Financing your venture is a critical aspect of any business, with all the financing options available you need to decide what’s right for you and your business.

The main options available for obtaining business finance are:

• Grants and Awards
• Venture Capital
• Business Angels
• Government Loans
• Bank Loans
  

j4b have put together 5 Steps to Funding Success which is a great place to start

Following these steps should help you effectively achieve the funding you need:

1. Decide the right type of finance for your business needs
2. Find out what funding is available
3. Make the application
4. Getting your application in
5. Keeping in contact

Further funding resources (listed alphabetically):

Business Link

Business Link is the primary access point for all government funded business support. You can search their Grants and Support Directory of grants, subsidies and advice to find out what grants, subsidies and business advice may be available for your business. Alternatively, contact your local Business Link. As well as offering Guides covering every aspect of running a business, such as their Guide to Financing covering:

Introduction
Work out your financial requirements
Choose the best financial option
Use your own money to set up your business
Use finance from friends and family
Use bank finance to start your business
Get outside investors to help finance your business
Grants and government support
Other sources of finance

j4bGrants

j4bGrants is a website dedicated to providing funding information for UK businesses or business looking to move to the UK.

SEEDA

SEEDA is responsible for managing two national Business Grant schemes, which aim to increase the economic activity within the South East, Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFIE) and Grant for Research & Development (Grant for R&D).

Supply2.gov.uk

Supply2.gov.uk is a dynamic new government-backed service designed specifically to give companies easy access to lower-value contract opportunities (typically worth under £100,000) offered by the public sector. This portal brings buyers and suppliers together for the first time and aims to be the first port of call for lower-value business opportunities. Are you looking for lower-value contract opportunities within the public sector? Register Free

UK Banks

It's important to talk to your bank at an early stage to see what they can offer you, don’t be afraid to shop around and negotiate.

Abbey National
Alliance & Leicester
Barclays
HSBC
Lloyds-TSB
Natwest
Royal Bank of Scotland

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