Home-based entrepreneurs in need of business capital have many different, often unconventional, ways to raise money. After reading this article, there will be no room for doubt in the mind of even the most ambitious pessimist about raising business capital. Any business owner can raise money if he or she is willing to put in the effort. Here we introduce you to some creative ways to raise money for business capital.

Trade Credit

Credit on a good or service that you require for your home business — known as trade credit — is a common way to increase cash flow. Standard terms for payment are usually between 30 and 90 days. To get trade credit, provide a marketing plan for generating revenue from your inventory or other business purchase during "float" time (the period of time between order date and the date payment is due to the supplier). You may be surprised to see how many suppliers will give your business credit if you present a credible, home-based image.

Use a Contract, Purchase Order or a Letter of Intent

Convince your supplier or other person whom you do business to grant you credit by showing your own customers' written expression of desire to purchase. The best documents to substantiate this are legally binding contracts or purchase orders. If not obtainable, you can ask your customer to write a letter of intent to purchase an approximate amount of your product within a specified time period. Bottom Line: Convince your supplier you can move their goods or services and that they will get paid.

Factoring

Firms or individuals called "Factors" convert your accounts receivable into working capital, either immediately upon invoicing or when invoices come due. Here's how it works: You submit your customer's order information to the factor for credit approval. Typically, the factor will purchase your receivables and advance you 80 percent of their face value. The remaining 20 percent is held as a reserve to offset uncollectable amounts. The reserve is released after the bill is paid, less any deductions for uncollectables and the factor's service fee, known as a discount (usually 1.5 to 5 percent).

Bank Financing of Receivables

The major difference between banks and factors is that banks don't purchase receivables; they lend against them. Since you remain the owner of these accounts, you must do your own credit checks and absorb any collection cost. Most banks forward 80 percent of the receivables face value while holding 20 percent as a reserve for uncollectible amounts.

Tap Personal Resources and Credit Cards

One obvious way to raise money is to sell personal or business assets. The process is simple and it works. A personal resource available to just about any entrepreneur is a credit card. Few successful businesses have not had to, at one time or another, tap credit cards for cash advances and business purchases.

Defer Payments

Pay a personal visit to the accounting or loan department of your bank or mortgage servicer and tell them you would like to defer next month's payment, and just pay interest on the remaining principle. The net effect is that principle payments are deferred, the creditor earns more interest, and you face longer payoff dates and higher final payment amounts. But you will have more money up-front.

Ask For Refunds

Stiff competition has caused most retailers to adopt liberal return policies. Many will bend their "No Refunds Without Receipt" policy on merchandise they carry. Look around for unneeded items you have recently purchased or received. Take it back to the retail outlet for a refund. At a minimum, you can at least exchange the item for something you would have had to spend money on soon, such as a piece of office equipment.

Request Access To Deposits

If you are a prompt paying customer, many utility companies will allow you to apply utility deposits towards your next bill. That deposit then becomes capital for a growing business. If you're a renter, try to get a portion of the rent deposit or the pre-paid last month's rent payment applied against a future payment.

Dip Into The Pension Plan

Although bedeviled with penalties and taxes, when in a crunch you can borrow against a pension or retirement plan. When comparing several financing options, it might be the lesser evil. The best option is to borrow against the "cash value" of your retirement fund. You, in effect, are borrowing your own money, so the interest rate will be low. Talk to your employer or financial advisor to get more information.

Barter For Goods and Services

Bartering is becoming stronger and stronger each year, with $1 billion traded annually through 300 American trade exchanges. Member ship in an exchange typically starts around $100 and provides two major benefits. First, they complete a form 1099-B at the end of the year to tell the IRS how many trade dollars changed hands. (The IRS says that trade dollars must be treated as actual sales dollars.) Second, you can accumulate trade credit until you need to barter for goods or services.

Borrow Against Patents, Trademarks And Copyrights

It has always been challenging to establish credit using intellectual-property assets (patents, trademarks, or copyrights). Yet it is still feasible, however, with the right approach and right type of intellectual-property. Before approaching a lending institution, get your intellectual-property asset appraised by someone who specializes in intangibles.

Turn A Loss Into A Gain

If you suffered a major loss this year in your business, you may be able to turn the loss into cash flow. Find someone in a higher tax bracket who is looking for a tax reduction, and get them to invest in your company before the end of your accounting year. You gain their cash infusion and they take advantage of a tax break on the business loss. Locate suitable investors by advertising in the newspaper under the "Money Wanted" or "Partners Wanted" sections of the classifieds. Use a heading such as "Tax Credits & Cash-Flow."