Money is needed to establish grow and operate business. A business faces three major issues when selecting an appropriate source of finance for a new project(Fabozzi, 2001, pp.78-81,):
1. Can the finance be raised from internal resources or will new finance have to be raised outside the business?
2. If finance needs to be raised externally, should it be debt or equity?
3. If external debt or equity is to be used, where should it be raised from and in which form?
Sources of Funds
Sources of Funds for a business is divided into 2 categories, internal sources such as equity finance and external sources such as debt finance
Internal sources/Equity finance
The money the owner has provided to the business comes from owner's equity/retained profits owner's equity is the owner's contribution retained profits is the money kept by the business after it has paid off its taxes
External sources/Debt finance
Money obtained from people other than the owners. it is divided into short term/long term/other sources of fundsa) (Emery, Finnerty, 1991, pp.34-69)
Short term borrowings
Debts that will be repaid within a year overdraft - an agreement between a commercial bank and business that allows a business's cheque account to go into a deficit to a limit bank bill - simply a written instruction to repay a sum of money by a certain date. The bank does not provide the money, the investors provide the money to the business and the bank is the guarantor whom provides security that the money will be repaid(Fabozzi, 2001, pp.78-81,).
Long term borrowings
Debts that will take between 5-25 years to repay
Mortgage
A secured loan used to fund the purchase of property. Property cannot be sold until all borrowings are repaid
Debentures
Finance supplied by the general public for a fixed interest rate. Debentures are subject to government regulationc)
Other sources of funds
Leasing
The payment of money for the use of equipment owned by another party. It is divided into 2 categories, operational lease and financial lease.
Factoring
Sale of customer debt/accounts receivable to a financier at a discounted rate
Venture capital
Finance supplied by private investors/venture companies for a risky business that has potential
Grants
Non-repayable financial benefits supplied by government agencies or private businesses.
Gearing
The mix of debt and equity finance to fund the asset of the business it is the proportion of debt finance compared to equity finance debt finance should be 66% of equity finance if ratio is too high, the bank will be concerned whether the business can pay its debts on time if ratio is too low, the business would be seen as a takeover target(Bowlin, Scott, 1990, pp.90-109).
Sole or partnership
Food Delicious is a business owned by one person, Mr. Green, who is entitled to all of its profits and ...