Many entrepreneurs believe they can use an online budget planner and figure out how to finance their own firms. While this may be a worthy strategy, it's difficult enough to simply get a business off the ground, let alone sustain operations without some type of outside help. Getting creative with financing is part of the fun of being an aspiring small-business owner, as it allows them to think outside the box and broaden their comfort zones to find funding options that work for them.
One of the biggest fears that entrepreneurs have is giving up control of their business when they decide to pursue outside funding. But sometimes it is necessary to help the firm stay above water and continue to grow. Here are a few reasons why seeking outside help for financing may prove to be the right choice for entrepreneurs down the road.
The competition is steep
Entrepreneurs who want to be successful must find their niche in their industry, but that still doesn't mean they won't feel the pressure from other companies. It's important to always look at what competitors are doing and figure out ways the company can improve, according to the Young Entrepreneur Council. Sometimes change is hard without some extra funds to speed up the process. Entrepreneurs must consult their budgeting tool to figure out if they'll need some assistance from their growth efforts, and if outside help is available, they shouldn't be afraid to take it.
New technology is needed
Many aspiring small-business owners stay abreast of the most recent innovations in technology that improve productivity and increase efficiency at companies throughout the United States. For instance, there may be a new budgeting software in the cloud that could help the business manage its finances or customer relationship management system that can make it easier to stay in contact with clients. However, these solutions may be difficult to purchase without seeking extra funding from an outside source. If these innovations make sense after crunching numbers in an online budget planner, entrepreneurs would be silly to not take the lending opportunity if it is there.
There are success stories
The Wall Street Journal provided an example of one entrepreneur who wasn't afraid to look for additional help after not getting much respect from the venture capital community. Marc Fienberg, head of production company Story Films, told the newspaper he tapped his network at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management where he attended school. He then was able to find people who were interested in his firm and secured up $5 million in funding – all because he wasn't afraid to look for outside help.
"I quickly realized that to do this, I'd have to reach outside my comfort zone," Fienberg told the newspaper. "There was no room to be shy or humble."