22 Jun 2024

DEBT FINANCE GUIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

For numerous small businesses, debt financing is the most important part of their financial plan. It gives you a strong way to start, grow, and handle the ups and downs of being a business. This article delves deeply into debt finance for small businesses, providing you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions and use debt to your benefit.

What Exactly is Debt Financing?

It’s where a business borrows money from a lender and agrees to pay back the principal amount plus interest over a certain amount of time. This is what debt financing is all about. When you get stock financing, you give up ownership of your business in exchange for money. With debt financing, you keep full control of your business.

Benefits of Debt Financing

Debt financing is a popular choice among owners because it has many benefits for small businesses. Let's discuss a few advantages: 

1. Keeps Ownership:

With equity financing, you give up some of your property in exchange for money. With debt financing, you can keep all of your property. You make all the important business choices without any input from investors. You have full control over the strategy and direction of your business.

2. Increases Cash Flow:

Debt financing is like getting a cash boost. It immediately brings in money, which smooths out changes in cash flow. With this newfound freedom, you can put money into growth projects, take advantage of chances, or pay for unexpected costs without affecting day-to-day business.

3. Builds Credit History:

Building a good credit past for your business means paying back your debts on time and responsibly. Regularly making your loan payments on time shows lenders that you are a good credit risk. This can not only help you get more money in the future, but it can also help you get better loan terms and interest rates.

4. Tax Advantages:

There is a hidden tax gain to borrowing money. Most of the time, you can subtract the interest you pay on business loans from your taxes. This lowers your taxable income. You will spend less in taxes, which means you can return more money to your business to help it grow and make investments.

Types of Debt Financing We Offer for Small Businesses

Small businesses can choose from various debt financing options from us, including term loans, cash flow loans, bridging finance, commercial property loans, and so on. Each type offers distinct advantages and considerations to meet various financial and business demands. 

Let's talk about various debt financing solutions for small enterprises:

1. Term Loans:

These are regular loans with a set interest rate and date for paying them back. Usually used for long-term goals like buying a house or paying for building projects that grow, they offer a stable payment plan that helps with budgeting. There are different kinds of term loans, with terms that range from a few years to more than ten years.

2. Start-Up Loans:

Designed to assist new businesses in getting off the ground, start-up loans provide smaller financing choices with flexible repayment terms. It is ideal for funding initial operational costs, marketing campaigns, or obtaining a business location.

3. Commercial Property Loan:

A commercial property loan is short-term finance which can be used to purchase a property. A commercial property loan provides the funds to buy or build a property for your business activities. Choose Kinetic Finance for a commercial loan with minimum arrangement fees for new borrowers.

4. Cash Flow Loans:

A cash flow loan covers temporary cash flow gaps. These loans bridge the gap between ongoing expenses and incoming earnings, ensuring your firm runs smoothly.

5. Bridging Finance:

Do you need short-term finance to cover unforeseen needs or to bridge the gap between selling an asset and buying a new one? Bridging finance provides a speedy answer to short-term cash flow problems.

We offer bridging loans from anywhere between £100k to £1m or more, so the amount you can borrow will depend on your current financial circumstances.

5. Purchase Overseas Properties Loan:

Are you looking to expand your business internationally? Our purchase overseas property financing enables you to acquire commercial property in a foreign market to help fund your global ambitions.

6. Instalment Loans:

Instalment loans, like term loans, provide a predetermined amount of money that is repayable in regular instalments over a set period. These loans are excellent for financing various business needs, including machinery and furniture.

7. Mortgages:

Want to buy commercial real estate? Our mortgage options provide long-term financing at competitive interest rates, allowing you to own your commercial property. You can get additional loans secured on your property for things like property improvements.

Choosing the Right Debt Financing Option

The best debt financing solution is based on your specific demands and circumstances. The following are some important considerations to think about:

  1. Loan Purpose: With the money, what are your plans? Make sure the type of loan fits your wants (for example, an equipment loan to buy machinery).
  2. Business Age and Credit History: It may be hard for new businesses to get loans. Having a good credit background makes it easier for you to borrow money.
  3. Ability to Repay: Carefully examine your cash flow to ensure your business can easily repay the loan.
  4. Interest Rates and Fees: Look at different lenders' interest rates, processing fees, and other costs with loans.

Securing Debt Financing: A Step-by-Step Guide

  • Make a Good Business Plan: To impress lenders, you need a clear plan that shows your business's goals, how you plan to make money, and how you will spend the money.
  • Improve your credit score: Keep your personal and business credit scores high to get the best loan terms.
  • Compare and shop around: Don't take the first deal that comes your way. Get quotes from more than one lender to find the best rates.
  • Be Prepared to Negotiate: Don't be afraid to talk to possible lenders about interest rates, fees, and loan terms. 

Essential Tips to Managing Debt Effectively 

When used wisely, debt can be a very useful tool. Here are some important plans:

  1. Make a Plan to Pay Off Your Debt: Make a plan that you can stick to to pay off your loans on time and avoid late fees and penalties.
  2. Make Paying Off Debt a Top Priority: To protect your finances, make paying off your debts a top priority in your budget.
  3. Monitor Your Cash Flow: Keep a close eye on your cash flow and make changes to your spending as needed to ensure you can repay your loan.
  4. Think About Paying Off Your Loan Early: If your cash flow allows it, consider early payment choices to save money on interest. 

The Bottom Line

To sum up, debt financing can be a game-changer for small businesses, helping them grow and getting them to the top. 

You can use debt financing to make your business dreams come true if you know your choices, carefully consider your needs, and take good care of your debt. Business bridging loans are temporary short-term loans for immediate need.