Crowdfunding is a way of raising capital in small amounts from a large group of people, using the Internet and social media. For an entrepreneur in need of finance, crowdfunding – also known as crowd source capital – has expanded the pool of investors from whom funds can be raised beyond the traditional lenders. If you're thinking about exploring crowdfunding as a funding option, here is some information to get you started.

With employment levels falling, now is as good a time as any to consider the option of starting a business, developing an existing one, taking on a government or private sector contract or embarking on a management buy-out or buy-in. But how does one go about finding finance? Essentially, there are four principal types of financing available to entrepreneurs when they're thinking of starting or expanding a business.

Finding the correct investors and pitching an idea is a valued business skill that can be developed and improved. Often entrepreneurs don’t possess the skills to pitch their business effectively and enthusiastically enough to potential investors, and thus don’t succeed in generating the necessary interest or funding. Here are ten tips to help you put your best foot forward.

The Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) is designed to promote technology development in South Africa’s industry, through the provision of financial assistance for the development of innovative products and/or processes. SPII is focussed specifically on the development phase, which begins at the conclusion of basic research and ends at the point when a pre-production prototype has been produced.

Starting costs, or business start-up costs, refer to the expenses entrepreneurs acquire when first starting up their businesses. What is included in your start-up costs as well as how much the costs actually are will depend on the type of business you would like to set up and the industry you want to enter. This start-up costs calculator will help you determine and outline the costs you will need to start your business.

In the gig economy, you can crowdsource almost anything. From formal crowdsourcing, which often involves droves of freelancers doing data, writing or design work, to informal crowdsourcing, which might involve someone asking for recommendations or information on Facebook, millions of people reach out to the other millions on a daily basis. And you can do the same if you need funding to get your new business idea off the ground. We’ve covered the basics of crowdfunding so you can decide if this is the right financial choice for your new business endeavor.

The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SOC) Ltd (sefa) is a merger of the South African Micro-Finance Apex Fund (samaf), Khula Enterprise Finance, and the Industrial Development Corporation’s (IDC) small business activities. sefa was launched in April 2012 as a fully-owned subsidiary of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Its vision is to be the leading catalyst for the development of sustainable Survivalist, Micro, Small and Medium enterprises through the provision of finance.

When asked, the majority of entrepreneurs will tell you that access to finance is their greatest challenge. Funders may target certain industries, types of business or even geographical areas. By knowing who and where these financiers are, you can approach the most appropriate organisation that meets your business's specific needs and goals. This document provides an overview of organisations that provide funding to the smallest micro businesses all the way through to medium-sized enterprises in South Africa.

Before you approach a bank or any other form of financier to fund your start-up or business expansion, you need to be sure that you've done your research and have confidence in your Business Plan. It's your responsibility to provide as much information as possible in your business plan, to show your idea's feasibility, your expertise and capability, as well as the security or collateral you are contributing. Here are some tips on creating a great business plan to use as the basis of your business pitch.

You may have heard of this form of financing, but aren’t sure what it is and if it’s an option for your business. The basis of debtor financing is that you use the debtor (normally an invoice) to raise capital against it. The major advantage is that you do not have to wait for your debtor to pay you. You raise funds against the invoice, so you have working capital to be used in the business.

Whether you are planning on buying a car for personal use or if you need a new company car, the process of finding finance can be a daunting task. However, having a business vehicle is important for most businesses, especially those that specialise in transportation, whether you’re transporting goods or people. Getting finance for your business vehicle doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some tips on how your business can receive business vehicle finance.

There are several ways that you can raise the funds that will let you buy a business and become your own boss. Some of these examples will be less obvious than others. It is important that you find the option that will work best for you. Remember that you might need to be a little more creative than you think when it comes to raising finance. Ultimately though, if you have made the decision that you know is right for you, the process should be far less stressful. So, whether you are looking to finance a retail business or a farm, read on!

Due to the socio-economic landscape of South Africa, obtaining business finance is one of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs and SMEs face and, therefore, one that many find daunting. This articles goes through the various stages of applying and obtaining business finance for your business, which will make the process easy, and help you to be approved with little to no hassles.

Owning a successful business is difficult. A small business needs business loans to cover cash flow gaps, add to the working capital or to grow the business. There are many ways that you can finance an upgrade for your business by applying for a small business loan. Knowing how to get finance is important for small business owners. Here are a few helpful tips on how you can receive funding to upgrade your small business.

One of the biggest pressure points for small businesses is making it through month-end. Often when salaries and bills are due, SMEs face a shortfall from slow-paying clients. Some large corporates and government entities ask their suppliers to give them as many as 120 days to settle their account, when standard payment terms are set between 30 and 60 days. SMEs, relying on a steady cash flow to maintain business operations, cannot survive on such long repayment terms. Here's how SME owners can survive late payments.

No matter what kind of business you have, there will probably come a time when you have to apply for a loan or overdraft to expand your business, buy equipment, or finance some other aspect of your operations. This is when having a good credit record becomes very important. Establishing and maintaining a good credit record takes time and can be challenging when times get tough (financially). Here's how to build and maintain a good credit record to obtain business funding.

Access to finance is one of the biggest obstacles to the survival and growth of startup, small and medium businesses. Finfind has been specifically developed to address this challenge for this vital sector. Finfind is an innovative, online platform that automatically matches the seekers of business finance with appropriate funders from a comprehensive, up-to-date database of more than 450 SMME finance offerings from the public and private sector funders in South Africa.

When you approach a potential financier to provide a loan for starting or expanding your business, it's best to be aware of some of the terminology that may be used and what they mean. This article provides you with a list of terms related to financing and finance that it would be helpful for you to know. While this list isn't the complete financing lexicon, it does point you in the right direction.

If you've found a property you'd like buy to for your business, the next challenge is to apply for a bond. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about finding finance for commercial property. These questions include: What is a commercial property? How can I prepare before I apply for a loan? Can I approach any bank for a loan? And more.

During the process of securing funding, entrepreneurs and business owners are not always aware of the pros and cons associated with asking for too much or too little finance for their business, or whether they should consider debt or equity to fund their business. This is according to Gerrie van Biljon, Executive Director at Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS), who says that entrepreneurs should be cautious of the amount of finance they apply for, as the wrong amount could jeopardise their business’ success.