Sample 1 - Blog #venture capitalSample 1 - Blog #venture capitalhttps://lololol.zohosites.com/thoughts/tag/venture-capitalTue, 06 Aug 2024 14:08:08 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[What are the merits and drawbacks of traditional bank loans and alternative types of finance? ]]>https://lololol.zohosites.com/thoughts/post/What-are-the-merits-and-drawbacks-of-traditional-bank-loans-and-alternative-types-of-finance




Securing finance for your SME can be a challenging and, at times, very confusing process, mainly because there are so many different types to choose from.

Whether you are opting for a traditional bank loan or are choosing to go for an alternative type of finance, ensure that you always make the right decision by checking out our guide to the main differences between the types of finances available to you, including the merits and drawbacks of the ones that you are considering.

 

Traditional bank loans

Banks are the largest small business lenders and are also the first thing that most businesses think of when it comes to securing finance for their SME. Bank loans can be an effective source of finance in the sense that they offer very low, fixed interest rates along with predictable monthly spending, making it much easier for you to manage your money on a day to day basis.

Sounds good, right? Well, unfortunately bank loans do come with their downsides that include lengthy paperwork and a longer waiting time to secure the money, meaning it’s not a particularly good option if you need funding fast.


Venture capital funding

If a venture capitalist believes that a business has potential and can also recognise a unique selling point or competitive advantage, it will choose to invest money in it. While a venture capitalist is unlikely to get involved in the day-to-day running of a business, what they can do is help the business to focus its strategy. While there are a number of merits of this type of finance, it also comes with a number of drawbacks. Firstly, it can be a very costly and time-consuming process. Your business will also incur legal fees whether an investment is secured or not.


Crowdfunding, also known as P2P or Peer-to-Peer Lending

This is becoming an increasingly popular way for businesses to obtain funding and is essentially when companies are connected with thousands of investors, some of whom may either be current or future customers. Raising equity finance in this way through internet-based crowdfunding platforms can be an alternative to seeking angel or VC finance through more traditional routes for start-up, early-stage and growth companies.


Pay as you trade finance

Pay as you trade finance is a good option for any businesses that have a high volume of customer card payments and transactions such as firms working in the retail and hospitality sector. This type of finance option will improve your cash flow because rather than having restrictive monthly payment obligations, you pay a percentage of what you earn. 


If you need to secure funding for your SME startup or to facilitate the growth of your more established company, get in touch with GIC Capital today to find out how we can help you reach your full potential. 

We aim to deliver much needed capital to start-ups and SMEs

Call Now +44 (0) 203 2909019

]]>Wed, 07 Feb 2018 22:32:00 -0800<![CDATA[How to sell your property development plans to investors]]>https://lololol.zohosites.com/thoughts/post/How-to-sell-your-property-development-plans-to-investors

Trying to secure investment for your property investment plans can be one of the hardest tasks property developers have to face. It can also be one of the easiest. Some property developers secure investments in their very first meetings, whereas others can spend months trying to convince investors to buy into their idea. Whether or not a property developer places their faith, and their money, in your ideas depends on a variety of factors and circumstances; read on to find out what they are.


Experience


This one’s relatively simple. A property investor is much more likely to part with their cash if you’ve got a huge portfolio of successful projects and renovations to hand. Seeing proof of your efforts in the past will give your investors a priceless sense of security, and instil them with faith that whatever they give you will find it’s way back to them, with profit.


In contrast, you may find it very difficult to secure investment in your property development plans if this is your first project. Property development is a complicated and risky business, and many investors will find the prospect of parting with their cash to a newcomer too low on the risk/reward scale.


Timescales


Another big factor which can make or break your pitch to investors is the timescale of your project. Some investors are looking for quick wins, and simply won’t like the idea of investing their funds if they aren’t likely to see a return for a prolonged number of years.


You can mitigate this by choosing contractors you know are going to get the job done quickly and choosing properties which won’t take as long to renovate, slashing the timescale of your project and increasing your attractiveness to investors. After you’ve completed a few successful developments and rewarded your investors for their funds, they may feel much more secure in lending you money for long-term developments.


Location


Who’s going to want to lend you money to develop property in an unpopular area? You’re much more likely to secure investment if you’re developing property in the south of France or Barcelona as opposed to a tiny, rainy village in the middle of nowhere.


Location can have a massive impact on the timescale of your development and, consequently, the chance of you securing investment. As such, picking an attractive location for your developments is essential in selling your ideas to investors, especially if you’re not the most experienced developer on the market.


If you’re looking to stay on top of the latest business news and find out how other property developers are doing, check out our entrepreneurship daily page.

We aim to deliver much needed capital to start-ups and SMEs

Call Now +44 (0) 203 2909019

]]>Fri, 29 Dec 2017 01:00:00 -0800<![CDATA[When is an angel investor right for you?]]>https://lololol.zohosites.com/thoughts/post/When-is-an-angel-investor-right-for-you

The Right Kind of Angel Investor for Your Business

When starting your new venture, it’s imperative that you consider the range of investment options available to you. If you’re lucky enough to be able to do so, you may want to borrow from friends and family who believe in your business model. You could go for the increasingly-popular method of crowdfunding, or get your business off the ground using venturcapital investment. Another highly-popular form of investment used to turn fledgling start-ups into mutli-million-dollar businesses is angel investment. 

What is angel investment?

An angel investor is a successful business owner who provides financial backing during the early stages of a start-up’s life in exchange for an ownership stake in your company. Companies who’ve done incredibly well through the use of angel investors include Facebook and Uber. 

What are the benefits?

There are numerous benefits of choosing an angel investment, namely the lessened risk to yourself. As a rule, an angel investor is stumping up their cash because they have faith in your business. If, for whatever reason, your start up isn’t successful, you won’t have to pay your angel investor back for their funds.

On top of this, by choosing an angel investor you’ll also be gaining a highly experienced and extremely capable business partner. The vast majority of angel investors have extremely successful companies of their own (it’s for this reason they’re able to risk their own cash on your startup) and can impart their invaluable wisdom and business acumen to you as you work together to move your venture forward.

What are the drawbacks?

As you may expect, angel investors can be extremely picky about who they invest in. This is understandable; they are risking losing all their money with zero chance of repayment if your project fails, and as such securing funding from an angel investor can be very difficult. What’s more, if your company is extremely successful you may have given away a share in your business that’s worth much more than what your angel investor initially gave you.

Is it right for you?

An angel investor isn’t a one-size-fits all solution. Whilst it does present the highly lucrative option of risk-free funding, the people offering this money are masters in business and only tend to invest in businesses that become successes. It’s for this reason that you may end up paying back your angel investor a sum worth considerably more than what you borrowed from them initially, meaning that in the long run it can be a potentially costly financing option.

Conclusion:

  • Are you looking for more than just money?
  • Do you want an investor who can offer valuable guidance and advice?
  • Do you want to build a long-term relationship with your investor?
  • Are you willing to give up some control of your company?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then an angel investor may be right for you. Angel investors are individuals who invest their own money in early-stage companies in exchange for a percentage of equity. They are typically more interested in the potential of your company than in making a quick return on their investment.

Angel investors can provide valuable guidance and advice, which can be especially helpful for first-time entrepreneurs. In addition, they can offer valuable introductions to other investors and potential customers. However, it is important to remember that angel investors will want some control over your company in exchange for their investment.

If you're thinking about raising money for your business, then be sure to consider all your options before making a decision. An angel investor may be the right choice for you if you're looking for more than just money.

An angel investment might not be right for you, but our business overdraft facility could be exactly what you’re looking for.

From supporting growth to accelerating expansion, we understand the capital needs of start-ups and SMEs. GIC Capital is here to provide you with the hassle-free financing that you deserve. #businessfinance #PropertyFinance #capitalfunding

We aim to deliver much needed capital to start-ups and SMEs

Call Now +44 (0) 203 2909019

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