Small Business Funding Guide

Small business funding is a vital step to start or accelerate the growth of your business. Learn how to get ready for funding, review your options, master the art of pitching, and more.

Vector image of a male entrepreneur holding up a piggy bank with coins going into the top slot. Represents small business or entrepreneurial funding.

How to get funding for your business

Do you actually need additional funding to start a business? How much do you need? How do you successfully get funding? We have answers to all of these questions plus additional tips to help improve your chances of getting funding.

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In this section

Do you need funding?
How much funding?
Nonprofit funding
Funding tips
Funding mistakes
Funding challenges

Funding and financing options

There is a wide variety of funding and financing methods available to small businesses. Learn what makes them unique and how to choose the best option(s) for your business.

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In this section

Friends and family
Bootstrapping
Business loans
SBA loans
Venture capital and angel investors
Crowdfunding
Grants
Small business credit
Which funding option is best?
Common funding methods
Alternative funding options
Four financing tiers
Crisis fundraising

Create your business pitch

When seeking funds, you’ll likely have to pitch your business. Learn what you need to prepare and how to confidently pitch your business.

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In this section

Elevator pitch
Pitch decks
Plan and pitch competitions

How to manage funding

An often overlooked part of pursuing funding is how you will track and use it after you receive it. Learn how to get the most from your additional cash and keep track of its use for you and any external stakeholders.

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In this section

Funding management tips
Hiring after funding

Small business funding resources and templates

Free investor pitch deck template

Visualize your business pitch and wow investors with this free pitch deck template.

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Investor-ready business plan template

Back up your pitch with a detailed and investor-ready business plan. Get started with our fill-in-the-blank SBA-approved business plan template.

Download Template

Maximize your chances of securing funding with LivePlan

Create and share your investor-ready plan, pitch, and financial forecasts with a single powerful tool.

Learn More

How to pitch and get funded ebook

Get expert business pitching advice from an entrepreneur who has raised close to $1 million.

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Small business funding FAQ

The best source of funding for your specific business depends on numerous factors like the stage of your business, creditworthiness, and industry. Typically some combination of self-funding, friends and family and financing, and eventually some sort of business loan is your best funding source.

Startups and small businesses typically secure funding through loans, friends and family, angel investors, venture capital, grants, or crowdfunding. To boost your chances you need to be actively networking, craft a compelling pitch, and write a detailed business plan.

Existing businesses can seek funding through friends and family, loans, lines of credit, investors, grants, or revenue-based financing. To better your chances it’s crucial to demonstrate financial stability and growth potential.

The most common startup funding is often personal savings, friends and family, or loans.

Businesses can be funded without loans through bootstrapping, crowdfunding, grants, angel investors, venture capital, or investments from friends and family.

Securing funding can be challenging, as it depends on factors like the business's stage, financial health, and the investor's appetite for risk. A strong pitch, business plan, and network can improve your chances.

Determine the amount needed by creating a detailed financial plan, considering costs, projected revenues, and growth goals. Be sure to request a realistic amount that you can justify the use to investors.

While difficult, it's possible to secure funding with just an idea, particularly if you have a strong network, industry experience, or an innovative concept. While traditional options like a business loan will require more information and traction some early-stage investors or incubator programs may be interested.

Examples of funding include self-funding, bank loans, lines of credit, grants, angel investments, venture capital, crowdfunding, and investments from friends and family.