Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-4-sources-of-business-finance

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [BTEC](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec.md) › [Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business.md) › [Business: BTEC Level 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3.md) › Sources of Business Finance

# Sources of Business Finance

Business: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, topic 3.1.4

## Short-Term Methods

Sources of finance (e.g. banks, investors or suppliers) are ways that businesses can raise money to fund their operations and growth. Methods of finance are the ways that a source can offer finance. Some short-term methods of finance are:

### Trade credit

![Trade credit](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/5a509b13-0002-4bc5-91b9-aa4856e426d1/shutterstock_566238307.jpg)

- Trade credit describes when firms pay suppliers at a later date. It involves buying something now and paying for it later.

### Hire purchases

![Hire purchases](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/45b440bf-ddbc-41fb-88c4-f2782f27f13e/shutterstock_358877468.jpg)

- This is when a business buys something and instead of paying for it upfront pays for it in instalments. 
 - E.g. when PSG bought Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, they didn’t pay the whole amount at the time and instead completed the purchase in different stages. 
 - E.g. If a company bought machinery worth £1,000, a hire purchase scheme may allow them to pay £100 a month for 10 months rather than pay £1,000 up front.

### Overdraft

![Overdraft](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/40fd6202-ee2f-457c-bc1b-54f01392b0a5/shutterstock_781746199.jpg)

- This is when a bank lets a business spend more money than the amount of cash that they have in their current account.

## Long-Term Methods of Finance

Businesses can use the capital (money) to initially start up, to fund new investments for growth or to support a business if it is struggling. Some long-term methods of finance are:

### Retained profit

![Retained profit](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/ef76e77e-30e3-48d4-8b3d-994cf8655cc0/shutterstock_184487681.jpg)

- This is profit that the business has effectively saved whilst it has been operating. 
- Retained profit is a cheap source of finance because a business does not have to pay any interest.
- Retained profit is limited, so a business can only spend profits that have been saved. It may not be enough to fund large long-term projects.

### Personal savings

![Personal savings](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/7709db6e-3985-4e46-9475-44143d0d53c6/shutterstock_553403599.jpg)

- This is personal money that is invested by the owner of a company.
 - It is most relevant for start-up companies, in which the entrepreneur has saved up to fund their business venture.
 - A downside is that it can be very risky for an entrepreneur to put a significant amount of their personal savings into a business.

### Venture capital

![Venture capital](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/dcafbd7d-6749-46fa-b63e-b1ebebffafe3/shutterstock_234083230.jpg)

- In venture capital, experienced business people with access to large amounts of capital offer investment for a portion of the company in return.
- A downside to this is that the entrepreneur may lose some control of the business decisions.
- Some venture capitalists encourage the businesses that they invest in to take a lot of risks, which can be good or very bad for the business.

### Share capital

![Share capital](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/5b0c3d3e-a6b1-4268-9169-e2d10e01e139/shutterstock_370548722.jpg)

- A firm can sell share capital (some of its shares) to other people or companies. They give away a percentage of the company in return for getting finance invested in the business.
 - This is usually what happens on Dragon’s Den on the BBC. 
- Public limited companies may do new share issues, creating shares and issuing them to investors through a stock market. 
- Private limited companies can sell share capital (shares) to family, friends or even a private equity company.

### Bank loans or mortgages

![Bank loans or mortgages](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/dbf5405a-2416-4161-81dc-69111876157d/shutterstock_358877468.jpg)

- Bank loans and mortgages are very important for many businesses. A business borrows money from a bank and then pays interest on the money borrowed.  
- It is often harder for new businesses to get bank loans because banks see them as riskier.

### Crowdfunding

![Crowdfunding](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/42aaf881-3f55-41fd-9fe5-8cb1c6c52ded/shutterstock_631017335.jpg)

- Crowdfunding is often done over the internet. It involves encouraging investors (usually individuals) to put in small amounts of money into a specific business or venture. 
- The Oculus VR headset was initially crowdfunded by individuals who pledged (put in) $2.4m in 30 days.

## Test yourself on Sources of Business Finance

- When PSG bought Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, they chose to complete the purchase in multiple stages.  What is this an example of?
- What are some short-term methods of finance?
- Which of the following is not a short-term source of finance?
- When a business sells shares for a % of the business, which method of finance is this business using?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/f0389213-3369-45a4-8126-07b001bb9007/section/235a8732-9e3f-4135-9454-5fe6c5160fad/session)

- Previous topic: [3.1.3 External Finance 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-3-external-finance-2.md)
- Next topic: [3.2.1 Revenue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-1-revenue.md)

## Business: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma contents

### 1 Exploring Business
- 1.1 Features of Business Organisations
  - [1.1.1 Sole Traders & Partnerships](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-1-sole-traders-and-partnerships.md)
  - [1.1.2 Private & Public Limited Companies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-2-private-and-public-limited-companies.md)
  - [1.1.3 Types of Liability & Not-For-Profits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-3-types-of-liability-and-not-for-profits.md)
  - [1.1.4 Purposes of Businesses](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-4-purposes-of-businesses.md)
  - [1.1.5 Purposes of Businesses 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-5-purposes-of-businesses-2.md)
  - [1.1.6 The Different Economic Sectors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-6-the-different-economic-sectors.md)
  - [1.1.7 Multinational Companies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-7-multinational-companies.md)
  - [1.1.8 Stakeholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-8-stakeholders.md)
  - [1.1.9 Influence of Stakeholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-9-influence-of-stakeholders.md)
- 1.2 Organisation of Businesses
  - [1.2.1 Organisational Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-1-organisational-structure.md)
  - [1.2.2 Types of Organisational Structures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-2-types-of-organisational-structures.md)
  - [1.2.3 Business Aims & Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-3-business-aims-and-objectives.md)
  - [1.2.4 Business Aims](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-4-business-aims.md)
  - [1.2.5 Business Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-5-business-objectives.md)
- 1.3 Business Environment
  - [1.3.1 External Influences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-1-external-influences.md)
  - [1.3.2 Political & Legal Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-2-political-and-legal-change.md)
  - [1.3.3 Economic Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-3-economic-environment.md)
  - [1.3.4 Social & Technological Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-4-social-and-technological-environment.md)
  - [1.3.5 Lifestyle & Technological Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-5-lifestyle-and-technological-environment.md)
  - [1.3.6 Corporate Social Responsibility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-6-corporate-social-responsibility.md)
  - [1.3.7 The Competitive Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-7-the-competitive-environment.md)
  - [1.3.8 Innovation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-8-innovation.md)
  - [1.3.9 Risk & Uncertainty](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-9-risk-and-uncertainty.md)
  - [1.3.10 Porter's Five Forces](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-10-porters-five-forces.md)
  - [1.3.11 SWOT Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-11-swot-analysis.md)

### 2 Marketing Campaigns
- 2.1 Marketing
  - [2.1.1 Setting Marketing Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-1-setting-marketing-objectives.md)
  - [2.1.2 Customer Needs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-2-customer-needs.md)
  - [2.1.3 The Market](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-3-the-market.md)
  - [2.1.4 Competition & The Market](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-4-competition-and-the-market.md)
  - [2.1.5 Consumer Behaviour](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-5-consumer-behaviour.md)
  - [2.1.6 Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-6-market-research.md)
  - [2.1.7 Forms of Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-7-forms-of-market-research.md)
  - [2.1.8 Market Segmentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-8-market-segmentation.md)
  - [2.1.9 Cultural & Social Factors in Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-9-cultural-and-social-factors-in-marketing.md)
  - [2.1.10 Promotional Decisions 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-10-promotional-decisions-3.md)
  - [2.1.11 Pricing Strategies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-11-pricing-strategies.md)
- 2.2 Marketing Mix
  - [2.2.1 Marketing Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-1-marketing-mix.md)
  - [2.2.2 Product Life Cycle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-2-product-life-cycle.md)
  - [2.2.3 Pricing Decisions & Price Skimming](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-3-pricing-decisions-and-price-skimming.md)
  - [2.2.4 Pricing Decisions & Price Penetration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-4-pricing-decisions-and-price-penetration.md)
  - [2.2.5 Promotional Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-5-promotional-decisions.md)
  - [2.2.6 Promotional Decisions 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-6-promotional-decisions-2.md)
  - [2.2.7 Promotional Decisions 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-7-promotional-decisions-3.md)
  - [2.2.8 Market Mapping](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-8-market-mapping.md)

### 3 Business Finance
- 3.1 Sources of Finance
  - [3.1.1 Internal Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-1-internal-finance.md)
  - [3.1.2 External Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-2-external-finance.md)
  - [3.1.3 External Finance 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-3-external-finance-2.md)
  - [3.1.4 Sources of Business Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-4-sources-of-business-finance.md)
- 3.2 Financial Planning
  - [3.2.1 Revenue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-1-revenue.md)
  - [3.2.2 Costs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-2-costs.md)
  - [3.2.3 Cash & Cash Flow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-3-cash-and-cash-flow.md)
  - [3.2.4 Cash & Cash Flow 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-4-cash-and-cash-flow-2.md)
  - [3.2.5 Break-Even Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-5-break-even-analysis.md)
  - [3.2.6 Profits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-6-profits.md)
- 3.3 Financial Statements
  - [3.3.1 Balance Sheets](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-3-1-balance-sheets.md)
  - [3.3.2 Income Statements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-3-2-income-statements.md)
  - [3.3.3 Liquidity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-3-3-liquidity.md)

### 4 International Business
- 4.1 Globalisation
  - [4.1.1 Growing Economies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-1-1-growing-economies.md)
  - [4.1.2 Specialisation & Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-1-2-specialisation-and-trade.md)
- 4.2 International Business
  - [4.2.1 Internationalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-1-internationalisation.md)
  - [4.2.2 International Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-2-international-trade.md)
  - [4.2.3 MNCS](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-3-mncs.md)
  - [4.2.4 Conditions that Prompt Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-4-conditions-that-prompt-trade.md)
  - [4.2.5 Assessment of a Country](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-5-assessment-of-a-country.md)
- 4.3 International Economic Environment
  - [4.3.1 Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-1-globalisation.md)
  - [4.3.2 Factors Contributing to Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-2-factors-contributing-to-globalisation.md)
  - [4.3.3 Protectionism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-3-protectionism.md)
  - [4.3.4 The EU & the WTO](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-4-the-eu-and-the-wto.md)
  - [4.3.5 Trading Blocs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-5-trading-blocs.md)
- 4.4 Factors Affecting International Business
  - [4.4.1 Global Competitiveness](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-4-1-global-competitiveness.md)
  - [4.4.2 Ethics of Global Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-4-2-ethics-of-global-business.md)
  - [4.4.3 Controlling MNCs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-4-3-controlling-mncs.md)
  - [4.4.4 Cultural & Social Factors in Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-4-4-cultural-and-social-factors-in-marketing.md)

### 5 Principles of Management
- 5.1 Management & Leadership
  - [5.1.1 Managers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-1-1-managers.md)
  - [5.1.2 Management Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-1-2-management-theories.md)
  - [5.1.3 Managing Organisational Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-1-3-managing-organisational-culture.md)
  - [5.1.4 Management Style](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-1-4-management-style.md)
- 5.2 Theories of Motivation
  - [5.2.1 Motivating & Engaging Employees](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-1-motivating-and-engaging-employees.md)
  - [5.2.2 Taylor's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-2-taylors-theory.md)
  - [5.2.3 Mayo's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-3-mayos-theory.md)
  - [5.2.4 Maslow's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-4-maslows-theory.md)
  - [5.2.5 Herzberg's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-5-herzbergs-theory.md)
- 5.3 Managing Change
  - [5.3.1 Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-1-change.md)
  - [5.3.2 Key Factors in Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-2-key-factors-in-change.md)
  - [5.3.3 Scenario Planning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-3-scenario-planning.md)
  - [5.3.4 Managing Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-4-managing-change.md)
  - [5.3.5 Managing Strategic Implementation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-5-managing-strategic-implementation.md)

### 6 Business Decision Making
- 6.1 Business Principles & Practices
  - [6.1.1 Influences in External Environments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-1-influences-in-external-environments.md)
  - [6.1.2 Product Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-2-product-decisions.md)
  - [6.1.3 Competitive Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-3-competitive-environment.md)
  - [6.1.4 Corporate Strategy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-4-corporate-strategy.md)
  - [6.1.5 Quantitative Sales Forecasting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-5-quantitative-sales-forecasting.md)
  - [6.1.6 Legislation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-6-legislation.md)
- 6.2 Quality Management
  - [6.2.1 Importance of Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-2-1-importance-of-quality.md)
  - [6.2.2 Measuring Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-2-2-measuring-quality.md)
  - [6.2.3 Total Quality Management](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-2-3-total-quality-management.md)
  - [6.2.4 Evaluating TQM](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-2-4-evaluating-tqm.md)
- 6.3 Human Resources
  - [6.3.1 Contracts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-3-1-contracts.md)
  - [6.3.2 Recruitment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-3-2-recruitment.md)
  - [6.3.3 Training a Workforce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-3-3-training-a-workforce.md)
- 6.4 Documents & Business Decisions
  - [6.4.1 Sales Forecasts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-4-1-sales-forecasts.md)
  - [6.4.2 Managing Strategic Implementation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-4-2-managing-strategic-implementation.md)
  - [6.4.3 Problems with Strategy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-4-3-problems-with-strategy.md)
