[letstalkbusiness]

Greetings,

New here, but I'm hoping some people can help me with my market research for a new business I am starting up with my biz partners.

I need some entrepreneurs to comment on how their businesses are doing, and if/how capital has or how it could help them?

What about expanding your business but not having money to invest into it? Has this ever been a problem?

For these people has capital been difficult to raise?

For others, have you ever had ideas that haven't been able to be turned into reality simply because you could not gain the capital or because you did not know where to go to get it?

Many venture capital firms have minimum investments of $500k, but many of us don't even require close to $100k to start our businesses. Correct?

Lastly is there a need for more resources to be made available for entrepreneurs to raise capital?

All opinions/comments welcomed!

Thanks

[mediad]

I wish there was an easier way to get startup funds for less than $10,000.00 I'm having to use credit cards because the banks aren't interested and it's to small for most SBA loans

D.

[mxer210]

I would agree. My last two businesses needed financing, but I only needed about 10k which is only good for like a micro loan, and too much from family, and too little from angel, affinity, or vc's.

[mediad]

I actually did some real research into microloans, ya know the ones for small businesses needing an easy way to get a SBA loan for under $15k. What a joke! The only approved microlender in this area is an hour away and only works with farms. I even found some places on the internet that do microloans, but they all seem to have "local" contacts that you have to work through and they are even worse than dealing with the bank.

D.

[GSchubert751]

Credit Cards arnt a bad way to go.

[jimmiejo]

I agree, credit cards are a great way to go. If you can get your hands on a few cards that add up to $10,000 or whatever bootstrap amount you may need, just make sure your business idea isn't just an idea and will generate enough cash to pay the bills.

[TMadiara20]

Getting investment is so hard these days. The only way I feel young entrepreneurs can obtain investment is through there only family now.

Best Regards,

[problematic]

not need added funding. I always started on a shoe string because it was almost always my own money. Once however, I needed $500k to start and I found a private investor by accident. Only thing is that I found that I needed another $22MM to meet orders within 1 year. Never found it.

The problem I see lately is that many "angels" have flocked together to form "clubs", which makes it more difficult to pitch your idea because you face many opinions rather than one.

Also notice that there are a lot of web sites touting 1,000's of angels in their lists but you have to buy the names and hope they are valid one by one.

I have always depended on networking, that way you have some knowledge of the investor on a personal and business basis.

Those sources you guard with your life.

I do know of a few groups that I have some experience with but as usual they take 3-6 months to make up their mind and require very complete plans, financials etc.