Many small business entrepreneurs have had to submit loan applications, especially when they first start out. It can be challenging to apply for another loan once you have paid back your initial start-up funding and have fallen into a comfortable routine. After all, if you have your daily operations down to a science, why would you need to request for funding? Here are several telltale signs that will tell you that it may be time to get a small business loan.
Steady Stream of Regulars
Regular customers demonstrate that there is a steady need for your goods or services and that your company is doing an excellent job of satisfying the expectations of your customers. It is more expensive to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one, so if you notice that you are getting more repeat business than new business or that you simply are not getting as much new business as you would like, it may be time to apply for funding that you can use to market your company, encourage referrals by giving loyal customers discounts, or implement other growth strategies meant to attract and keep new customers.
Customers are Seeking Something You Do Not Have
It might be time to apply for finance to assist launch that new project or product offering if you discover that many of your customers are asking for a certain good or service that you do not already provide. In addition, funding can give you the resources you need to refill and buy more inventory to satisfy demand if you frequently run out of a product that customers are requesting.
Stable Profits That are Steadily Increasing
You know you are doing something correctly if your business account balance is roughly equivalent to two months’ worth of running expenses and your profits exhibit continuous long-term growth over a period of two to three years. This is a fantastic indication that you should make an investment in your company. You may encourage even more growth by pumping in extra funds. Receiving approval for more capital is significantly simpler when business is operating profitably. In fact, even if you do not have imminent intentions to expand, it is frequently more advantageous to ask for finance when things are going well.
Growing Industry
It is frequently a good idea to scale back or expand your firm during a growth phase for your sector. Small business funding for businesses in developing industries have a higher likelihood of being accepted, making it simpler for you to get the money you need to stay competitive, or future-proof your company by making investments in new training, improved equipment, and other initiatives that will keep you at the forefront of your industry.
More Business Than You Can Handle
It could be time to enlarge your premises or recruit more staff if your company is so busy that you are barely able to keep up with demand. Small business loans can help you with both of these aspects so you are not battling to keep up or losing out on new clients. Even with the increase in revenue, you might not have the cash on hand to hire additional employees or expand. This is when a loan will come in handy.
