Skip to content
Business Plan

Business Plan

Business Reopen

Primary Menu Business Plan

Business Plan

  • Business Finance & Support
  • Business Plan
  • Their Business
  • Business & Finance News
  • Wealth Business
  • Financial Function
  • About Us
    • Advertise Here
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Sitemap
  • Business Finance & Support

Financing Definition

Linda Caughey June 11, 2022

What Is Financing?

Financing is the process of providing funds for business activities, making purchases, or investing. Financial institutions, such as banks, are in the business of providing capital to businesses, consumers, and investors to help them achieve their goals. The use of financing is vital in any economic system, as it allows companies to purchase products out of their immediate reach.

Put differently, financing is a way to leverage the time value of money (TVM) to put future expected money flows to use for projects started today. Financing also takes advantage of the fact that some individuals in an economy will have a surplus of money that they wish to put to work to generate returns, while others demand money to undertake investment (also with the hope of generating returns), creating a market for money.

Key Takeaways

  • Financing is the process of funding business activities, making purchases, or investments.
  • There are two types of financing: equity financing and debt financing.
  • The main advantage of equity financing is that there is no obligation to repay the money acquired through it.
  • Equity financing places no additional financial burden on the company, though the downside is quite large.
  • Debt financing tends to be cheaper and comes with tax breaks. However, large debt burdens can lead to default and credit risk.
  • The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) gives a clear picture of a firm’s total cost of financing.

Understanding Financing

There are two main types of financing available for companies: debt financing and equity financing. Debt is a loan that must be paid back often with interest, but it is typically cheaper than raising capital because of tax deduction considerations. Equity does not need to be paid back, but it relinquishes ownership stakes to the shareholder. Both debt and equity have their advantages and disadvantages. Most companies use a combination of both to finance operations.

Types of Financing

Equity Financing

“Equity” is another word for ownership in a company. For example, the owner of a grocery store chain needs to grow operations. Instead of debt, the owner would like to sell a 10% stake in the company for $100,000, valuing the firm at $1 million. Companies like to sell equity because the investor bears all the risk; if the business fails, the investor gets nothing.

At the same time, giving up equity is giving up some control. Equity investors want to have a say in how the company is operated, especially in difficult times, and are often entitled to votes based on the number of shares held. So, in exchange for ownership, an investor gives his money to a company and receives some claim on future earnings.

Some investors are happy with growth in the form of share price appreciation; they want the share price to go up. Other investors are looking for principal protection and income in the form of regular dividends.

Advantages of Equity Financing

Funding your business through investors has several advantages, including the following:

  • The biggest advantage is that you do not have to pay back the money. If your business enters bankruptcy, your investor or investors are not creditors. They are part-owners in your company, and because of that, their money is lost along with your company.
  • You do not have to make monthly payments, so there is often more cash on hand for operating expenses.
  • Investors understand that it takes time to build a business. You will get the money you need without the pressure of having to see your product or business thriving within a short amount of time.

Disadvantages of Equity Financing

Similarly, there are a number of disadvantages that come with equity financing, including the following:

  • How do you feel about having a new partner? When you raise equity financing, it involves giving up ownership of a portion of your company. The riskier the investment, the more of a stake the investor will want. You might have to give up 50% or more of your company, and unless you later construct a deal to buy the investor’s stake, that partner will take 50% of your profits indefinitely.
  • You will also have to consult with your investors before making decisions. Your company is no longer solely yours, and if the investor has more than 50% of your company, you have a boss to whom you have to answer.

Debt Financing

Most people are familiar with debt as a form of financing because they have car loans or mortgages. Debt is also a common form of financing for new businesses. Debt financing must be repaid, and lenders want to be paid a rate of interest in exchange for the use of their money.

Some lenders require collateral. For example, assume the owner of the grocery store also decides that they need a new truck and must take out a loan for $40,000. The truck can serve as collateral against the loan, and the grocery store owner agrees to pay 8% interest to the lender until the loan is paid off in five years.

Debt is easier to obtain for small amounts of cash needed for specific assets, especially if the asset can be used as collateral. While debt must be paid back even in difficult times, the company retains ownership and control over business operations.

Advantages of Debt Financing

There are several advantages to financing your business through debt:

  • The lending institution has no control over how you run your company, and it has no ownership.
  • Once you pay back the loan, your relationship with the lender ends. That is especially important as your business becomes more valuable.
  • The interest you pay on debt financing is tax deductible as a business expense.
  • The monthly payment, as well as the breakdown of the payments, is a known expense that can be accurately included in your forecasting models.

Disadvantages of Debt Financing

Debt financing for your business does come with some downsides:

  • Adding a debt payment to your monthly expenses assumes that you will always have the capital inflow to meet all business expenses, including the debt payment. For small or early-stage companies, that is often far from certain.
  • Small business lending can be slowed substantially during recessions. In tougher times for the economy, it’s more difficult to receive debt financing unless you are overwhelmingly qualified.

Special Considerations

The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the average of the costs of all types of financing, each of which is weighted by its proportionate use in a given situation. By taking a weighted average in this way, one can determine how much interest a company owes for each dollar it finances. Firms will decide the appropriate mix of debt and equity financing by optimizing the WACC of each type of capital while taking into account the risk of default or bankruptcy on one side and the amount of ownership owners are willing to give up on the other.

Because interest on the debt is typically tax deductible, and because the interest rates associated with debt is typically cheaper than the rate of return expected for equity, debt is usually preferred. However, as more debt is accumulated, the credit risk associated with that debt also increases and so equity must be added to the mix. Investors also often demand equity stakes in order to capture future profitability and growth that debt instruments do not provide.

WACC is computed by the formula:


WACC = ( E V ) × r E × ( D V ) × r D − ( 1 − T C ) where: r E = Cost of equity r D = Cost of debt E = Market value of the firm’s equity D = Market value of the firm’s debt V = ( E + D ) E / V = Percentage of financing that is equity D / V = Percentage of financing that is debt T c = Corporate tax rate \beginaligned &\textWACC = \left ( \frac \textE \textV \right ) \times r_E \times \left ( \frac D V \right ) \times r_D – ( 1 – T_C ) \\ &\textbfwhere:\\ &r_E = \textCost of equity \\ &r_D = \textCost of debt \\ &E = \textMarket value of the firm’s equity \\ &D = \textMarket value of the firm’s debt \\ &V = ( E + D ) \\ &E/V = \textPercentage of financing that is equity \\ &D/V = \textPercentage of financing that is debt \\ &T_c = \textCorporate tax rate \\ \endaligned
​WACC=(VE​)×rE​×(VD​)×rD​−(1−TC​)where:rE​=Cost of equityrD​=Cost of debtE=Market value of the firm’s equityD=Market value of the firm’s debtV=(E+D)E/V=Percentage of financing that is equityD/V=Percentage of financing that is debtTc​=Corporate tax rate​

Example of Financing

Provided a company is expected to perform well, you can usually obtain debt financing at a lower effective cost. For example, if you run a small business and need $40,000 of financing, you can either take out a $40,000 bank loan at a 10% interest rate, or you can sell a 25% stake in your business to your neighbor for $40,000.

Suppose your business earns a $20,000 profit during the next year. If you took the bank loan, your interest expense (cost of debt financing) would be $4,000, leaving you with $16,000 in profit.

Conversely, had you used equity financing, you would have zero debt (and as a result, no interest expense), but would keep only 75% of your profit (the other 25% being owned by your neighbor). Therefore, your personal profit would only be $15,000, or (75% x $20,000).

Tags: Amazon Business Login, Amazon Business Prime, Bank Of America Business Account, Best Business Schools, Business Attorney Near Me, Business Bank Account, Business Card Holder, Business Card Maker, Business Card Template, Business Cards Near Me, Business Casual Attire, Business Casual Shoes, Business Casual Woman, Business Plan Examples, Ca Business Search, Ca Sos Business Search, Capital One Business Credit Card, Chase Business Checking, Chase Business Credit Cards, Chase Business Customer Service, Chase Business Login, Chase Business Phone Number, Cheap Business Cards, Citizens Business Bank, Cox Business Login, Digital Business Card, Facebook Business Suite, Finance In Business, Free Business Cards, Google Business Login, Harvard Business School, Lands End Business, Massage Parlor Business Near Me, Michigan Business Entity Search, Mind Your Business, Mind Your Own Business, Ohio Business Search, Risky Business Costume, Skype For Business, Small Business Loan, Small Business Saturday 2021, Starting A Business, Texas Business Entity Search, Triumph Business Capital, Vending Machine Business, Verizon Business Customer Service, Vonage Business Login, Wells Fargo Business Account, Yahoo Small Business, Yahoo Small Business Login

Continue Reading

Previous Ease of paying taxes bill to support Diokno’s digitalization push
Next Stamford Finance Board OKs Glenbrook sale despite concern from some over ‘concentrations of low-income housing’

More Stories

Google Map Vs Bing Maps : Which One Is Best?
  • Business Finance & Support

Google Map vs Bing Maps : Which One Is Best?

Linda Caughey May 30, 2023 0
HubSpot Deal Stages: 7 Keys to Success
  • Business Finance & Support

HubSpot Deal Stages: 7 Keys to Success

Linda Caughey May 29, 2023 0
Funding roundup November 26 – December 2: Shopa Group , Josef and more
  • Business Finance & Support

Funding roundup November 26 – December 2: Shopa Group , Josef and more

Linda Caughey May 28, 2023 0
June 2023
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« May    

Archives

  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • December 2016

Recent Posts

  • Logo For Your Business
  • Tracking the un-trackable with GTM
  • Google Map vs Bing Maps : Which One Is Best?
  • HubSpot Deal Stages: 7 Keys to Success
  • 7 Ways To Use Google Trends For SEO & Content Marketing

BL

Tags

Amazon Business Credit Card American Airlines Business Class Att Business Login Austin Business Journal Best Bank For Small Business Best Business Bank Accounts Best Business Schools In Us Best Business To Start British Airways Business Class Business Business Attire Men Business Card Ideas Business Casual Shoes For Women Business Continuity Planning Business Entity Search Business Letter Template Business Management Degree Business Manager Facebook Business Plan Outline Business School Rankings Colorado Business Search Delaware Business Entity Search Drop Shipping Business Family Business Bet Fox Business Live Georgia Sos Business Search Google Business Account Harvest Small Business Finance How To Build Business Credit Is Saturday A Business Day Is Sears Still In Business Microsoft 365 Business My Business Google Name Generator Business None Of Your Business Ny Sos Business Search Open A Business Bank Account Pa Business Search Plus Size Business Casual Pnc Business Banking Sos Business Search Ca Sunbiz Business Search Taking Care Of Business The Business Of Being Born Turbotax Home And Business 2020

Visit Now

Dignity Health Sports Park

pest control las vegas scorpion 

getlinko

Related Article

  • Business Plan

Logo For Your Business

Linda Caughey June 1, 2023 0
Tracking the un-trackable with GTM
  • Their Business

Tracking the un-trackable with GTM

Linda Caughey May 31, 2023 0
Google Map Vs Bing Maps : Which One Is Best?
  • Business Finance & Support

Google Map vs Bing Maps : Which One Is Best?

Linda Caughey May 30, 2023 0
HubSpot Deal Stages: 7 Keys to Success
  • Business Finance & Support

HubSpot Deal Stages: 7 Keys to Success

Linda Caughey May 29, 2023 0
7 Ways To Use Google Trends For SEO & Content Marketing
  • Business & Finance News

7 Ways To Use Google Trends For SEO & Content Marketing

Linda Caughey May 29, 2023 0
fit-body-24ua.xyz | CoverNews by AF themes.

WhatsApp us