eligible For CAIP Funding
  (PDF File)
  A listing of all communities which have been designated as eligible for funding under the Community Adjustment and Investment Program (CAIP).
• Employee Trusts
  Loans that help provide financial assistance to Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).
• Pollution Control Loans
  Pollution Control loans are 7(a) loans with the special purpose of pollution control.
• CAPLines Loans
  Helps small businesses get their short-term and cyclical working capital.
• Certified Lender Programs
  Get a loan from a certified lender who knows the policies and procedures of the SBA.
• Preferred Lender Programs
  This program helps speed up the loan application approval process.
• Community Express
  Program that serves geographic areas of mostly low and moderate income.
• Secondary Market Programs
  Program designed to make lending to small businesses more attractive.
• Asset Sales
  SBA's initiative to take advantage of the private sector's efficiency by selling its portfolio of loans and other assets in order to help manage its overall credit exposure.
• How To Prepare A Loan Package
  Create the best loan package for your business.
• Never Take "No" For An Answer
  Learn why your loan application was rejected and take steps to correct those reasons.
• SBA Loans FAQs
  Get answers to the questions frequently asked about SBA loans.