Whether you are starting or growing a business, financial planning plays a critical role in achieving success in your venture. Undercapitalization - that is, running out of cash - is one of the primary reasons businesses fail. In the financial planning process, you need to 1) determine how much money you are going to need, 2) decide what to do with it, and 3) obtain the actual money.
That first step in financing your business is determining how much Start Up Capital you are going to need. To do this, you must develop a business plan which involves thinking through what items/services you will need to get started and how much these are going to cost.
Once you know your start-up costs, you need to project your Working Capital, or how much it will cost you to operate on a month-by-month basis. Your financing needs are based on these projections.
Next, it's time to focus on where you can find the money. Do you want to use Debt or Equity to finance your business? The SBDC can offer you either of these options through Access to Capital, Private Investors, and Other Sources of Financing. Sometimes grants are available to help business owners with special circumstances, but beware of The Myth of Small Business Grants, not all business owners qualify for this aid.
The SBDC at Daytona State has many tools available to help you throughout the business planning process, including outlines, workshops, and one-on-one counseling. We will help determine your costs, help prepare you for borrowing money or attracting investors, and help you manage your cash. | Start Up Capital
Working Capital
Debt or Equity
Access to Capital
Private Investors
Other Sources of Financing
The Myth of Small Business Grants |
