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When businesses look for funding, they can sometimes find that the traditional routes are closed to them.
Whether it’s lenders tightening their criteria, offering too little flexibility or charging too much, there are various reasons why businesses sometimes need to consider alternative funding routes, especially in the early stages.
Recent years have seen one of those alternatives become increasingly popular, with more businesses bypassing traditional lenders and turning instead to crowdfunding.
What is crowdfunding for business?
As the name suggests, crowdfunding involves sourcing finance from a ‘crowd’ of different individuals or organisations. It’s a way for businesses, as well as individuals, to fund projects or ventures through donations from a large number of individuals.
It has become increasingly popular over the past 10 to 15 years, with social media and online services bringing together people or businesses that need funding with people looking to make money by helping fund ideas, projects and enterprises.
This is usually done through crowdfunding websites or platforms, where businesses can ‘pitch’ their project, business or idea and offer returns or rewards for those who pledge to lend or invest money.
The funding received by a business is sourced from multiple different lenders or investors, rather than a single entity such as a bank.
The 4 types of crowdfunding for business
There are several different types of crowdfunding.
Debt-based crowdfunding
In debt-based crowdfunding – also known as peer-to-peer (P2P) business lending – businesses set the amount they want to borrow and their case for securing a loan.
The crowdfunding or P2P platform sets the interest rate and risk level, while each investor or lender using the service sets the amount they want to invest and the return they want from it. Lenders and businesses are then matched, with the business repaying lenders through monthly interest payments.
Equity-based crowdfunding
Equity-based or investment-based crowdfunding works on the same principle. The difference is that investors receive a stake in the business in return for their investment and so can share in the proceeds should the company be sold or floated on the stock market.
Rewards-based crowdfunding
Another option is rewards-based crowdfunding. This is where investors or lenders receive a product or service related to the project in return for the funding they have helped to provide.
In the UK, debt-based and equity-based crowdfunding are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, but rewards-based crowdfunding is not – only the payment services used for this.
Donation-based crowdfunding
There is also donation-based crowdfunding, where individuals give money – to help a start up to grow, for example – but expect nothing in return. While it can be used by businesses, this is most commonly used by charities, community groups and non-profit organisations. However, it could still work for your business if it offers some kind of social or community benefit.
How to set up a crowdfunding page
To get started in crowdfunding, you’ll need to set up a page on a crowdfunding platform.
Your page will tell investors and lenders how much finance you want and what you intend to use it for, while it should also include a marketing presentation that sells the case for your project or idea. This could include a short, accessible and compelling video presentation.
Each platform has its own guidelines, charges and criteria, while some will also specialise in certain markets. So it’s important to compare different sites and identify those most suitable for your needs.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of crowdfunding?
The broad benefit of crowdfunding is that it allows businesses and individuals to cut out the middlemen (i.e. banks and building societies) and go directly to those looking for returns or interest in exchange for giving money to projects or companies.
Crowdfunding is typically more flexible and sometimes cheaper than traditional options, so it can often be quicker to secure funding. It also doubles up as a form of marketing and promotion for your business.
However, it’s not necessarily easy to secure funding and it can require a lot of effort to put forward a persuasive business case, while you may need to be able to field questions from potential investors.
Different platforms also have different requirements and restrictions, such as minimum years of trading and credit rating criteria, which can limit the options available.
Each type of crowdfunding also comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
For example, in equity-based crowdfunding you are giving investors a stake in the business and by extension a degree of control over the future of the business.
In debt-based or P2P crowdfunding, you’re not ceding any ownership of the business to lenders, but there is a risk of damage to your business credit record if you are unable to repay the loan.
» MORE: What are business credit scores?
What other business funding options could be available to me?
The funding options for businesses range from traditional business and start-up loans through to government grants, rolling credit facilities, asset financing and angel investors, who might invest in your business in exchange for a small stake in it, with the added benefit of offering mentoring and support.
Each has different criteria and its own advantages and disadvantages, so it will depend on your individual circumstances as to which option may be the best for you.
» COMPARE: Business loans with NerdWallet
How can I compare business loans?
Comparison sites, such as NerdWallet, can be a good place to start when you’re looking at the traditional options such as bank loans and alternative lenders.
Most comparison services offer business loan tables that tell you the amount each provider can lend, the terms available and the interest rate. The interest rate gives you an idea of how different providers compare, but it is important to remember that the exact rate you’ll be offered will depend on factors such as the length of your loan, how much you’re borrowing and your credit record.
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by George Harrison