Sometimes in the business world, you might need a financial helping hand. This is especially true if you are starting out as a business owner or building your business from where it already is. This is where business finance can be highly useful because you can use it for any number of issues that your business might be facing.
When you apply for any business loans you should know what you want to use the money for. For example, asset financing is used to lease, hire or purchase new equipment or vehicles for your business.
Small business loans can be used to boost your business funds or for purchasing new premises. Interested in applying for business finance? Read on below for what you can use these loans for.
You can purchase inventory
If you sell products, the chances are that your cash flow can often be dictated by having to restock your shelves. But if you have a business loan, you can purchase more inventory to replenish your stock and stay in operation throughout the year.
Purchasing new inventory during seasonal dips, such as selling out of items during the festive season, can become expensive. This is where finance can come in handy. You can have the funds deposited into your company bank account and use it solely for restocking your shelves, allowing better management of accounts during these trying times. It is not a long term solution, however, to use a loan to purchase inventory can be helpful for small businesses just starting out.
You can upgrade equipment
Having outdated equipment will put you at a significant disadvantage to your competitors. This can be remedied by taking out business asset finance in order to upgrade your current equipment. You can lease, hire or even purchase everything you need to maintain your original business plan.
For example, a transport or logistics company can use this finance to improve their fleet, to upgrade their current trucks, or to provide new technology to drivers to help them navigate the South African roads. If you are a boutique design agency, you can use your loan to purchase new computers with the latest software so that your staff is always on the cutting edge of all trends. On your loan application, be sure to list what you plan on using the money for so that you have accurate estimations of your interest rates.
Keep your office operational
Keeping your office operational means that you need to pay for day-to-day expenses. This can include anything from replacing an old coffee machine so your staff stays caffeinated to paying the utility bills so that your office does not go dark when you need electricity the most.
This could be seen as starting capital for small business owners, which you can then supplement with more income or repay once your business starts to earn more and become successful. You could create a list of all of your needs, such as paying lights and water bills or fixing kitchen equipment and look for those that you need to focus on the most. For example, your staff could bring their own lunches into the office in case you need to replace the fridge or you could strike a deal with a nearby coffee shop to save yourself from spending unnecessarily on expensive coffee equipment.
You can boost your marketing budget
Marketing is not easy to understand for everyone. While you might have a brilliant business mind, your aptitude for selling and marketing your company might not be your strong suit. This can be helped by investing a business loan into a marketing company for your strategy, which can help build awareness about your business and make it a success.
You will have improved brand visibility and can reach customers in new and exciting ways. And you will also see a significant return on investment when reports and analytics come in showing your business’s performance. Marketing is an integral part of building a flourishing business, so using your loan for this purpose would not be a waste. Be sure to speak to your lender about whether this is an acceptable use of your business finance and what the interest rates would be.
Final thoughts
A business loan can be a sound investment, especially if you consider what it can be used for. You could look into purchasing new inventory for your shelves during a busy shopping period, or upgrade your machinery for your next big project. You can use the money to keep your day-to-day expenses from becoming overwhelming or boost your marketing budget so you can reach customers and build your business.
