All businesses need money. Where the money comes from is known as ‘sources of finance’. Now there are two different types of sources of finance: internal (finance from inside the business) and external (finance from outside the business). New businesses starting up need money to invest in long-term assets such as buildings and equipment. They also need cash to purchase materials, pay wages, and to pay the day-today- bills such as water and electricity. In-experienced entrepreneurs (or social entrepreneurs) often underestimate the capital needed for the everyday running of the business. Generally, for every £1000 required to establish the business, another £1000 is needed for day-to-day needs. This is why sources of finance is crucial for any business.
Internal Sources of Finance
- Existing capital can be made to stretch further. The business may be able to negotiate to pay its bills later or work at getting cash in earlier from customers; the average small firm waits 75 days to be paid (i.e. two and a half months); if that period of time could be halved; it would provide a huge boost to cash flow.
- Profit! Over 60% of business investments comes from reinvested profit.
External Sources of Finance
If a business needs to generate more finance and can’t internally, they may seek for external sources of finance. There are two types: loan capital and share capital. Please also see ‘Factors that Affect the Choice of Finance‘.
Loan Capital
The most common way is through borrowing from a bank. This can be in a form of an overdraft or loan. and is usually set over a period of time. It could be short (2-3 years), medium (3-5 years) or long term (5+ years). There will be an interest rate on the loan, either fixed or variable. The bank will demand a collateral to provide security in case the loan cannot be repaid.
An overdraft is basically a very short-term loan. This lets the business be ‘overdrawn’ or ‘fall into the red’ in which to what extent is negotiated. Overdrafts have a much higher rate of interest than loans.
Share Capital
On the other hand, if the business is a limited company, it may look for additional share capital. This could come from private investors or venture capital funds. Venture capital providers are interested in investing in businesses with dynamic growth prospects. They are willing to take a risk if a business fails, or does well. The way it works is that a venture capitalist invests in ten businesses, five could flop, four do okay and one does amazingly well. Peter Theil, the original investor in Facebook, probably turned his $0.5 million investment into $200 million: a nice profit of 400%.
Once the business has become a public limited company, it can float onto the stock exchange where it can sell shares to the public.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Sources of Finance
Internal Sources
Reinvested Profit
+ Profit can provide a return for investors in which investors plough back into business to help it grow.
+ Does not have associated costs.
+ Does not have to be repaid unlike loans.
+ No interest charges.
– May be limited which will constrain rate at which business expands.
Cash Squeezed Out by Day-to-Day Finance
+ Reduces amount needed to be borrowed (cutting stocks, chasing up customers or delaying payments to suppliers).
– Very short term solution.
Sale of Assets
+ Sold to raise cash.
+ Makes sense to dispose of underused assets.
+ Finance development without extra borrowing.
+ They can sale and lease it back.
– Loses assets but has the use of the cash.
External Sources
Bank Overdrafts
+ The firm only needs to borrow only when and as much as it needs.
– Very expensive and bank can insist being repaid within 24 hours.
Trade Credit
+ Good way of boosting day-to-day finance.
– Other businesses may be reluctant to trade with the business if they do not get paid in good time.
Venture Capital
+ Usually want to contribute to the running of the business – bring in new experience and knowledge.
– Requires a substantial part of the ownership of the company.
Finding finance may involve balancing conflicting interests. Internal sources of finance may be too limited to provide opportunities for business development. Obtaining external finance increases the money available, but has its downsides. Borrowing too much can be risky. Raising extra share capital dilutes the control held by existing shareholders.
Having adequate and appropriate finance at each stage in the firm’s development will ensure it stays healthy. Decisions about where to obtain the finance will be a matter of considering the business objectives, the stage of development of the the business and the reasons for the funding requirement. A well-run business plans ahead for its financing needs. To run out of cash (as with Northern Rock did) suggests management incompetence.
Key Terms
- Collateral – an asset used as security for a loan. It can be sold by a lender if the borrower fails to pay back a loan.
- Over-trading – when a firm expands without adequate and appropriate funding.
- Public limited company (plc) – a company with limited liability, and shares that are available to the public. It’s shares can be quoted on the stock market.
- Share capital – business finance that has no guarantee of repayment or of annual income, but gains a share of the control of the business and its potential profits.
- Stock market – a market for buying and selling company shares. It supervises the issuing of shares by companies. It is also a second-hand market for stocks and shares.
- Venture capital – high-risk capital invested in a combination of loans and shares, usually in a small, dynamic business.
It's good to know the sources of finance internally and externally. I really learned a lot.
sr&ed tax credit
I'm glad it proved useful.
Loans are there for emergency purposes if you need cash immediately. Other loans are also available for specific needs.
I would say overdrafts are more for emergency purposes than loans, but a business will use a long term long if it sees it will be financially unstable for a long time.
SITA ENCHILL :Iam impressed about the explanation given and is self explanatry.Bank overdraft can only be assessed when a person has a current account with a bank.
Very true. They will also need a good credit score just like with loans – banks don't like to give money out if they know there is a high risk of them not getting the original money plus interest back.
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this helped me alot
thanks son
Your welcome!
yo is share issue an external or internal source, let me know asap
That is an internal source of finance because shares are part of the business (I'm assuming by shares you meaning selling the business' shares for cash). A business has control over shares and can raise extra finance through selling them.
The fact that it's risky and challenging makes a lot of traders trade it and keep learning about it because it feels good to be a winner trader and make money in a week that most people wont be able to make in months.
You brought up a lot of good points. I guess a lot of people will glad to read this. Excellent post and very helpful.more info on ex-patriot Australian mortgage
While it is true that the external sources of finance reaps more benefits on a long term scale, it can't be denied that there are more risks involved as well. Generally speaking, there is so much market volatility that can impact capital and just decrease shareholder asset in the current global fiscal woes.
Excuse me buh you commented that shares are internal sources of finance, how could that be when shares are sold to the public nd cash is recieved from them. And ofcourse they become owners of the business too, so sir I tink that shares financeing is a longterm externall source of finance. Thank you
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wow.clear explanations there.
helped alot
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The importance of capital can never be underestimated. You have provided a good list of all the things that business people will need capital for. It should serve as a useful guide for persons in many different sectors.
The need for cash is the same across most industries. You still have people to pay, utility bills, shipping and other costs. Without the right estimates made for start up and operating costs, a business may fail.
Hi Will! Profit is not a source for finance, better tell retained earnings or reserves (actually they are from profit), cos profit is accounting matter and could be situation when you have profit and empty bank account. Source of finance always must be a cash
Please categorize the long term and short term sources of finance for easier understanding…PDF formats will be appreciatable
In what sense of categorization?
its not yet clear which are the internal and external sources of finances otherwise thank you for the research.
Great information about not enough.
Because I think there are more source of finance like debenture, bonds …
good job
This really helped me with my Accounting Assignment, thank you very much. 🙂
Banks don't like to give money out if they know there is a high risk of them not getting the original money plus interest back.
Thank you so much for this post! I have a small business and these free resources really save the day.
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Thanks, very useful tut
Thanks for the information