Debt vs. Equity Financing: Which Represents the Better Option for Small Businesses?

Capital is necessary for small businesses especially in the early stages of growth. It can be difficult to find a source of capital. Tighter lending criteria and venture capitalists still struggling with the recessionary fallout create an atmosphere where funding is a problem. There are several sites to get information about financing. A good one isreviewsbird.co.uk. You will find various reviews about wealth management companies on the site.

Small companies have two common types of funding available – debt financing and equity financing. What is a better option for you as a small business owner?

Debt financing

Common forms of debt financing include buying assets like a home or a vehicle using a credit card. You are obtaining a loan from an individual or corporation and making a contract with interest to pay it back. Debt funding for the business operates in a similar manner. You may apply for a commercial loan from a bank as a business owner, or accept a personal loan from relatives, family or other lenders, all of which you have to repay. To escape the gift tax, even family members that lend you money for your company must charge the minimum IRS interest rate.

The benefits of financing debt are extensive. First, there is no control over your company from the lender. Your arrangement with the financier stops once you repay the loan. Second, the interest you incur is deductible from tax. Finally, since debt payments don’t fluctuate, it is easier to predict expenditures.

For someone who has debt, the risk of debt financing is very significant. Debt is a gamble on your willingness to pay back the debt in the future. What if the business hits hard times or the economy suffers a meltdown? What if the company does not expand …