UK Crowdfunding Association contributor to new Business Finance Guide being launched today
The Business Finance Guide will be launched by Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills at the House of Commons on the morning of Thursday 26 June. The Business Finance Guide is a clear, concise and accessible source of information about sources of finance available to businesses, ranging from start-ups, to ‘micro-businesses’, to SMEs and growing mid-sized companies.
This unique publication has been devised by a partnership of 19 major business, professional and representative organisations, co-ordinated by the ICAEW’s Corporate Finance Faculty and the new British Business Bank, and supported by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.
The guide has been devised for entrepreneurs who are starting a business, directors who are running growing businesses, and for well-established companies – large and small – as well as for business advisers and investors, hence the subtitle, ‘A journey from start-up to growth’.
It has been written as a ‘journey’ to highlight how growing a business and raising capital are ongoing processes throughout the life of the business, and different forms of finance will be required at different times. There is an increasing variety of sources of finance are available to UK companies. The suitability of forms of debt and equity finance vary according to the type, size, growth and ownership of the business seeking investment. The Business Finance Guide includes several tools and ideas to help businesses weigh-up their options, make decisions and plan how they will finance expansion. The British Business Bank is running many programmes created to increase the quantity and diversity of finance available. Another strategic purpose of the bank is to promote better information in the market, building confidence among businesses about the finance options available. Businesses should seek expert advice that is appropriate for the size, type, structure, complexity and corporate finance requirements of the business.