Q&A - What are the main things to consider when obtaining finance for a start-up?

Often the hardest part of starting a business is raising the money to get going.

An entrepreneur might have a great business idea and clear plan for how to exploit a market opportunity. However, unless sufficient finance can be raised, the entrepreneur will struggle to make the most of the opportunity.

Raising finance for a start-up requires careful planning. The entrepreneur needs to decide:

• How much finance is required? Raising finance is hard work and expensive – the start-up should avoid having to go through the process too often!
• When and for how long the finance is needed? A useful distinction can be made between long-term, medium-term and short-term finance
• What security (if any) can be provided? This will affect the ability of the business to raise a bank or other loan where the lender requires some security (or “collateral”)
• Whether the entrepreneur is prepared to give up some control (ownership) of the start-up in return for investment?
• Whether the cost of the finance (e.g. interest charged) is justified

The finance needs of a start-up should also take account of these key areas:

• Set-up costs -the costs that are incurred before the business starts to trade
• Getting ready to produce - the fixed assets that the business needs before it can begin to trade
• Working capital (the stocks needed by the business –e.g. raw materials + allowance for amounts that will be owed by customers once sales begin)
• Growth and development (e.g. extra investment in capacity)