Business Loans – See How Much You Qualify For

Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash

If you’re an established business and are focused on growth, you may be searching for business loans to help you accomplish your goals. But before you apply for a loan, you’ll need to determine the best amount to ask for.

If you borrow too little, you may not accomplish your goals, and if you borrow too much it could be a financial burden.

So how do you establish the “correct” amount when seeking out business loans?

Consider your options

The answer is simple and yet complicated. There is no right, “blanket” amount for a business loan that will work for every business owner. Meaning there’s no perfect equation that tells you how much to borrow; it’s all up to your unique business needs.

To determine the right amount, it’s helpful to consider a host of factors, including:

The business type
Your real needs
What are your plans for the funding
Know your cash flow needs and expenses

Ideally you should have your own finance department, they will assist you with these decisions. But chances are you are your own finance department.

So how do you make that kind of decision without years of experience crunching numbers and assessing risk?

Borrowing Too Much

You may be tempted to borrow a large amount of cash; overshooting your expansion budget (or whatever business project you’re looking to fund with a loan). That way, even if expenses end up being higher than projected, you still have enough cash to cover it.

But keep in mind that with a higher loan, the associated fees may be higher, too. If you borrow more than you can afford to repay, you may find yourself in an endless cycle of debt.

When you take out a loan responsibly, and for the right amount, a loan is an incredible business asset that offers you opportunity, growth, and success. It shouldn’t be a financial burden.

Borrowing  Too Little

At the same time, if you’re too risk-averse, you may end up borrowing less money than you need. With this scenario, you could find yourself short on cash while upgrading equipment or planning a location move, and unable to carry out your plan as you intended. And, consequently, you could be left repaying a loan that didn’t benefit you to the fullest extent.

As you can see, neither borrowing high nor borrowing low is a safe strategy; you need to borrow the right amount for your needs, no more or less.

If There are No “Right Amount Business Loans,”  Then How Do You Decide?

If you don’t know how much capital you need, then you may want to consider enlisting the help of finance professionals to determine a game plan.

And, what better finance professional than your very own bank? You likely already have a relationship with them (or intend to begin one), and they know the intimate details of loan finances.

Most banks help small business owners access the right lending solution for them every day. Often business owners contact them knowing that they need a loan, and what they want to accomplish with the funds, but not having a clear idea of how much loan capital they need to accomplish those goals.

Let Your Banker Help You

They are there to help strengthen and grow your business. Speak with one of their loan advisors and share the details of your business plan, whether you’re looking to revamp your cash flow situation or expand your business.

They will help you figure out how much you need to accomplish your goal, and how much you can repay realistically without stressing your finances or stretching the limits of what your business model can accomplish.