3 Small-Business Financing Options You Never Knew About

Key takeaways

• Financing options for a small business are usually debt-based or equity-based.
• Debt-based funding involves the risk of debt repayment, while equity-based financing could mean the loss of company control since the founder is no longer the sole owner.
• Use of rewards-based crowdfunding, grant proceeds, or a Home Equity Agreement (HEA) may offer new approaches to financing a small business.
• A Home Equity Agreement may be a good choice for business owners to access capital without having a traditional loan repayment structure or selling equity in their company.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans launched 5.5 million businesses in 2023, the highest year on record. While this may be an exciting time to start a company, many business owners may have questions about financing those dreams. Now more than ever, small-business financing is accessible to a broader audience through new platforms and products. Here are three options you might not yet know about.

Traditional Funding Options for Small Businesses

For small-business owners, financing options usually come in two forms: debt-based or equity-based.

Debt-based financing involves receiving funds that require repayment under a wide range of possible structures. Generally, debt financing repayment will include payments of interest and principal, use of collateral, and a personal guaranty. Lending options for small-business owners usually come from banks and credit unions that offer both short- and long-term loan products. Examples are:

• Home equity loan (HEL)
• Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
• Business line of credit
• Bridge loan
• Working capital loan

Equity-based financing options, in comparison, are those where you sell an ownership interest in the business to an investor in exchange for capital. Depending on the nature of the business, investors may include close friends and family, or they could be institutional (e.g., venture capital firms, angel investors and other accredited investors).

The Value Proposition between Debt and Equity Financing

Choosing between a debt and equity financing structure for a small business will depend on risk tolerance and financial position. Both options offer value propositions with unique characteristics.

Debt-based financing, for example, allows owners to maintain control over their business because they do not sell any of their equity. The trade-off for maintaining control is the increased risk that comes with debt, in addition to potential cash-flow issues from repayment obligations. While equity-based financing does not carry the same risk of added debt, it may mean giving up some business control and sharing in profits.

3 New Options in Small-Business Financing

Aside from traditional loans and capital raising, business owners may access financing through one of the following newer options.

Use of Crowdfunding Platforms

Many online platforms, such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter and Patreon, allow small businesses and entrepreneurs to obtain short-term funding to launch new projects. Known as crowdfunding, this gives businesses a way to garner attention and test a product’s viability – see if people find it worthwhile.

The funding can be either rewards-based or equity-based, depending on the platform. Entrepreneurs can create campaigns through their chosen platform and receive money, in exchange for either rewards to donors or shares in a company with an equity-based arrangement. The potential rewards could include merchandise items, access to new products or anything else a donor may find valuable.

Two main benefits of crowdfunding are the ability to raise money quickly, and the opportunity to expand the reach of your business. Like choosing between debt- or equity-based financing, choosing a reward or equity crowdfunding source will depend on business objectives. Business owners should be mindful of state and federal securities regulations that may apply when exploring equity-based funding.

Apply for Grant Programs

Another option for funding a small business may be to obtain a grant. Unlike a loan or equity financing, a grant is an award of funding to a person or business that does not require repayment or sale of equity. Instead, the grant is more like a gift, which can be especially helpful for a start-up business looking for initial funding. For this reason, grants are also highly competitive and may be hard to obtain.

Third-party organizations such as nonprofits and government groups (local, state, and federal) offer grants to businesses and entrepreneurs for designated purposes. The process of qualifying for a grant usually requires submitting an application and might be contingent on other requirements for eligibility. These criteria will usually connect to the purpose or mission of the organization offering the grant. The purpose could have to do with the ownership of the business, the stated industry, the use of grant funds or any other number of initiatives.

Finance by selling an equity percentage of your home

Another possibility for small-business owners looking for capital to start or continue their entrepreneurial dreams is to use a home equity agreement. Through a company like Unlock Technologies, you can sell a percentage of your home’s future value under the terms of an HEA. In exchange, you will receive cash proceeds that you can use to capitalize on your business. To qualify, applicants must generally meet the following criteria:

• Own a residential (non-commercial) property
• Have a minimum credit score of 500
• Have a qualifying amount of equity in the home

How long do you have to meet obligations with an HEA?

The term for home equity agreements can range from 10 to 30 years, depending on the HEA provider. This provides homeowners with some flexibility for meeting their obligations under the agreement. One option is to sell the home within the term and repay the HEA provider’s investment from the sale proceeds. Some providers, including Unlock, will allow you to buy out their equity interest in advance, in full or through partial payments. The process for doing so generally requires an independent appraisal to evaluate the home’s fair market value and determine the amount you owe based on the terms of the home equity agreement. 

What is the advantage of an HEA compared to other financing options?

One benefit is that there is no traditional repayment of interest and principal, as is the case with a standard loan. Another is that you do not need to relinquish shares or ownership in the business, because the equity comes from the home. However, homeowners must be mindful of their outstanding obligations under the agreement as they navigate other financial decisions during that 10-year term of the equity agreement.

Read more: How one Unlock customer used an HEA to fund his business.  

Apply for an HEA with Unlock

If you are a homeowner comparing small-business financing options, consider the value of an HEA as an alternative to traditional financing or capital raising. You can enter a few details in Unlock’s online form to see how much you could qualify for with an HEA. 

Contact Unlock today for questions about using a home equity agreement to finance your small business.