Starting and Growing a Business: Financing

Main Page | Resources | Glossary | Industry Links

Start-up

Entrepreneurial Assessment

Evaluating Your Idea

Marketing

Developing Your Business Plan

Financing

Business Considerations

Growth

Financing Options | Sources of Financing | Estimating Your Costs | Facilities and Equipment | Investor Readiness | Financing Checklist

How Will You Finance Your New Venture?

It takes money to start a business. When starting a new venture one must consider how they will cover costs such as vehicles, equipment, land, buildings, supplies, and employees. A new venture will also require money for daily operating expenses such as rent, taxes, salaries and wages, advertising and utilities.

Explore all of your financial options before determining the most suitable type of financing. The amount, type, and source of financing that you need to start your new venture will depend on your product or service, how much money you can invest or require, how long you need it and how you plan on paying it back.

Consider a worst-case scenario when it comes to money so that you can prepare and react quickly to fix the situation.

Financing Options

How Will You Finance Your New Venture?

Determining the Type and Source of Financing Required - This fact sheeet will help you determine the most suitable type and source of financing needed for your business
Financing Your Business - Frequently Asked Questions - Frequently asked questions regarding how to find financial assistance and types of financial assistance available from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Business Basics for Alberta Food Processors - Financing - Although this factsheet focuses on food processors it offers valuable information on financing a business and sources of financing for any entrepreneur
Explore Your Financing Options - This site from Small Business BC will help you assess your financial options by breaking down the differences of various financial arrangements
Financing For Starting a Business Info-Guide - The Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre has prepared this guide to assist business start ups with financing

Sources of Financing

Where Will You Find Financing?

FCC (Farm Credit Canada) - Agribusiness financing options tailored to your operation
AFSC Lenders & Business Professionals - Whether you are expanding or starting a new venture, AFSC can help you achieve your goals by providing the financing you require
Business Basics for Alberta Food Processors - Sources of Assistance - Although this information focuses on food processors, it offers a wide range of technical, financial, planning and market development support for farms, agribusinesses and food processors
Start-Up Financing Sources- BDC - Business Development Canada provides an overview of typical financing sources for business start-ups
Agri Value-Added Investor Network: AVNet - The Alberta Agri Value-Added Investor Network or AVNet links entrepreneurs and businesses in the agrivalue industry with like-minded investors.
Sources of Assistance - Here you will find a list of funds that have been established as tools to encourage growth and competitive development in the agriculture and food industry
Business Support, Financing - This page from Industry Canada contains links to additional information about business financing

Estimating Your Costs

How Much Will it Cost?

Start-up Cost Sheet - This worksheet will help you keep track of living and operating expenses while starting your business
Preparing Financial Projections and Monitoring Results - This factsheet provides tips to help you complete financial forecasts which will be useful when dealing with lenders, investors, and others. These pages give high levels of understanding on topics such as financial planning, start-up and expansion costs, key assumptions, balance sheets, income statements and performance ratios.
Determining Your Start Up Costs - This worksheet from Parkland Community Futures Development Corporation will help you calculate your start up costs and determine how much start up financing that you require
Preparing a Cashflow Forecaster - A cashflow forecast will tell you when critical cash is coming in an out during the month. This site from Canada Business will show you how to keep your business decision-making on track and your inventory purchasing in control
Starting a Business: How Much Will You Need? -The Royal Bank of Canada shows you how to calculate how much you will need to start up your business.
Developing Your Financial Forecast - This guide from Alberta First.com can help you manage your finances by using cash flow forecasting and breakeven analysis

Facilities & Equipment

Are You Physically Ready to Produce Your Product or Service?

Business Basics for Alberta Food Processors - Facilities - This factsheet discusses business options and operational requirements for food processing facilities in Alberta
Lease or Buy Calculator - This tool from Industry Canada is designed to help you decide whether to lease or buy business equipment
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point is an effective and rational means of assuring food safety from harvest to consumption. Each food establishment needs to develop their own HACCP system and tailor it to the industry's individual product, processing and distribution conditions.
Alberta's Commitment to Food Safety - Food safety is the responsibility of everyone involved including producers, feed mills, veterinarians, food processors, transporters, retailers and food service providers. Here you will find information and links to food safety resources in Alberta.
Business Resources - Starting a Business - Leasing - This information from Royal Bank explains why leasing is often a good choice for new business
Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Lease - This publication from Canada Business offers a good starting point for anyone unfamiliar with commercial leasing

Investor Readiness

How Will You Work With Investors?

Working With Lenders - Keep Them In The Loop - This article stresses the importance of communicating with your lender to ensure a positive working relationship
Private Venture Investing: "Questions an Investor Should Ask" - This article is intended to act as a general guide for an investor contemplating a private company or project. A summary of key questions to ask and issues to deal with is also helpful for those seeking investors
What Investors Want to Know - This information from AVNet lists questions that an investor may ask and that entrepreneurs will need to answer

Phone the Ag-Info Centre, toll-free in Alberta at 310-FARM (3276), for assistance.

This document is produced in cooperation with AFSC

For more information about the content of this document, contact Kathy Bosse.
This document is maintained by Mary Ann Nelson.
This information published to the web on March 4, 2008.
Last Reviewed/Revised on August 8, 2008.