Topic: Would you prefer getting a loan for a startup or getting an investor? - page 8. (Read 839 times)

You just said it's difficult to get a loan and even investors to power up a business. Both are hard to get with the kind of economy today. If you get investors, those guys are going to knock on your door now and then to ask whether you are doing your job because they are eager to profit. While if you also have a loan, it could be a heavy burden for you.

Little by little must be the way. And when you see the business is already working that's the time you may seek investors.

What I do when I want to develop a business is to consider it over a long period of time. However even after a long period of time, I am still trying to develop this business personally, meaning that before making a decision to borrow or get funds from investors, the guaranteed thing is to find the weaknesses of this business and fix them completely in order to minimize losses. For example: I have a local craft business that is only able to meet demand in the nearest area, so I was given 3 months to work on it completely, evaluating any gaps, quality of goods, abundant supply of raw materials, everything must be checked carefully. The aim is that in the future, if production is expanded, all the materials needed will not experience problems such as a shortage of raw materials amidst high demand. This will create a stock of goods that is ready to be distributed on an ongoing basis with market demand that is truly able to meet it.

As for the involvement of third parties, for me there is no problem, whether you want to borrow or receive funds from investors, as long as you are able to carry out this according to a structured plan, there will be no obstacles in sharing profits.

Using a loan money to start up a company is like a 50/50 deal and it's a bit risky also. One of the reasons I don't like using loan money for business service is because from the start of every new company, customers aren't coming in as excepted because you are just starting, and it takes months for people to know the company and also know the kind of service they renders. And loan money always comes with interest and if you want to do business with the loan money the interest will double up because everyone who's rendering loan to others believes that people who comes for loan fi start up company/businesses want to use their money to start up life, so most of them gives the loan with a risky condition and big interest so that if you as the loan collector starts the business you will take more time for you to pay back the loans and in every month interest increases. So for me I thinks that the best way is getting the am investors who can invest well on your company and you also make sure to do an agreement with them for a specific year.

Currently, I have a business idea that requires about $50k, but I can't get a loan of such an amount from the bank because I will be required to provide sufficient collateral, which I have nothing much to offer unless I put my dad's house and my mom's business in line, and that's something I don't want to do. Although I have my own business, it's small, and I want a big company, which is what requires me to raise up to $50,000. If I can get serious investors and they agree with my terms for the percentage they will receive for some number of years, I will go with that option. If I can also get a low-interest loan from relative effort combined, that will also be cool. 

I can use a loan or investor money to start my business plan, depending on what is readily available and what makes me more comfortable. There are some loans you will take, and you will put yourself in some kind of mental trouble, especially if the business is not profitable as planned. 

Many ideas not good enough to scale or even realistic. Seed Money is good but every idea needs a plan in order to get it.
The person with the idea also has to in control of him/herself. No good to spend investment in cars and luxury and let developers do the rest for coffee and a bag of apples.

If you take a loan for the idea you signal to investors that you belief in your idea. That's a big plus.

My choice will depend on the conditions of the loan from the bank or the partner. Islamic Banks offer loans without interest which makes them attractive to business owners. Other bank's interest is so high that one might fall into debt if the business doesn't start making profits as projected.  Another problem of banks is that they also demand collateral, which some business owners don't have. One has to take all these into consideration before asking for loans.

Partnering with a sponsor will be a good idea, but it will also depend on the terms of the contract. If these partners are not greedy, it will be better to sign a deal with them instead of allowing the idea to die or become outdated. You just have to seek good legal advice to enable you to have an agreement that will favour you now and in the future.

Choosing any of these options has its consequences. Taking a loan from banks will make you bear the risk and gain alone. The partnership will make you share the gains and losses with your partner. So you have to consider which one that will be convenient. For me, I would prefer a partnership since I do not want to take business risks alone.

Well I don't believe that getting a loan is good for a new business rather it can be perfect for an already existing business because it already has market and customers from where the funds for both to service or repay the loan will be generated from. For a new business that has no coverage, patronage or customers, it will be difficult to grow with loan. Loan is suppose to be for already tasted business. However, some people try or risk it and survive but very few. So it is better to look for support and investors to build the new business because it will have no interest attached to the funds.


Both are good but to have a partner has to be with a special arrangements and agreement, best to be written down in black and white and the owner should have the larger part of capital which will give controlling right because the owner is the one that has the original dream of the business. If it is a business that can be started by personal savings then it is better to gradually build it.

Personally I would rather take a loan from a respected institution. All they will care about is whether I can pay back the loan or not and once it is all paid, they can finally leave me alone. It is much harder to make transaction with an actual person, in my opinion. They might also want to be involved in all decisions in the business which I would hate if it was all my idea in the first place.

Investors don't really help out for a business to start, they are only interested in the expansion of the existing business model cause the chances of failing a new business startup is high compared to a start-up that exists already for a year.

Bank loan is the only choice now which is even more difficult if you don't have a good credit profile, collateral, and hundreds of documents.

There is another option which is partnership, if you have small capital like 1/10th of what you need then you can try to unite a group of 10 such people.

The option to take actual depends on the conditions given to you, firstly of all taking loan is the most risky thing to do most especially for a business that is just kick starting. The risk of the business collapsing and you haven to pay back the loan is the most worrisome factor in taking loan.
The reason why you even see lots of people going to take loan is because they don’t have anybody that wants to invest in them, so having this option is already a step ahead for them. Investors most at times comes with less risk and gives you more time than the loans.

My pick is seeking an investor but that depends on the conditions they take, most investors do not take liable of the risk in the business, they take far too much profits of the business and mostly leave the business runner with bearly nothing. So if the conditions too seems far too stretched then I would also abolish this and maybe seek out governments grants which are far better although very hard to get

To get a loan, you need to have some kind of collateral that has some value for you to get a proper loan, and not every individual intending to start a business has that. But If it an investor, they can invest in you if they see your business plan as viable even without you having anything to give them yet.

An investor who you promise business returns periodically is a better choice than a bank loan.

On the other side of things if you intend to have a business where you are the sole owner who makes all the decisions without interference, a bank loan will be a better option because someone invests in your business means they have bought a share of your stock and to an extent they have an opinion in a decision making of your business. You will be lucky if you can get an investor who is not interested in poke nosing into the business, someone who is only interested in the profit you have promised them.

I would prefer to take the second option, find an investor who will finance your business idea and both of you will be business partners. This is actually a win-win situation because you are not going to lose any but only your time and efforts to your business, and as long as you are confident that your business idea will work and grow in the process, then the rate of success is higher.

However, if you want to solely run your business and suicide on taking a loan, I think that’s putting yourself and your business at a high risk. You will face bigger pressures instead, on making sure that your business will work so you can pay your loan, and on securing a back up plan where you will get your payment in case your business will fail which I believe has really high chances especially if the competition is stiff and you have not build yet a strong foundation of your business.

Personally I prefer finding an investor. Well yes profit won't be as big as expected but at least it would be a safer option. Taking a loan would be a good thing if you really see huge potential to what you are trying to cook because it would be a gamble if you're pushing the risks up. If your investment won't generate enough to pay the interest then basically you are putting yourself in huge debt. This is why I believe finding an investor would at least balance risk and profit ratio, at least temporarily. Just depends on where you would be using the money actually. There are odds with taking a loan and same goes with finding an investor.

For example, you are aiming for a franchise. If that franchise has enough popularity and organic customer or client, then it would be fine taking a loan to start things up. But if it literally a start up, then you might consider the other option 'coz it will help you in all aspects; growing the business, and help with finances, bills, and capital.

One of the major problem an average person that has an incredible business idea faces is the ability to raise the initial capital that's required to bring his ideas to life. and in solving this challenge, the available option has always ranged from iether taking a loan from a financial institution or seeking for investors that will take a particular percentage of the company and will in return provide the necessary financial support.

Considering these two options that's one of the easiest to get, taking a loan sometimes comes with a whole lot of strict terms and conditions and  with the high interest rate expecially in my region, it's even deficult to put that as an option. Looking at the case with most investors who are just looking for ways to double there already dormant funds, and care little about the owner of the business, it seems to be another problem dealing with them as most of the ratio they intend getting from you seems to be too big expecially when they already know that your proposed business have an higher chance of doing well in the long run.

I know that as a start-up, these sources could potentially help your business to upscale at a very sharp pace and that from the angle of allowing an investor to buy into your business, you could get other added advantage like getting advice and connection that will help boost your business but I'm just curious to ask;

 If you have a well thought out business idea but don't have the needed capital to keep it functional, is getting a loan the best option or looking for interested investors?

Would trying to start up the business in your own little way the best option or can you consider bringing a third party into the business who will just serve as a partner that contributes just money?