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Researching your many options for funding your business can be time consuming. If you’re looking to start a business or take the next step and expand, you have the option of debt or equity finance.

Here are some key things to consider when deciding if debt or equity finance best suits you.

How much do you need to borrow?

The first thing you need to know is how much money you’ll need. You can get an idea of this through a number of different methods:

  • If you’re starting a business – add up your set-up costs such as rent, equipment, shop fit-out, inventory, wages and super contributions (including your own), legal and accounting costs.
  • If you’re purchasing an asset – ask for a copy of the contract with the purchase price.
  • If you’re borrowing for cash flow purposes – use cash flow forecasts to identify any shortfalls. The CommmBank financial plan template includes a cash flow template you can use to do this.

By comparing this amount to the cash you have available, you can gauge how much money you may need to borrow. To reduce financial stress, if it looks like you need to borrow a larger amount, you may want to consider ideas that can save you more money or, if you can, keep working your existing job for extra income.

Another option can be to apply for federal government grants for some new businesses.

Debt finance

Debt finance is borrowed money that you pay back with interest within an agreed time. The most common types include:

  • Bank loans
  • Overdrafts
  • Mortgages
  • Credit cards
  • Equipment leasing and hire purchase.

Advantages of debt finance

  • You have control over your business and assets as you don't need to answer to investors
  • You don't have to share your business profit
  • Some interest fees and charges on a business loan may be tax deductible – your accountant can advise you on this.

Considerations for debt finance

  • New businesses may find it difficult to secure debt finance without accurate financial records or projections and a comprehensive business plan 
  • You’ll need to generate enough cash to service repayments, fees and interest
  • Regular repayments can affect your cash flow. Start-up businesses often experience cash-flow shortages that may make regular payments difficult
  • If you use an item as security to guarantee a loan, the item could be repossessed should you be unable to make repayments.

Equity finance

Equity finance is investing either your own or someone else's money in your business. The key difference between debt finance and equity finance is that the investor becomes a part owner of your business and shares any profit the business makes.

The main sources of equity capital are:

  • Family and friends
  • Business angels – individuals who invest their own funds (typically up to $2 million) into start-up businesses
  • Crowd funding – this relies on people to donate money to a business
  • Venture capitalists – professional investors who invest funds (generally $2-10 million) in operating companies
  • Public float – raising money by issuing securities (e.g. shares) to the public.

Advantages of equity finance

  • Freedom from debt and no repayments

Considerations for equity finance

  • Shared ownership means you may have to give up some control of your business. Investors not only share profits, they may also have a say in how the business is run
  • Accepting investment funds from family or friends can affect personal relationships
  • You may have to compete with a number of other business for funding from the same source, making it harder to get the cash you need.

What next?

See which type of debt finance may suit your business or set up a meeting with a CBA Business Banker to discuss your finance options.

Things you should know

This article is intended to provide general information of an educational nature only. It does not have regard to the financial situation or needs of any reader and must not be relied upon as financial product advice. You should consider seeking independent financial advice before making any decision based on this information. The information in this article and any opinions, conclusions or recommendations are reasonably held or made, based on the information available at the time of its publication but no representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, is made or provided as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any statement made in this article . Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124. AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 234945.

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