Financing a Small Business The ABC’s from Start to Finance… BUS 202 Financing a SB Spring 2006 copyri Why Worry about Financing?  The key to a successful business often depends on the ability to have sound management, financing & cash flow to fund the operations  Inadequate financing is one of the major causes of business failure  To avoid this pitfall, small business owners need enough money and need to know how to manage it to STAY in Business! What Financial Resources are available for my business? The most common resources: • • • • • Personal Savings Friends & Relatives Venture Capital Firms Government Loans Commercial Loans Knowing Who, When and Where to ask for financing can be a key to your success! Debt or Equity? • DEBT is borrowed money…it becomes a liability on your balance statement (long term loan) • EQUITY is an “investment” in your business (silent partner or venture capital) Remember the Accounting Equation Asset = Liabilities - Owners’ Equity Equity vs Debt Financing Advantages Debt Financing Advantages: • Relatively Easy & Quick • Maintain control & ownership • Interest & other costs tax deductible Equity Financing Advantages: • Unsecured (not required to pay back) • Share of financial risk (partners) • Less pressure to make monthly payments • May be able to borrow more Equity vs Debt Financing Disadvantages Debt Financing Equity Financing Disadvantages: • Interest Costs Expensive • Risk of profits not covering repayment • Easy to abuse & overuse • Must share financial information • Lender Restrictions & Limitations Disadvantages: • Risk of destroying personal relationships • Give up part of profits • Give up part of ownership of business • Give up some control of business • Legal restrictions Debt: A Loan by any other name  Debt Financing is most frequently used when there are minimal risks and the investment return is acceptable to the lender  Businesses that rely on debt financing are those in earlier stages of business development (primary & secondary levels of business growth) There are two specific types of debt financing 1) Conventional Loan Programs 2) Government Guaranty Loan Programs Needs for Capital Capital to Open the Store Capital to Keep Store Open • Start-up costs to cover a term loan • Equipment • Lease hold improvements • Inventory • Working capital • Working capital to cover growth expenditures normally a “line of credit” • cover overhead • payroll • purchase inventory • maintain cash flow Common Uses for Financing • Start-up Capital • Working Capital • Permanent Working Capital • Growth Capital • Equity Transfer Capital • Debt- refinancing (more difficult to get a business loan) Conventional Bank Loans • • • • Short-term Demand loans Seasonal lines of credit Single-purpose loans for machinery and equipment • Banks generally are reluctant to offer longterm loans to smaller firms Build a Banking Relationship • Banks LIKE lending to businesses/people they KNOW! • Community Banks LIKE investing in their communities • Banks WANT you to be SUCCESSFUL! Checklist for getting it all together! Every bank or organization will have a slightly different list of everything that is needed Here is a basic list:           Applicant Information Sheet Current Personal Financial Statement (for all partners) Schedule of Real Estate Owned Personal Tax Returns- years (or business if in business) Signed Credit Authorization Current Financial Statement Business Debt Schedule If new business, business plan and projections for first 12 months If purchasing, Purchase agreement If franchising, Franchise agreement Resources Check out these sites for loan programs • • • • • • • www.sba.gov www.moneyforsmallbiz.com www.womensinititative.org www.obdc.com www.solanosbdc.org www.Innovativebank.com www.Safe-bidco.com Buying Buying An An Existing Existing Business Business For Sale Key Questions to Consider Before Buying a Business • Is the right type of business for sale in the market in which you want to operate? • What experience you have in this particular business and the industry in which it operates? • How critical is experience in the business to your ultimate success? • What price and payment method are reasonable for you and acceptable to the seller? More KEY Questions • Should you start the business and build it from the ground up rather than buy an existing one? • What changes will you have to make – and how extensive will they have to be – to realize the business’s full potential? • Will the company generate sufficient cash flow to pay for itself and leave you with a suitable return on your investment? Advantages of Buying A Business • • • • • Established good will and customer base It may already have the best location Employees and suppliers are established Equipment is already installed Inventory is in place and trade credit is established You can “hit the ground running” • You can use the previous owner’s experience • Seller may finance or carry Disadvantages of Buying A Business • “It’s a loser” • Bad reputation is hard to change • “Inherited” employees may be unsuitable • Location may have become unsatisfactory • Equipment may be obsolete Locating a Business • • • • Business Brokers “Hidden market” How to Buy a Business Workshop California Businesses For Sale Website www.bizben.com Kwik-Mart Five Critical Areas for Analyzing an Existing Business Why does the owner want to sell the real reason? What is the physical condition of the business? What is the potential for the company's products or services? • Customer characteristics and composition • Competitor analysis What legal aspects must I consider? Is the business financially sound? Valuing of a Business • Balance Sheet Approach – Adjusted Balance Sheet Technique • Earnings Approach – Multiple of Recast Earnings Approach – Discounted Future Earnings Approach • Market Approach – Comps Planning For Your Capital Needs Having the appropriate business plan is critical! Financing Plan - must support ability to repay This plan must have realistic projections and justification Investment Plan - illustrates the strengths & potential of the business in order to capture market share Describes the “equity investment” and structure (who is contributing and in what proportions) Composite (existing) - often used by existing businesses for on-going financing or for growth stage This plan is often an “updated” business plan of a first stage business More Business Plans • Start-up (“projected”)- details the projected strengths and needs of a new business The plan MUST BE able to support the assumptions… both the marketing and the financials • Other types of business plans (nonfinancial)- Strategic (Action Plan), Marketing & Operational Outline of a Typical Small Business Financing Business Plan I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI Cover Page Cover Letter & Statement of Purpose Table of Contents Executive Summary Description of Business Market Analysis Management Operations Use of Funds Financial Information Supporting Information (resumes, agreements) Ten Most Common Mistakes Found in Financial Business Plans • Too Long • No Competition Indicated • Unreasonable Expectations & Projections • Unreasonable Financial Projections • Unrealistic Profitability for Investors • Management Skills not demonstrated • Unrealistic projections of products & services • Lack of Knowledge of Industry • Inadequate Calculations • NOT Clear to the reader ... guarantee from SBA to support their loan to you • Decline your application all together US Small Business Administration The SBA guaranteed lending program encourages banks and non-bank lenders to make... the SBA guarantee What the Bank and SBA Look For in Analyzing a Loan Application ABILITY TO REPAY CREDIT HISTORY EQUITY INVESTMENT SECONDARY SOURCE OF REPAYMENT EXPERIENCE/ABILITY TO MANAGE BUSINESS. .. about Financing?  The key to a successful business often depends on the ability to have sound management, financing & cash flow to fund the operations  Inadequate financing is one of the major