Friends & Relatives
Your friends & relatives will invest in you, so ask them! 

Private Investors
If you believe you have a good idea/invention and you are cash poor to get started, it's possible to find private investors. At this stage, the deal is generally 50/50 percent ownership; you do all the work and the private investor pays the bills, as loans with interest. It is common the private investor will not pay you a salary for you end of the deal, but if the work load interferes with your income and progress is being made, most likely you will be compensated. At the point when the venture develops equity value, you and your partner can then sell or leverage equal percentages of stock ownership to raise capital to grow the business. In the event you need a private investor to finance your venture from the start and also to work in developing the venture, it will cost you 51% or more of your idea/invention and all monies invested are repaired as loans with interest.

Business Owners
Business owners within your community especially ones that know you, are opportunities for capital. During the process of developing your invention or business idea, you will be dealing with business owners on a personal level. On occasion, if your venture is worthy and the business owner knows you as an honest and professional person, he/she may take a chance and invest in you. 

Banks & Credit Unions
Banks & Credit Unions will not make loans on pipe dreams, start-up businesses with no track record and collateral, meaning your hopes of making money on your venture holds no credibility. When looking for small start-up loan from banks & credit unions, your personal credit score must be spotless and in most cases you will need to equity in real state for collateral. 

SBA
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has guaranteed loans available for small businesses that have been denied loans from banks. Some SBA programs, particularly the Microloan program, will work with people who have credit issues in order to qualify them for a loan. In most cases, the SBA does not provide a direct loan, but will offer a guarantee of a percentage of the loan to the lender making the loan less risky for your lender.
 
Key programs available:
 
SBA Microloans: perhaps your credit is less then perfect; this program may be just what you need. SBA Microloan Intermediaries can not loan to any one if they are delinquent on their taxes or have had a recent bankruptcy. Howevery, if you are making payments it may be possible for SBA to help you qualify. The average Microloan loan is around $10,000 and the loan max is $25,000 in start up capital and usually a business with five or less employees. The life of the loan can be up to six years. Of course, the business must be able to pay back the loan from business operations. Assets purchased with the Microloan become collateral for the loan itself and, usually, the business owner must also personally guarantee the loan. To find the SBA Microloan Intermediaries in your area go to: http://www.sba.gov/financing/microparticipants.html  

SBA Low Doc Loan Program; for starting or grow a business, loan max is $150,000. 

SBAExpress: allows revolving loans up to 7 years with maturity extensions permitted at the outset, max is $350,000. 

Community Express SBA Pilot Loan: small revolving loans that are restricted to low and moderate income areas. 

SBA CAPLines Loan Program Standard Asset-Based Line: this is an asset-based line revolving line of credit of up to $200,000. 

SBA CAPLines Loan Program, Seasonal Line: working capital for seasonal business cycles.

SBA CAPLines Loan Program Contract Line: direct labor and material cost associated with performing assignable contract(s). 

SBA CAPLines Loan Program Builder's Line: direct labor and material for a small general contractor who constructs or renovates buildings.

Certified Development Company (504) Loan Program: building, land, construction, long-term machinery or equipment to provide economic development in a specific community or region. 

U.S. Community Adjustment and Investment Program (CAIP): community has lost jobs as a consequence of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
 
Go To for all the information

CPA's
CPA's are a great source for finding accredited investors since some of their clients look for small investments in local businesses and start-up companies. In most cases CPA's will require you to retain their services and then they will make calls to their clients who may be interested. 

Accredited Investors
When seeking investors, you want accredited investors since they can afford to gamble their money and generally have knowledge of business. Non-accredited investors are generally people that have some monies to invest and can not afford to lose it, a great risk to you, possible filing lawsuits.
An Accredited Investor:

1. Is a natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that person's spouse, at the time of the purchase exceeds $1,000,000; 
2. Is a natural person who had individual income exceeding $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with a spouse exceeding $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same level of income in the current year; 
3. Is a director, executive officer, or general partner of the company offering or selling the securities; 
4. Is a business in which all the equity owners are accredited investors; 
5. Is any organization with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities being offered; 
6. Is any trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities being offered, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person; and 
7. Is a non-profit organization with assets in excess of $5,000,000. 

Angel Investors
Angel investors are wealthy people or organizations that represent Angel investors who make investments in start-up business plans. It is very important to have a really outstanding business plan that stands out since they see plans all day long. Most Angels are established business people that bring valuable experience to your business venture and their involvement helps you with other private investors. Angel investors on most actions will be involved in the business so be sure that you are first compatible with that person and you both have the same strategic outlook for the business.

There are several angel investor resources on the internet, but try to meet one face to face. Individual angel investors are hard to find. Take the time to attend angel networking clubs and other events they frequent. We have resources on our resources page that will help link to financing, good luck! 

Equity Investors
Equity investors do not invest in start-up businesses; their market consists of companies that have a strong balance sheet for at least 3 to 5 years with strong management. 

Equity investors will invest substantial amounts of capital in profitable private companies, in public companies, and in leveraged acquisitions of independent companies or divisions of larger companies. 

Venture Capitalist
Whether you are a start-up or a Fortune 500 Company, you can raise capital from a Venture Capitalist. You can find links to Venture Capitalist Companies and Investment Banks on our resources page.

Bridge Financing 
Bridge financing is a loan secured with tangible assets in need of shot term financing. 
 
Bridge financing loans for real estate are often necessary when the closing date of the home you are selling may not match the date of the home you are buying. In most cases you can usually borrow against the sale of your home with a bridge loan as temporary funds to cover the cost of your new home.
 
When a business is approved for a commercial loan through a bank, or financial institution, but the loan doesn't close for months. During that time bridge financing can be provide as a short term bridge loan and can usually close within days, which will be paid back when the senior loan closes.
 
Also, when a business has entered into a transaction or succored a contract and in need of short term financing for equipment or other needs a financing bridge can be stretched.
 
Invoice Factoring 
Invoice factoring also known as accounts receivable factoring enables you to capitalize on your slow paying receivables and turn them into immediate cash.
Most new and growing businesses have a significant amount of the company's money tied up in unpaid invoices and cannot afford to wait up 60 days to get paid. Factoring can help you stabilize your cash flow and grow your business providing the invoices you are factoring are with a creditworthy and reputable company. 
 
How It Works
 
The factoring company buys the invoice from you today for a cash amount less than face value paying 70% to 90% of the invoice, and then later collects the full amount when the receivable is due. Invoice factoring is extremely competitive, so shop around. 
 
Purchase Order Financing 
Purchase order financing can help you if you have purchase orders from clients that you cannot afford to fulfill. Many small businesses face the dilemma of suppliers that want to be paid in days or even C.O.D. and clients who insist on getting terms on purchase orders and paying within 30 to 60 days. 
 
As opposed to bank financing, purchase order financing is easy to qualify for. The main requirement is that you have a purchase order from a creditworthy and reputable company. 
 
How It Works
 
You get a purchase order from your client. The purchase order financing company agrees to pay your supplier on your behalf using a letter of credit, supplier guarantee or cash. The total purchase order is delivered and accepted by your client then the purchase order funding company pays the supplier and you issue an invoice. The transaction is settled once the client pays the invoice.