Every business requires money to get off the ground and most businesses will require financing at some point in their growth. There's many sources of funding businesses can have, such as: self-funding, small business loans, venture capital, and crowdfunding. It's important to be familiar with these sources and the options available to you as a business owner.

Traditional Loans

Loans are a common way for businesses to fund their operations, expansion, and acquisition of equipment and inventory. The recipient incurs the debt and is liable to pay interest on that debt with the expectation that the principal amount is repaid.

SBA
WellsFargo
Bank of America
Chase
Capital One
US Bank

Micro Loans

Ideal for small businesses looking to start up, expand, rebuild, re-open, or improve your operations, microloans average around $13,000 and can go up to $50,000.

Pursuit
Trenton Business Assistance Corp.
Ascendus
Kiva
Opportunity Fund

Crowdfunding

A newer funding practice made popular by the internet, where the funding of a project or venture is done through raising money from a large number of people.

Indiegogo
Kickstarter
Causes
Patreon
Fundable

Grants

A fund given by a charitable foundation, government, or specialized institution to an individual or business for a specific purpose. Grants are not to be paid back.

National Association for Self-Employed Grants
Nav's Small Business Grant
National Institute of Health Funding
Government Grants
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR)
US Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
BIPOC Small Business Grant by Annuity Payment Freedom
SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant
Comcast Rise
Go.Be. Fund

Diversity and Industry Specific Funding

This type of funding is ideal for businesses with culturally or ethnically diverse leadership, or businesses that are industry specific.

Patagonia Corporate Grant Program

SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant

StartOut Scholarship Program

Asian Woman Giving Circle

Amber Grant for Women

Pitch Competitions

A contest where entrepreneurs present their business concept to a panel in the hope of winning a cash prize or investment.

Hatch Pitch

WebSummit Pitch

Venture Capital

A form of private equity and type of financing where investors provide to startup companies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential.

FundersClub

MicroVentures