In the year 2019, small business financing brings along with it some unique challenges that every entrepreneur might have to face. However, the good news is that this is by far the best year for business owners to opt for a business loan .

More to the point, since the advent of ‘non-banking’ lending sources, there is a myriad of financial options that businesses can choose from – not to mention the lesser number of stumbling blocks, in terms of creditworthiness, to deal with when it boils down to small business loans and business financing.

Nonetheless, when on the lookout for business finance in 2019, we’ve mentioned a few essential things that you as a business must know about.

The terms of reimbursement

When thinking of taking up business finance for your company, do take into consideration the timeframe for which the financial agreement has been arranged to last.

Whilst loans for a longer period of time can increase the interest amount by a significant number, short-term loans might require you to make huge periodic payments.

Furthermore, you’ve got to think about your periodic payment and how often you’ll be making the necessary payments. Besides, consider the allotment of every payment to its interest and principal.

And always go for loans that come with a higher allotment to principal in order to cut back on your overall long-term expense.

The fee structure and amount of interest

Before you make the final decision, make sure you’re adding up all the expenses that are related to each financing option. The usual expenses for a loan comprise of broker’s fee, the rate of interest and origination fees. Also, remember that taking up financing as an option via investment come with a different set of expenses.

Similarly, funding your business with the help of stock offerings might require you to make alterations in your management and shifts in tactical focus.

The requirements of lender financing

Another important thing that you must take into account is the personal needs of every investor and lender. That said, always choose a financing source whose needs you think you’ll be able to meet.

Some common requirements of these sources include specific financial ratio tests like ‘debt-to-equity’ or ‘interest coverage ratio’ as well as credit score requirements. So, ensure you’re putting your heads together about the requirements of every investor or lender before signing up for any application package.

The key metrics of the business

Always bear in mind, the simpler your dashboard, the easier it’ll be for you to drive more business. So, do figure out what are the key metrics of your firm, that is the numbers that tell you whether everything’s fine or there’s trouble down the road.

Your key metrics are more than just your expenses or profits. You’ve got 3 to 4 metrics based on the kind of business you’ve been running. If it’s a manufacturing business, for example, then the expenses of products sold would be crucial.

On the other hand, if it was a distribution business you were handling, your shipping expenses would hold the most significance.

No matter what type of business you’re running, always keep a record of your foreseen net cash, the next 30 days sales prediction along with the backlog.

The extra financing needs

If you’ve been thinking of financing your company via investments, take into consideration all the aftermath of your decision before taking it ahead.

If you’re using the means of a venture capitalist, know that they often ask for an ownership stake in your business and expect you to purchase it back at a premium once your company starts growing.

Now, before you purchase the ownership back, though, the investor might impose a huge influence on tactical and managerial decisions.

Selling shares of your stock to fund a business comes with its own set of crucial considerations as well, which includes the odds of losing all your hold on the management and falling prey to a takeover from some large-scale business.

The future of your business is highly based on how well you’re able to station, handle and leverage your financial resources. We hope that you take these 5 crucial things in stride when on the lookout for business finance.