How to determine your business financing needs and pick the best option

Most businesses could do better with extra money. But figuring how and when it’s a good idea to seek financing is another matter. Understanding your financial needs is the first step toward narrowing down your financing options — or whether you need financing at all. We guide you through the preliminary steps to steer your business to the right path.

Five questions to determine your business’s financial needs

To decide whether your business needs outside financing, ask:

1. Is my business doing well?Although it sounds counter-intuitive, It’s generally a bad idea to look into financing — especially loans — if your business is struggling. Not only will you not qualify for many financing options, but you also risk getting caught up in a cycle of debt if you can’t repay the loan.
2. Are some seasons more profitable than others?Among the few times financing could be a good option for a struggling business is when it suffers seasonal losses. Access to extra funds can keep you afloat in the off-season until sales pick up and you’re able repay it more easily.
3. Do I need to build my credit?Consider taking out a small loan you’re certain you can repay. By building upyour business’s credit score, you’ll get better rates on future loans.
4. Am I ready to expand?Business financing can be that extra push to making your business more profitable in the long run. Butmake sure you’re ready for that kind of growth.
5. Can I afford to buy all the equipment I need to run my business?If a lack of equipment is holding you back, it might be worth it tolook into business equipment financing.

How to choose your best financing option

The financial state of your business will largely determine your financing options. To avoid losing yet more money, struggling businesses should generally avoid financing options until they’re back on their feet. If your business is growing and you want to put more fuel in the fire to grow even faster, a business loan is a good option.

In addition, how seasonal your business is and the industry it’s in will impact which financing option you choose. For example, seasonal businesses might want tolook into opening a line of creditfor access to cash that covers day-to-day expenses when profits aren’t enough. And businesses in theagriculturaland manufacturing sector could benefit from equipment loans to directly affect their profits.

Compare top business loan options

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Name	Product	Filter Values	Loan amount	APR	Requirements
Fora Financial business loans Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5: ★★★★★			$5,000 – $500,000	Varies	6+ months in business, $12,000+ monthly revenue, no open bankruptcies	Get qualified for funding in minutes for up to $500,000 without affecting your credit score. Best for companies with at least six figures in annual revenue.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data…
Lendio business loans Finder Rating: 4.75 / 5: ★★★★★			$500 – $5,000,000	Starting at 6%	Operate business in US or Canada, have a business bank account, 560+ personal credit score	Submit one simple application to potentially get offers from a network of over 300 legit business lenders.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data…
National Funding business loans Finder Rating: 4.75 / 5: ★★★★★			$5,000 – $500,000	4% to 8%	Be in business at least one year and make at least $150,000 in annual sales. Other loan types have additional requirements.	Working capital loans and equipment financing, some high-risk industries may be eligible.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data…
Fundbox lines of credit Finder Rating: 4.2 / 5: ★★★★★			$1,000 – $150,000	Not stated	6 + months in business, $100,000+ in annual revenue, 600+ credit score	Get flat rate, short-term financing based on the financial health of your business, not your credit score.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data…
Bitty Advance business cash advances Finder Rating: 2.8 / 5: ★★★★★			$2,000 – $25,000	Not applicable	$5,000 monthly bank revenue, 6+ months in business, business bank account open 3+ months, 450+ credit score	With APRs in the triple digits, this is best saved as a last resort.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data…

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