Finding a Funder Who Will Back Your Business Six steps to ensuring you meet your funder's mandate, approach the right people, and tick all the boxes.

Most funds are purpose built. If you know who the funders are, their mandates, and the sectors they're interested in, you can pitch your business to the right people. Here are six tips that will get you started.

1. Determine why you need funding

According to Quinton Zunga, founder and CEO of RH Bophelo, a special purpose acquisition company with interests in the healthcare sector, many business owners do not understand cash flow and its impact on the operations of a business. "A good idea without enough cash flow is not sustainable," he says.

"You have to prepare the business for the worst-case scenario and ask yourself "what if things don't work out my way? Do I have a plan B?' Don't assume you'll be able to access finance to save the business if your cash flow is poor."

The reality is that too many business owners apply for funding because their working capital is under strain, customers owe them money or their margins are too low.

"There's a big difference between funding that will help you grow your business, and trying to plug a self-inflicted cash flow problem," agrees Kumaran Padayachee, CEO of Spartan SME Finance, an alternative funder.
The key to growth funding can be summarised in one sentence: Will this help me make money? If the answer is yes, you've ticked the growth-funding box.

If you're not sure, relook your financials and forecasting. If the answer is no, you're trying to solve a cash flow problem that will not be fixed by taking on more debt funding. "As a funder, we care about what entrepreneurs want the money for," says Kumaran.

"We look at business models and strategy. We take a view of the entire picture, which gives us insight into whether the funding will be used in a growth context, or to plug a gap created by a strategy, cash flow, sales, marketing, management or an access-to-market problem."

The real insight is that it shouldn't only be up to funders to determine the answers to these questions, but business owners themselves. If you understand why you need funding, one of two things will happen: You'll realise there's a problem in the business that funding won't solve, and you can begin working on it; or you'll be prepared when you apply for funding, increasing your chances of securing the finance you need.

The reality is that too many business owners apply for funding because their working capital is under strain, customers owe them money or their margins are too low.

2. Understand the funding landscape

Different sectors, industries and funders have their own rules and mandates. To understand the funding you're trying to access, you need to first understand the sector you're in, and the funding rules 
that apply. For example, property is a long-term investment and funders in this space require a commitment of at least five to 15 years. TUHF, which is a specialised residential property finance company, also requires 
an equity contribution, as it does not offer 100% financing.

"Funding is usually made up of two components: Financing (loans) and equity (owner's contribution)," says TUHF's CEO, Paul Jackson. "The purchase price of the property, the costs of refurbishment and the amount of money the client can contribute of his own money are the three main contributing factors that determine how much financing the client will need to 
apply for."

More importantly, entrepreneurs approaching TUHF are dealing with industry experts operating within a niche space. This is true of most funders, and should be carefully considered by business owners. When you're considering your growth options, focus on what you absolutely need to push the needle, and make do with what you can as you build up your pipeline.

"In every case ask the question: Do the costs involved in accessing the finance make sense? Will this help drive growth? How? Once you've ticked those boxes, consider all your funding options. There are a lot of solutions available to you, from bank funding, which is the cheapest to access but requires a lot of collateral, to private equity funding, which involves giving away equity in the business," says Kumaran.

"Alternative funders like us play in the middle of these two traditional options. Alternative funders tend to be niche and specific, focusing on specific sectors or industries. They carry more risk and don't require collateral, which is why they're more expensive than banks, but they bring industry and sector-specific insights as well — and it's debt funding, which means you aren't giving away equity in your business.

Their processes tend to be efficient as well, largely due to the niche nature of the funder. When you're ready to grow, find a funder that matches your needs and understands your business."

3. Start early

"Raising capital patiently is key, because acquiring funding quickly but unwisely could lead to repayment issues," says Quinton. "Some funding can only be accessed later and you need to be patient, or you may find yourself struggling to pay it off before your business has grown big enough to do so.

You need to focus on preparing a business plan and understanding the cash flow impact of the decision you make. Look for an advisor or banker to work with you on the business plan."

4. Know what funders look for

All funders are looking for specific business and personal traits in the business owners they back. Quinton values integrity and honesty, a good understanding of the business they are in, and personal commitment. "Funding a new business is always tough because the entrepreneur may not have experienced all the sides of the economy and may not be accustomed, mature and ready enough to go to the next level. This is where a steady track record is advantageous," he adds.

Paul agrees. For TUHF, the entrepreneurial character and competence of the borrower is of paramount importance. "We follow a character-based lending approach," he says. "A client that displays certain characteristics is considered a better investment option.

These include entrepreneurial qualities; an open-minded attitude that is willing to take advice; someone who is self-disciplined and manages the cash flows of the property to the benefit of the property, and not for personal use.

Other sought-after characteristics include someone who keeps their tenants happy by keeping the property clean and well maintained, providing all-round good customer service; is committed to doing everything in their power to ensure the success of the deal; is up-to-date on utilities; and directly involved in the property management, even if there is an external service provider."

5. Avoid red flags

Every funder has red flags they watch out for and they will walk away from a deal if they find them. "A bad past business track record indicates the business owner's legal, financial, and HR values," says Quinton. "These are important to us.

Without some ethos and standards, you end up not being on the same page as your investor. I usually ask about the entrepreneur's previous partnership — how they handled it and why it ended. Desperation is also a deterrent, as is a poor business case."

Paul agrees. The driving factor in TUHF's business is the borrower's aptitude in property. "Real estate competency is therefore a key characteristic of TUHF borrowers. It's important that the building is properly matched to the skill and entrepreneurial competence of the borrower.

Some of the conditions we evaluate include a credit record, ensuring the borrower is not under debt review, or blacklisted; returned debit orders on a client's bank statement; track record and state of repair of the client's other properties; having the right risk attitude, which in our case is considered, cautious and patient; taking the time to do due diligence; and property fit — does the size and nature of the project match the client's talents and experience. It's a red flag for us if one of these is mismatched."

6. Don't give up

The most important step in funding is perseverance. Many business owners knock on multiple doors and make numerous applications before finding a funder that fits. This could be because red flags need to be addressed and financial management accounts followed, but each time you approach a funder you learn something new that you can implement in your business.

"Don't view failure as a disaster," says Quinton. "Figure out which stage of the lifecycle your business is in and align that to your commitments."