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Four Ways Women in Business Can Succeed Without Relying on Loans

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While the number of women-owned businesses has surged in recent years, many still struggle to grow — due in part to issues securing capital. Only 2.2% of venture capital funding went to female-founded companies in 2019, and the number of small business loans has shrunk overall since the 2008 recession. No wonder women in business say a lack of cash flow or capital is their number-one challenge.

Luckily, there’s more than one way to grow a small business. Stabilizing cash flow and cutting costs will free up funds to fuel expansion, and there are many non-traditional options to help women-owned businesses make that happen. Here are four ways women entrepreneurs can grow their companies by considering alternative payment and credit options.

1. Outsource operations so you can focus on what you do best

As a small business owner, you probably wear many hats. One minute, you’re making strategic decisions as CEO of your company; another minute, you’re chasing invoices from customers. All that multitasking might keep you on your toes, but it can make it hard to focus on what your business does best: delivering a stellar product or service.

By outsourcing back office operations like accounts receivable and customer service to specialists, you can free up time and attention to focus on higher-level tasks that drive growth. You’ll also save money and increase efficiency in ways that will further maximize your business performance. For example, outsourcing collections to a trusted partner can reduce days sales outstanding (DSO) and gaps in cash flow. Many vendors will also white label their services to provide a seamless and consistent experience for your customers.

When searching for a partner, think about your needs in the long-term, not just the current state. Find a vendor that works with a variety of business sizes from SMB to enterprise, a sign that they’ll be able to scale with you as you grow.

2. Build your bottom line by extending credit

Requiring payment upfront may give you a feeling of security, but it could also be holding back growth. For B2B companies, offering Net 30 payment terms will increase customers’ spending power and their average order size. It may also boost loyalty since customers who enjoy an exclusive line of credit at your business will be more likely to buy from you than from your competitors.

However, verifying that customers are creditworthy takes time and energy that might be better spent growing your business. A vendor offering TreviPay® (TreviPay) will handle this process for you. With TreviPay, the vendor onboards new customers instantly, using automated decisioning to accept or reject their credit application — often within less than 30 seconds. The vendor then extends a line of credit to accepted applicants on your behalf, under your brand, at zero risk to you.

You can read the full article on HomeBusiness.com

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