Best methods to negotiate a Business Loan in India

Business loan negotiation-Business loans are required by business owners who have less capital in hand and want to expand their business, buy new equipment, acquire new assets, and meet other business needs. Lenders provide business loans to businesses that satisfy the lender’s eligibility criteria.

Business loans are required by business owners who have less capital in hand and want to expand their business, buy new equipment, acquire new assets, and meet other business needs. Lenders provide business loans to businesses that satisfy the lender’s eligibility criteria. Any business with a successful record of revenue generation and credit rating need not worry and may use the below tips on negotiating some terms of your business loan.

Read More: Business Loans and Top 14 Types of Business Loans

1. Detailed Business Plan and Risk Analysis

Business owners should have a detailed business plan right from the start. The plan should include details like the main objective of the business, approximate startup cost, how you are planning to use funds, the approximate number of employees and their salaries, the running of the business, and its plan. 

You should also identify risk factors that are external and internal associated with business which may affect lenders. Business owners should prepare a plan with ideas to mitigate the risk so that the lender understands the level of risk.

2. Prepare a Negotiation Plan

Always highlight the unique selling point of your business that sets your business apart from competitors. The main purpose of any lender is to borrow your financial position. Business owners should have an in-built strategy to avoid lenders taking over their future business plan decisions. 

Always determine which factor of financial arrangement is crucial for your business, which is non-negotiable and negotiable. If you are prepared in advance with a strategy and know the conditions that are more acceptable for your financial needs will help business owners make good decisions about negotiations.

3. Choosing the Right Loan Product to negotiate a business loan

Many business loans are available from different lenders, each of which serves the different needs of business owners and businesses. Any business is looking for a line of credit against which it can withdraw amounts to fulfill its working capital needs. You may purchase products like loans against securities, overdraft facilities, bill discounting, etc.

Any business looking for an unsecured loan that will help meet the business’s short-term goals, like working capital, then you may go for an unsecured business loan which can be repaid in 48 months or depending on the lender’s criteria. Businesses that require large funds for their long-term plans may use secured business loans like loans against property. 

4. Pay Off Existing Debts

It is recommended to ensure that your current monthly EMIs should be at most 30% of your income. Business owners having existing debts are advised to pay them off to the extent possible. Paying off existing debts will help you negotiate better with the lender. If you have more debts, the lender will consider that before deciding on the loan amount for your business.

5. Interest Rate Negotiation

The interest rate on a loan is expressed in percentage form. The EMIs and interest rates have a significant influence on your monthly expenses. Always consider negotiating the interest rate from your creditor, which will help reduce your total debt and help pay it off faster. Certain factors like CIBIL score, annual turnover, and profit of the business will impact the loan interest rate offered by the lender. 

Business owners can use many business loan eligibility calculators over the internet to see how small an amount they can borrow from any lender. The interest rate might be low if you request an amount lower than what your business is eligible for.

Read More: Read More: Down payment requirements for a business loan?

6. Payment Schedule Negotiation

Improved payment terms by lenders will help in investing your money in different ways to help grow your business. While applying for the loan, understand lenders’ repayment terms and conditions, penalties, repayment schedule, EMI, and other factors. You can compare one lender with another and tell them that the other person is offering at this rate, which might help lower EMI.

For safety and protection, most lenders require collateral that business owners can easily lease, manage, and liquidate in case of a company or business failure. Business owners can negotiate with the lender in given cases and should keep their assets as collateral for the loan to the minimum. 

Business owners can take a loan from a bank or non-financial institution with which they already have a prior relationship or can go for a new one, whichever suits them the best. If the loan is taken from the lender with whom we have a prior relationship, it is easier to negotiate than the new one considering the relationship.

Lastly, before negotiating any affordable and perfect business loan, business owners should look at their company’s status and financial status through the lender’s eyes and think about how it will go further. 

7. Consider the Loan charges.

Lenders often charge additional amounts, such as documentation fees, processing fees, stamp duty charges, etc., depending on the type of loan you are taking and the lender you have chosen. Business owners should understand all of these charges and terminologies and see that the best possible deal is given for the benefit of the business. 

Businesses that are highly profitable with great credit scores and repayment capacity then you may leverage these factors for negotiation. Also, the business owners having good repayment history with the lenders can positively impact negotiating while acquiring a business loan.

8. Choose the Right Lender

Business owners should choose the right lender cautiously by examining all the factors and criteria. It is recommended to find a lender who gives credit to your industry. Many lenders are known for providing credits to businesses within a specific number of industries available. 

Also, all the wording should be looked into before moving forward. Business owners should read the loan agreement before signing and make sure they know every line and understand every terminology and terms and condition in the agreement. 

Other than basic terms like interest rate, tenure, and amount, business owners should be comfortable with our inflatable installment, default, monetary pledges, and many more.

9. Keep the Collateral in Mind

A lender will gain trust after assessing your business and its capacity to fulfill and secure collateral. Lenders generally safeguard themselves by requesting collateral against the loan, such as immovable assets or any financial assets. If the business fails to repay the lender, it may repossess the pledged assets and use them to recover the dues against the loan. 

Read More: Equity Financing and business loans, Which is a good choice?

How to choose the right Small Business loans for your business?

Business owners can compare different lenders and types of loans and choose the best suitable for their business. Many lenders offer small business loans,  business lines of credit, and funding options like invoice factoring, overdraft, and many more. 

It is recommended to business owners that before deciding on which loan is best suitable for their business, they should check for lenders who offer transparency and clarity in loan products and eligibility requirements. Also, business owners should look for lenders who clarify fees and ongoing costs in the entire term and post it clearly, either written or on their websites. 

Businesses should always assess their business before considering any lender for acquiring loans and check the financials. Generally, 2 years of financials are required to acquire loans from lenders like banks and institutions. Collateral should be valued beforehand so that you have an idea about the value of your collateral. So that when the lenders visit for evaluation, they evaluate it with the right amount. 

Conclusion

Taking a business loan is necessary for businesses facing any financial hurdle that might hinder their business from achieving the set goal. But sometimes, credit may not consider providing the credit, so business owners have to think of different ways to convince them. This guide has some practical tips that business owners can incorporate when negotiating with creditors to get the most needed business loan. 

Business owners should consider the condition of their businesses before applying for any loan to get a clear understanding. The loan collateral should be provided only if required and to the minimum for the benefit of the business. Consider the above points before selecting a business loan from any lender. 

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