Starting up a business is not a light matter. The initial push is always the hardest moment. Then, it begins to gather momentum and, if you have done your homework right, it will develop into a thriving enterprise. But be prepared. An entrepreneur is not just any type of person. It takes guts, for both men and women to turn a startup into a prosperous business.

First, The Business

There are always two parties in any business, two sides of the counter: “You”, the provider and “they”, the consumers. It might not be easy to digest, but the way to get the best results is to detect what “they” need. Then, “you” create or choose a product to fulfill that need.

Thus, your target market will be already located and all you need is to go to them and offer exactly what they need. An even better result is to offer customers what they WANT, rather than what they NEED. Many sales are done through emotions and can provoke an instant decision, like the kid who sees something and immediately says, “I want it!”

Beware Of Common Mistakes

Most people want to impose their product on the market. Sometimes it can be done, but you need to be very strong in order to create the need through advertising… and advertising money is not exactly your biggest asset in startup times.

What Has This Got To Do With A Loan?

Everything in the world, that’s what! Can you imagine yourself asking for a loan without knowing where you stand in your intended business? Knowledge is like money in the bank, and is much respected by people who are in the money market, because they will immediately see the development of their business through yours.

And What Do You Know?

The more you know about your business and about your target market, the better. It gives you a better chance of survival out there in the jungle. Look into statistics, general response of the public, a little about marketing and advertising.

And Now, Go For The Loan

Make your presentation as neat and clear as possible. Act as if you were the CEO of your Corporation, even before startup. Write out the text of your presentation and learn it upside down and back to front. Print out notes, graphs, pie-charts and anything that can make your points even clearer as to what your intention is.

Offer The Lender A Business

The worst thing to do is literally “ask for help”. That little word is a no-do. Offer a partnership. It may have the format of a loan, when you get down to the paperwork, but in essence, it is a partnership. Keep the greater portion of the stakes for yourself. The decision-making must be all yours. The capital can come from anywhere, but the business is YOURS.

You have the know-how and you have to show it, demonstrate it to the capitalist, that is, the lender. The more you know about the trade, the better it will be for you, the easier it will be for you to get the loan and the better your chances will be of surviving.

Be Tempting, Sell Yourself Well

Offer a good deal, but always keep a couple of aces up your sleeve, to keep your negotiating capacity on the run. If you do not need to offer them in the end, then do not. All the better for you. Remember, it is always the survival of the fittest. Now go for the loan you want. Customize it yourself and offer the deal.