Sources Of Finance Flashcards
Whats a internal source
Internal sources of finance are funds found inside the business. For example, profits can be kept back to finance expansion. Alternatively the business can sell assets (items it owns) that are no longer really needed to free up cash.
What do firms need finance to do
start up a business, eg pay for premises, new equipment and advertising
run the business, eg having enough cash to pay staff wages and suppliers on time
expand the business, eg having funds to pay for a new branch in a different city or country
Whats an external source
External sources of finance are found outside the business, eg from creditors or banks.
Short term external source
Sources of external finance to cover the short term include:
An overdraft facility - where a bank allows a firm to take out more money than it has in its bank account.
Trade credits - where suppliers deliver goods now and are willing to wait for a number of days before payment.
Factoring - where firms sell their invoices to a factor such as a bank. They do this for some cash right away, rather than waiting 28 days to be paid the full amount.
Long term external factors
Owners who invest money in the business. For sole traders and partners this can be their savings. For companies, the funding invested by shareholders is called share capital.
Loans from a bank or from family and friends.
Debentures are loans made to a company.
A mortgage, which is a special type of loan for buying property where monthly payments are spread over a number of years.
Hire purchase or leasing, where monthly payments are made for use of equipment such as a car. Leased equipment is rented and not owned by the firm. Hired equipment is owned by the firm after the final payment.
Grants from charities or the government to help businesses get started, especially in areas of high unemployment.
What is creditor and debtor
Creditors and debtors
A creditor is an individual or business that has lent funds to a business and is owed money. A debtor is an individual or business who has borrowed funds from a business and so owes it money.
There is a cost in borrowing funds. Money borrowed from creditors is paid back over time, usually with an additional payment of interest. Interest is the cost of borrowing and the reward for lending.
Creditors provide loans to debtors who acquire assets and collateral to pay back interest to the creditors
Creditors often ask for security before lending funds. This means sole traders and partners may have to offer their own house as a guarantee that monies will be repaid. A company can offer assets, eg offices as collateral.
The type of finance chosen depends on the type of business. Start ups and small firms are considered very high risk and find it difficult to raise external finance. The only source of funds might be the owner’s own savings, retained profits and borrowing from friends. Companies can issue extra shares to raise large amounts of capital in a rights issue.
