A line of credit allows a small business to access funds, repay them, and reuse the credit. It is a helpful source for all small business.

If you are running a small business, what is the one thing you believe drives real growth? It is the capital used in the business. This capital decides whether your small business should survive in the market or be washed out of the market. 

It is not certain that the business always experiences a steady cash flow. There are chances for negative cash flow, late payments, sudden financial hits, etc., to occur. The business requires an additional funding source to manage its capital and operations during this period. A line of credit is a way to manage the situation of capital shortage. This blog explains about small business lines of credit and some of their advantages.

Small Definition of Line of Credit for Small Business  

The small business line of credit is a fund provided by the financing sources to the small business to manage the business expenses. This line of credit varies from the traditional loan pattern in the following way. A line of credit allows small businesses to access funds, repay them, and reuse the credit repeatedly.   

This small business line of credit plays a major role in fulfilling the sudden capital needs of the small business, like purchasing raw materials, managing the inventory, etc. There are various types of lines of credit, some of which are listed below.   

1. Secured Line of Credit: While acquiring this secured line of credit, the small business must provide a secured asset, like inventory, properties, etc. This secured asset is requested because if the credit buyer cannot repay the amount, the credit issuer will take possession of this secured asset. With this, the small business can obtain a larger loan amount.  

2. Unsecured Line of Credit: For an unsecured line of credit, there is no need to submit collateral. Instead, the financial stability of the business will be analyzed to provide a loan. However, the credit limits for an unsecured line of credit are lower than those for secured options. 

3. Invoice Financing Line of Credit: With the invoice financing procedure, the business can get a small advance amount for its unpaid invoices. When the full invoice amount is collected from the client, the lender takes a small fee and gives the rest of the money to the business. 

Related Blog: How Does Your Business Qualify for Invoice Financing? 

4. Seasonal Line of Credit: Businesses that experience peak sales during specific seasons of the year can use this seasonal line of credit. During peak seasons, the fund provider offers a set amount to support the business's operational and purchasing needs.  

5. Short-Term Line of Credit: These short-term lines of credit are provided for a shorter period, ranging from months to a year. It helps in managing temporary cash flow problems of the small business. 

Key Advantages of Line of Credit:  

Making use of a line of credit benefits the small business in numerous ways, and some of them are mentioned below.  

• A line of credit provides an instant amount to the business, which serves as a lifeboat for the small business when it faces severe cash flow issues.  
• The changing business needs can be accomplished with this line of credit, and hence, the business can be enhanced.  
• A strong relationship will be maintained between the small business and the lender, which makes this a better option in the future for immediate needs.  
• The approval process of a line of credit is simpler than obtaining traditional loans. 
• A line of credit offers a flexible funding process and repayment structure, which makes the small business owners feel free.  

The line of credit plays a major role in the business's functioning. So, make use of this and take your small business to the next level.