Not many entrepreneurs have the opportunity to finance their own business ventures. In fact, the average business owner is at least $30,000 in debt.
To make matters worse, getting a loan isn’t always an easy thing to do.
Luckily, unsecured financing is an option, but there’s information you’ll need to keep in mind before choosing this type of loan.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ll show you everything you need to know.
So, What Exactly Is It?
Unsecured financing is very straightforward: you borrow money from a lender and pay that money back over time based on terms that were previously agreed upon.
The “unsecured” part is that there’s no collateral to back up your loan. This means you won’t have to forfeit your own personal property if you can’t repay the loan properly.
Since this puts lenders at an increased risk, the interest rates are higher than the average loan to compensate for this. In cases where you fail to repay the loan on time or pay the proper amount each month, your lender may take you to court.
What Are The Benefits?
As previously mentioned, not having to offer collateral is the main selling point of unsecured loans.
For some people, this is merely an added convenience. For others, it’s the difference between being able to get significant financing and having to search for other options.
Unsecured loan applications are also approved far more quickly on average. This is due to the lender only having to worry about the borrower’s credit score, repayment history, etc. and not their house, car, or other property.
So, those who need financing quickly and don’t mind paying higher interest will greatly benefit from unsecured financing.
How Do I Find The Best Deal?
As with any other loan, you’ll need to shop around in order to find the best one for you.
Interest rate isn’t the only factor you need to consider, though.
Some lenders have a high minimum monthly payment, while others may have a relatively low cap on the amount that they’ll lend.
For example, let’s say you’re deciding between two unsecured loan lenders. One offers 12% interest, while the other offers loans at 18% interest.
The 12% interest lender, however, has a minimum monthly payment of $150. Furthermore, they will only offer a maximum of $20,000 to a single borrower.
The lender who offers 18% interest has a minimum payment of $50 per month and offers up to $50,000.
At first glance, it may be tempting to go with the first lender based on the interest rate, but the second lender is far more suitable.
So, make sure you thoroughly research your lender’s terms if you’re considering borrowing from them.
Unsecured Financing: Is It Right For You?
That’s a question that only you can answer, and you’ll need to look at your business goals to do so.
With the above information about unsecured financing in mind, though, you’ll be one step closer toward getting your company up and running.
Getting a business loan doesn’t have to be hard. This page on our site has more potential options for you to choose from.