Sometimes, a business loan is necessary to fuel a company’s needs to be successful. But many entrepreneurs tend to make several mistakes in getting a loan. First, you need to prepare yourself and the company to ensure that it’s taking up the right loan and that it gets the money it needs.
Businesses borrow money for many reasons, such as purchasing new technology, real estate expenses, or buying new equipment for operations. Whatever your reason is, here are the most common mistakes you need to avoid in borrowing business money:
Borrowing too late
Of course, you try to avoid borrowing money as much as possible. So even though your business is suffering financially, you still try to finance everything from your cash flow. But this practice can result in financial pressure on your business. As a result, you may find yourself needing cash as soon as possible, forcing you to borrow money while you are at your weakest.
When the bank or the mortgage company sense that you are in a hurry, it usually gives them the impression that you have planned your finances poorly. This could be a valid reason for your loan to be rejected.
The best solution is to create cash flow projections for at least 12 months and make a plan for each month, including your expected income and usual expenses. It would also be ideal to include your planned investments in the projections. Once you’re done, discuss your plans with your banker or mortgage loan provider, so they know when you’ll need the funding in the future.
Not borrowing enough money
It’s essential to be wary about borrowing a huge amount of money. However, borrowing too little can put your business in a problematic situation; it forces your business to face a lack of cash during unexpected events.
What can you avoid this scenario? It’s vital to create a cash flow forecast for your projects, keeping in mind all the possible expenses that might arise in the future. With this plan, you can borrow the right amount of money to cover unforeseen contingencies and project costs.
Too much attention on the interest rate
Whether you like it or not, all loans have interests. And while the interest rate of your loan is an important factor, the whole loan does not revolve around it. Other elements could be just as vital, including:
- The term of the loan.
- Is the lender willing to offer multiple repayment options?
- Is it just a business or a mortgage loan where you need to pledge some of your physical assets?
These are just some of the many factors in a loan agreement you need to think through. Many entrepreneurs don’t even try to read the loan terms and conditions as they believe it’s just a standard process. But truth be told, lenders have different terms and conditions.
Failing to keep your finances in order
One of the common mistakes of entrepreneurs is putting too much confidence in their financial team. As an owner, it’s important to be hands-on in major financial chores to prevent consequences. You need to maintain excellent financial records. Keeping a messy one can give your business a bad image, practically leaving an impression that it’s performing poorly.
Poor finances are also one of the reasons why businesses find it hard to get approved with loans. Their lack of documentation and messy finances puts them in the dark, which is why lenders can’t feel confident dealing with them.
Be organized in keeping your financial records, and be sure to hire a professional to manage your books. It would also be ideal to consult someone who has extensive experience in financial management to take care of your business’s finances.
Not talking to multiple lenders
As mentioned, lenders and banks have different terms and conditions for business loans. Before making a deal with anyone, it’s wiser to have multiple options. Besides, allowing your business to depend on one financial institution means you have limited options, which can be challenging when facing a significant financial crisis.
You don’t want one lender having all the advantages when a serious problem arises. So just like how you diversify your suppliers and customers, you should also consider diversifying your relationships with lenders.
Here, you need to meet different lenders and create relationships with multiple institutions. They can offer you different financing products to meet your unique business needs.
Managing a business is hard work. And it even becomes more challenging when the company faces financial challenges along the way. Seasoned or not, business owners must learn about the proper way of borrowing money and all the mistakes to avoid a hassle-free loan application experience.
