You know your Web-based business is ready to go to the next level, but you lack the funds to take it there. Fifty-three percent of Americans have considered starting their own online business, either as a side project or a main source of income, according to the website hosting company 1&1. Many go on to launch these sites and achieve a degree of success, but once you reach a certain plateau, you need to infuse the business with more money to facilitate its growth. Your chance at the big time is in sight—raise the capital you need with the following funding sources:
Crowdfunding
More and more, budding entrepreneurs and people spearheading charitable causes are taking to crowdfunding to raise money for their projects. Try one of these crowdfunding platforms made especially for businesses, such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo. The site will collect the funds donated to your project and deposit it into your bank account on a time frame you specify. If you can convince people your website is worthy of funding, they will donate.
Cash Out
You can always use your own money to fund your website. If you don’t think you have any extra money to do so, you may be mistaken. Consider if any of the following fit your situation:
- If you have a retirement account such as a 401(k) or an IRA, you may be able to take out a loan against it—just remember, you must pay it back
- Sell any stocks or bonds you hold
- If you receive regular payments from a structured settlement or annuity, a company like J.G. Wentworth may be able to buy your future payments for a lump sum of cash now
- You might even get lucky and find money you didn’t know was owed you by checking your state’s unclaimed assets site
Factoring Financing
If your website is already generating some steady money, you may be able to get a short-term loan through a factoring company. The concept behind factoring financing is simple: You sell your outstanding invoices and accounts receivable to the factoring company for 70 to 90 percent of their value. The factoring company sends you the money within one to two business days, and then handles collecting the money from the invoices themselves (that’s how they get paid back for the money they provided to you). The factoring company checks the credit-worthiness of the people owing your business money before they buy the invoices, but they do not check your credit.
Some companies specialize in a particular industry, while others will work with any kind of business as long as it has invoices to provide them. It’s a quick, easy way to get cash to boost your website when you need it. Search for a factoring company at the International Factoring Association.
