When you want to start your own business, and have an idea for a majestic product that will fill an existing gap on the market, you are faced with some serious decisions making. After you develop your business plan or a product design, you also need a financial injection to kick start the business to the first sales. A Startup has more than a few options which can definitely help in building a successful company.
Why startup?
A startup is a small, newly founded company that offers an original niche-specific product or service. As a result of offering something that addresses a particular market gap, the startup can grow pretty fast, but fall through even faster. Some of the most successful startups owe their success to their first product which, with good marketing did great, you could say exploded on the market. The business model builds around a product that you want to launch so the adrenaline rush doesn’t stop for quite some time. Your investors or any kind of financial aid can help in business development, not only product development.
Bootstrapping and personal resources
If you don’t want to give any shares or pay off loans with high interest, then the most logical step is to use your personal resources. This can be an amount of money you have saved for a business, part of your life savings, or a mortgage on your goods. Bootstrapping, however, involves using personal funds and the operating revenue of the young company. This type of funding involves a lot of calculation, even using presales and pre-order to use the money from the product upfront. It is also nicknamed the ‘pay as you go’ funding method since you are using as much as the ongoing process requires.
Sweat equity
When the budget is tight, you can still try to get employees on board by offering something if not competitive payment. Sweat equity is explained as a non-monetary reward. Most often in the early stage of business, in exchange for workers’ skills and time, you pay them with a stake in the business. This way you can invest more money in the business thus helping faster growth. You can even provide the necessary experiences in diverse roles for the people who are ambitious and flexible but may not have the perfect background for a desired job in the industry. You could give them, as well as yourself a chance. The greatest sacrifice is made in the beginning to enjoy the most after you succeed.
Family, friends, strategic partners
Your greatest and existing support can also become your investors. Family and friends shouldn’t need time-costly presentations and preparations, and they most likely do know enough about your startup idea. However, no matter the emotional and verbal support that they are, they don’t need to be investing in your ideas. Be understanding if they after your proposal still do not want to offer that type of help.
On the other hand, the strategic partner has also been able to get to know you, your employees, and the idea that you have. In whichever way that they are already included – supplier, distributor, or even a customer in the earliest stages of the company may be interested in investing in your business. This way they will ensure that they are involved with your product and that they have it available for themselves as well.
Government grants
There are programmes that are covered by the government, which give a small but significant financial injection in a few rounds. These also provide additional expertise in some fields, be it market research, marketing, or legal advice. Local, state, and federal might prove useful for your local businesses. The Australian government has around 700 grant programmes during a year, so it is highly likely you’ll be able to find one for you.
Private lenders
A wish to avoid banks or big capitalists can still be fulfilled by commercial business loans in Australia. This type of loan can leave you still in charge, while the occasional reports can be done along with maybe even further investment deals. They often offer changes to the contract depending on the situation of your business and your further ideas. Private lenders can follow the unpredictability of startups.
Angel Investors and venture capitalists
Many startups worked their way up by receiving major financial aid from capitalist investors, the big players. The two existing types, the angel investor and the venture capitalist are similar in providing a major financial injection, with high interest. The difference is that the ‘angels’ will take the share of the company while the venture capitalists are known to have high-interest rates and shorter loan return periods.
Seed funding
If you are looking for money to start your startup journey, you can already look for an investor. In startup terminology, you can look for seed capital. This is the amount of money you receive to build your startup from nothing but your idea. By pitching your amazing idea to a potential investor, you can offer a share in the ownership or the share of the earnings if they help you from the start of your journey. With seed funding, you should have a finely developed budget as a part of your business plan.
Bank Loans
If you have developed a solid business plan, backed up by detailed documentation, you could apply for a bank loan. Your business has to meet the repayment requirements. Try to calculate what is the exact amount of money you will need, be certain to use it for business only to stay on track, and do not avoid repayments since that will only make the situation harder. Your options in the bank are to max out your credit cards, arrange a personal loan, or put a mortgage on your goods, for example on your home or business property.
Crowdfunding or crowd-sourced funding
More often than not startups provide solutions for the general public, however niche-specific their product is. By opening your doors to the general public, allowing them a special discount, a personified product, or a small share of your company, you can raise a lot of money.
There are many legal crowd-funding platforms that can help you reach your target public and the desired goal, but you have to understand that you will uncover your business. Check the requirements and legalities around starting a crowded funding account, as some may turn bad for you. For example, some platforms will not transfer the money if not raised in the scheduled time, but they will collect the fee for making an online event and holding your account open.
Business Incubators and Accelerators
Like government programmes, there are corporate and organizational business incubators and accelerator events. These mostly offer help in expertise, development, pitching, and networking. You have everything covered, as well as a possibility for major financial aid at the start of your business journey. Incubator programmes are usually for business idea development, while accelerators often provide support for emerged but still small companies. The visibility, however, is the greatest help you will get here.
Your Employees are proven support
A startup is not a one-man show. Your small team is your main power in bringing your dream to the world. They are your comrades, the A team, you could maybe say your family. The chances of doubt in their loyalty and trust are slim, so why not share even this aspect with them? They are most likely to want to help you and see your vision almost as clearly as you do. Offer them a fair share and venture to the startup to make a product your market has not seen before.
Finally, many sources were mentioned here, but the idea has to be your own. You are the one that develops and believes in your product the most. As thorough as you were when developing your idea, be detailed with your business plan, as it is your best following asset in the big institutions that you will have to visit at one point. The startup is the best chance to grow your dream, you as a person, and completely change yours and everyone’s life. Stay consistent, believe, and don’t forget to talk!