How Much Equity Should a Business Give Away?

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

Equity- the stake you or someone else has in a business. Having equity in a company means you have the incentive to see it grow and succeed. Whether a founder, employee, or investor, equity owners want to see a return on their investment.

As a founder, you want to know how much equity you can or should give away. The answer: it depends. 

When taking investment from early Angel investors, selling 10% to 20% of equity is the general rule. There is a lot of risk and exposure in investing early. As a founder, don’t forget the amount of risk and exposure you have; you don’t want to give away too much too soon.

Giving away company equity in a startup 

Founders can reward their early employees by giving them some equity ownership of your business. This can range from 0.1% to 6%, depending on their role and how early they join the company. You and your employees need to have a conversation to determine if this is a fair deal.

How to value startup equity

There are a few factors that play into the value of start-up equity:

  1. Dilution
  2. Time to exit (assuming success)
  3. Potential exit price

If you decide to continue to raise additional funding, you will continue to dilute the company equity pool. What was 10% ownership of the company may become 8% after a Series A. You still own the same number of shares, but the total number of shares has increased.

Assuming that the business is a success, how long until the exit or sale of the business? Three years? Five years? At what price are you selling the business? The sooner your exit, the less risk meaning you get a higher valuation. That’s because investors will not recognize the value of their equity until the sale and the price might be lower or higher than expected (as low as zero!)

How much capital should I raise?

There is conflicting advice on how much capital a business should raise and, proportionally, how much equity to give away. Some experts will say to raise as much as you can, while others will advise only to raise what you need. This advice hinges on other factors like economic conditions – downturn or bullish–and how much demand for your business you’ve generated.

The legal cost plus the work of fundraising will steer founders towards a path of raising as much as possible all at once. When beginning your funding round, remember to build in the cost of legal and take note of the greater economy. 

On the other hand, founders minimize dilution by raising as little as possible. 

A startup CFO, like those at CFOshare, will be able to guide you toward the best decision for your business.

Funding Rounds

You will often need more than one round of funding and you are looking to raise a minimum of 12 months of runway. The path to funding is different for each business as is the timeline and the amount of equity given. Remember, with each round of funding, you are giving away more equity and diluting the overall pool.

Pre-seed: Less formal, sometimes called a ‘friends and family” round.

Seed Round: Funds come from angels or accelerators, funding is typically used on key hires, testing the product/market, and further project development.

Series A: You’ve got a proof of concept, your pro forma has more actual data, and the goal is to secure funding that allows for scaling.

Series B, Series C, and Beyond: Your business model has proven traction even if profits might still be scarce. Acquisitions are being considered and your company is valued high, especially if you are in Series C.

What does the debt to equity ratio mean for a company?

If you have a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.5, your company uses $1.50 in debt for every $1 of equity. This is closely related to leverage and measures the total debt relative to the amount of investment and earnings retained over time.

Why does this matter? If you are looking for an additional round of funding, future investors will use this ratio to determine if your business is in financial distress or over-leveraged. For some tech startups, it is not even possible to raise debt, so the debt to equity ratio is a non-issue. But product companies and e-commerce businesses often carry debt, so keep an eye on your leverage by watching the debt to equity ratio. 

How to calculate Series A funding debt to equity ratio: take the total liabilities and divide them by the total shareholder’s equity (both numbers can be found on your balance sheet).

Still confused or have more questions on how much equity to give away? Contact us at CFOshare to talk through a strategy that we tailor to your business.

 

About the Author

Chelsie Kugler

Chelsie is the Vice President of Business Development at CFOshare. She helps small business owners improve their accounting and financial planning by surveying their company’s needs and aligning solutions internally or through CFOshare’s outsourced team.

 

About CFOshare

At CFOshare, their team of specialized, full-time W-2 employees work together to deliver superior results to your small business. That means you can expect industry best-practices from a range of experts whether it be a debt specialist, cost accountant, real estate guru, startup specialist, or pricing strategist.

What does a stockout mean for your supply chain?

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

If you’re in business, then you know that keeping your supply chain running smoothly is essential to your success. But what do you do when there’s a stockout? 

This can be a major issue for small businesses, and it’s important to understand the implications of a stockout so you can take steps to avoid it. Let’s explore what a stockout is and why it’s such a big deal for businesses.

We’ll also give you some tips on how to prevent stockouts from happening in your supply chain. 

What is a stockout?

A stockout is when inventory becomes unavailable. This means you can’t purchase an item or have it shipped – something that directly results in a loss of sales. Stockouts can cause you to lose both income and potential customers, when they become frustrated with your business. 

Stockouts can also be particularly detrimental if there’s no end in sight –  meaning it’s not clear when the item will be back in stock. 

What happens during a stockout?

A stockout occurs when an item that’s meant to be used for a customer’s order or for a production order is suddenly not in stock. There are a few things that can happen as a result of this.

One is that the customer can be forced to wait for the product. Sometimes a customer is willing to do this. But a stockout still has the potential to seriously damage their satisfaction with your brand.

A product might also be backordered. Again, this isn’t ideal in terms of customer satisfaction. A customer might cancel – this is common if it’s a product they need immediately – and again, it’s not great for maintaining customer satisfaction.

Finally, a customer might choose to shop elsewhere entirely. If they are unhappy with your communication about available inventory, they might cut all ties and work with someone else instead.

Causes of stockouts

Stockouts can occur for a variety of reasons. Often, these are completely out of your control. Things like unpaid invoices, delivery issues, production delays, or even basic human error can impact your inventory levels. However, if these kinds of unpredictable delays occur often, you might want to think about switching to another supplier.

Sometimes, stockouts happen because you’ve underestimated customer demand or you don’t have the funds available to buy new inventory. 

Impact of stockout on your supply chain

Stockouts can be seriously damaging to a business and its supply chain. If you can, you should work to avoid them at all costs. 

Losing customers to a competitor

When customers can’t get the products they want when they want them, there’s a good chance they’ll go somewhere else. You’re more likely to lose your customers to competitors. The likelihood of those customers coming back to your store is extremely slim. 

Negative reviews

When customers order a product only to have it delayed due to stockouts – or have their order canceled altogether – they’re more likely to leave negative customer reviews. While getting negative reviews every now and then is just a part of doing business, too many negative reviews can harm your business over time. 

Paying for canceled orders

One of the most frustrating things about stockouts is that they can lose you and your customers some money. It’s one thing for a customer to be able to see that an item is out of stock before they attempt to buy it – and another if they buy it only to find out it’s unavailable. 

What are the costs of stockouts?

Stockouts aren’t just inconvenient – they can be downright devastating for your business. A stockout can cause the loss of income and even the loss of customers. If your customers are dissatisfied with the experience because the items they wanted were out of stock or backordered, they’re less likely to return to you in the future.

Tips to preventing stockout for your business

There are a few key ways to prevent stockouts for your business. The first is to make sure you have the proper inventory management system in place so that you can avoid stockouts entirely. You’ll need to think carefully about your unique situation, the layout of your business, and other factors to find the system that works right for you.

Inventory management

If you’re going to incorporate an inventory management strategy, you’ll need to choose between a variety of different techniques. One strategy is an ecommerce inventory management strategy. You can restock your inventory once the number of products falls below a set standard. This will let you avoid overselling your inventory so you can minimize the number of customers impacted  by a stockout.

Conduct regular audits

It’s also essential that you conduct regular inventory audits. This can help you avoid overstepping your stock. While it’s time consuming, it’s an important part of managing your inventory.

Use inventory management software

Fortunately, there are several different software programs out there that can help you prevent stock outs by providing inventory data in real time. The ideal software will give you the updates, reporting, and metrics you need when you need them. 

Maintain safety stock 

A safety stock can serve as an insurance policy if you accidentally oversell your inventory. It’s especially essential if your company sells nonperishable items. Just make sure you don’t include your safety stock as part of your available stock – and remember, you’ll still need a place to store all of this stock, too.

Utilize FIFO

First in, first out. Make it a point to sell the oldest inventory before you sell the new stuff.

How Kickfurther can help

Don’t wait around and let a stockout happen. One of the most common causes of stockouts is when you fail to keep adequate inventory on hand simply because you can’t afford to buy it when it’s being sold at its cheapest. Take advantage of seasonal discounts and buy inventory at the right time. How do you do this without piles of cash sitting around?

With Kickfurther, you can fund millions of dollars in inventory at prices that are up to 30% less than the competitors. The funds are available when you need to pay suppliers – all without a purchase order or accounts receivable, which can delay your funding. You can get funding in less than an hour, helping you cut stockouts off at the head. Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory financing platform that enables companies to access funds that they are unable to acquire through traditional sources.

Stockouts can have a ripple effect on your entire supply chain, so it’s important to take steps to avoid them. By using the tips we’ve outlined in this post, you can help ensure that your stock is always sufficient to meet customer demand. 

Keep inventory healthy and avoid stockouts. . . create an online account at Kickfurher today!

What E-Commerce Sellers Should Know About Inventory Financing

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

If you’re an e-commerce seller, then you know that inventory financing can be a great way to get the money you need to grow your business. However, even with all the money in the world for inventory, ecommerce businesses can still fail. The risk of failure is higher when ecommerce inventory management is inefficient. We’re here to discuss two things: ecommerce inventory management and ecommerce inventory financing.

Keep reading to learn how to fund and manage ecommerce inventory.

What is inventory financing for ecommerce?

Inventory financing is a form of financing provided to ecommerce businesses to help them cover the costs associated with maintaining and buying inventory for their online stores.

This can be especially important for small or young businesses that need to build up their stock levels in order to grow and meet consumer demand. Inventory financing may come from a variety of sources, including banks and credit unions, crowdfunding sites, or specialized financial institutions.

Many businesses also take advantage of factoring services that allow them to sell their invoices to investors at a discount in exchange for upfront cash. Overall, inventory financing can be an invaluable resource for ecommerce businesses looking to accelerate growth and expand their operations.

How ecommerce inventory financing works

This type of financing operates in much the same way as traditional business lending, with funds being provided in one lump sum and then repaid over time with interest. In some cases, the lender will pay suppliers directly for inventory. Inventory can be used as collateral. If you need funding for inventory along with other business expenses, you may want to take out a traditional business loan rather than inventory financing specifically.

The downside to inventory financing through traditional lenders is that it can be hard to qualify for, extremely time consuming, and expensive. Financial institutions may not be able to offer much flexibility for business owners. For these reasons and more, a growing number of ecommerce sellers are using inventory funding instead.

Inventory funding allows backers to choose businesses that they wish to invest in. To connect with backers, ecommerce businesses will need to use platforms such as Kickfurther. We will cover more on this option a little later on.

Why e-commerce sellers benefit from inventory financing

E-commerce has revolutionized the way businesses sell products and services. By tapping into a global market, e-commerce sellers can reach a much wider audience than brick-and-mortar businesses. However, selling online also comes with its own set of challenges.

One of the biggest challenges is having enough inventory to meet customer demand. This is where inventory financing comes in. Inventory financing is a type of funding that allows businesses to purchase inventory upfront, before they have sold it. This gives businesses the capital they need to grow their inventory and meet customer demand. In addition, inventory financing can help businesses take advantage of bulk discounts and seasonal sales.

As a result, inventory financing can be a valuable tool for e-commerce sellers who want to grow their business.

Inventory financing options for ecommerce sellers

Are you curious about how to manage ecommerce inventory? When running an ecommerce business, at some point you may need to consider financing options for your inventory. There are a variety of different financing options that can help you to cover the costs of purchasing new products. Each of these financing options has its own advantages and drawbacks, so it is important to carefully consider which option is right for your business.

Inventory Financing: Inventory financing allows sellers to get the capital they need upfront to purchase products without having to wait for sales to generate revenue. Inventory financing is typically secured through banks and credit unions. For well-established businesses, the cost and strict requirements that come along with inventory financing may be fine. But for smaller businesses, especially with volatile sales, they may need more affordable funding and more flexibility.

Inventory Funding: Similar to inventory financing, inventory funding can get you the inventory you need without depleting cash flow. The difference is that inventory funding is provided by a community or single backer. The benefit? More flexibility and cheaper costs. For inventory funding, you can visit Kickfurther to access a community of backers that want to work with you. 

Invoice Factoring: For ecommerce sellers, inventory factoring can be a helpful way to free up working capital that is tied up in inventory. One of the biggest advantages of inventory factoring is that it can provide a source of funding that is not dependent on creditworthiness. This can be especially helpful for new businesses or businesses with poor credit histories. However, it can be expensive. The fees associated with inventory factoring can add up, and they may not be worth it if the business is not doing well.

Merchant Cash Advance: With a merchant cash advance, you can get the funds you need without having to put up collateral or go through a lengthy application process. The funding is based on your future sales, so there’s no need to worry about making monthly payments. You can use the funding for anything you need, including inventory, marketing, or expansion.

MCAs typically have much higher interest rates than traditional loans, meaning that businesses will end up paying back significantly more than they borrowed. Providers often require businesses to give up a percentage of their future sales, which can put a strain on cash flow in the long run. Also, MCAs are typically Short-term funding solutions, which means that businesses will eventually need to find another source of financing.

Loans using a bank or credit union: There are certainly advantages to this approach, including the fact that these types of financial institutions generally offer competitive interest rates and have extensive experience dealing with large sums of money. However, getting a loan can also come with certain drawbacks, such as vague terms and conditions that make it difficult to definitively predict what we will have to pay back in the long run.

Which financing option is best for your ecommerce business?

When it comes to ecommerce businesses, there are a few different financing options to choose from. The best option for your business will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your business, your total revenue, and your growth potential.

Inventory financing is generally the best choice for ecommerce businesses. Here’s why.

First of all, inventory financing allows you to avoid putting up personal collateral. If you use a traditional bank loan to finance your inventory, you’ll likely have to put up your home or another asset as collateral. You can avoid this risk with inventory financing by using your inventory itself as collateral.

Secondly, inventory financing gives you the flexibility to finance only the amount of inventory that you need at any given time. This is especially helpful for businesses that experience seasonal fluctuations in demand. With traditional loans, you would have to borrow a set amount of money and then hope that you don’t end up with too much or too little inventory. With inventory financing, you can adjust the amount that you borrow based on your current needs.

Finally, inventory financing can help you free up working capital that would otherwise be tied up in your stock.

Tips to qualify for ecommerce inventory financing

There are a number of strategies that you can use to qualify for ecommerce inventory financing. For starters, it is important to show that your business has strong revenue and profitability. This can be demonstrated by having multiple years of data available, as well as projections for the future.

Additionally, you should be prepared to provide detailed information on your inventory and sales history, including a regular turnover rate and evidence of customers who come back regularly. Another important factor to consider is the strength of your ecommerce inventory management team and the logistical infrastructure of your business. By giving lenders confidence in your operational capabilities, you can greatly improve your chances of getting approved for financing.

Do alternative financing options exist for inventory ecommerce needs?

Acquiring and maintaining a healthy inventory can be a challenge, especially for small businesses with limited capital. Traditional financing options such as loans and lines of credit may not be available or may not be feasible given the relatively high costs of inventory and strict qualification requirements.

Fortunately, there are a few alternative financing options that can help ecommerce businesses stay stocked and operational. These include merchant cash advances, invoice financing, and, of course, inventory funding options.

How Kickfurther can help

If you’re struggling to find ways to finance your next round of inventory, Kickfurther might be able to help. With Kickfurther, you can fund millions of dollars of inventory in less than an hour. It’s an easy funding solution that will grow with you – not against you – at costs that are up to 30% lower than what you’ll find with other inventory financing options.

Plus, you don’t have to pay a thing until you sell – perfect for businesses that are just starting to get a footing in the ecommerce world. If you’re interested in getting funded on Kickfurther, start by creating a free business account. Once you complete the online application you can review deals with potential account reps.

Conclusion

Inventory financing is a great option for ecommerce businesses that are expanding their product offerings.

By using inventory financing, you can get the cash you need to buy new products and increase your stock without taking out a loan or using your personal credit. These tips should help you find the right inventory financing partner and secure the funding you need to grow your business. Brands that sell physical products or non-perishable consumables with revenue between $150k to $150MM over the last 12 months can qualify for inventory funding through Kickfurther.

Interested in getting funded on Kickfurther? Create a free business account today!

5 Things that Could Be Stalling Business Growth

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

When it comes to running a business, there are many things that need to be done in order for it to grow. However, sometimes there are certain things that can stall that growth. Here are 5 things that could be stalling your business growth. 

What are stalls in business?

When we talk about stalls in business, what we are really talking about are periods of stagnation or decline. These can occur for a number of different reasons, including increased competition, changing consumer habits, or unexpected fluctuations in market conditions. From a strategic perspective, the key to dealing with these kinds of scenarios is to remain vigilant and adapt quickly to new realities. 

This may involve making changes to marketing strategies, revising product offerings, or even reconfiguring organizational structures. Ultimately, the key is to be proactive and agile in order to weather any kind of competitive storm and come out on top. So if you are facing a stall in your business or need help navigating a difficult market landscape, remember that the key is to stay focused and keep moving forward!

What causes business stalls? 

Many businesses fail within the first few years of operation, and there can be many different reasons for this. 

One common cause is a lack of market research. When starting a business, it is important to have a clear understanding of who your target audience is and what needs they have that are not being met by existing businesses. 

Another common cause of business failure is inadequate planning. A business plan is essential for setting out your goals and strategies for achieving them. Without a well-thought-out plan, it can be easy to get sidetracked or make poor decisions that lead to financial difficulties. 

Finally, many businesses stall due to poor management. Even if you have a great product or service, poor management can lead to things like poor customer service, unproductive employees, and mismanaged finances. 

Recognizing these common causes of business stalls can help you increase your chances of success.

Top 5 Things that Could be Stalling Business Growth & Tips

There are a number of reasons why businesses can stall. Knowing what might cause your business to stall can help you take steps to prevent it from happening in the first place. 

Different goals

One of the most common issues is mismatched or conflicting goals. For example, if a business owner’s goal is to grow their customer base, but their team’s goal is to maximize profits, it’s likely that the business will stall. 

This is because the team will be focused on short-term profits rather than long-term growth, and the owner will be left frustrated. Another common reason for businesses to stall is a lack of focus. If a business is trying to do too many things at once, it can be difficult to make progress on any of them. This can lead to stagnation and a feeling of being stuck. 

Finally, another common mistake that can cause businesses to stall is failing to adapt to change. Whether it’s a new technology or a change in the marketplace, businesses need to be able to change and adapt in order to survive. If they’re unable to do so, they’ll likely find themselves being left behind.

Not understanding the numbers

As anyone who has ever run a business knows, numbers are crucial to success. Whether we are talking about sales figures or productivity metrics, it is all too easy to get bogged down in the minutiae of numbers and lose sight of the big picture. For this reason, it is essential that we make an effort to understand the numbers in our business. However, if we fail to do so, our business can quickly begin to stagnate.

The reason for this is simple: when we don’t understand the numbers, we cannot make informed decisions about how to improve performance or correct any issues that arise. Many entrepreneurs fall prey to the trap of chasing short-term gains at the expense of long-term sustainability.

Without accurate reporting, they might be investing in tactics that actually have a negative impact on their bottom line. By taking a more analytical approach and focusing on understanding the data behind the numbers, businesses can avoid getting stuck in this pitfall and maintain steady growth over time. 

Inconsistent marketing efforts

Your business may be stalling because your marketing efforts are inconsistent. Your target market doesn’t know who you are, what you do, or why they should care. As a result, they’re not sure what to make of your brand. And when they’re confused, they don’t take action. That’s why it’s so important to have a clear and consistent marketing message. 

When your target market knows who you are and what you stand for, they’re much more likely to take the action you want them to take – whether that’s buying your product, signing up for your service, or simply telling their friends about you. So if you want to get your business back on track, start by taking a close look at your marketing efforts and making sure that they’re as clear and consistent as possible.

Lack of automation

In this day and age, automation is key to keeping any business running smoothly. From simple tasks like sending out email blasts to more complex processes like managing inventory, there are a myriad of ways that automation can save time and money. 

However, if your business lacks automation, it is likely to stall. This is because manual processes are simply not efficient enough to keep up with the demands of modern business. They are also prone to errors, which can cause costly delays. In addition, manual processes are often time-consuming, which can lead to employee burnout. As a result, it is essential to implement automation in order to keep your business moving forward.

Inventory shortage

Last but not least, inventory shortage can be a major roadblock for your business as well. Not only does it stall your business, but it can also lead to lost sales and customers. The key to avoiding an inventory shortage is to stay on top of your stock levels and order new inventory before you run out. 

This can be a challenge if you don’t have a good system in place, but it’s essential for keeping your business running smoothly. The first step is to track your inventory levels carefully so that you know when you need to order more. You can do this manually or with software, but either way, it’s important to be consistent. 

How Kickfurther can help accelerate your business

Now that you know the five major things that can stall business growth, you probably realize how important understanding your own inventory levels is. 

Inventory can tie up a lot of cash. In some cases, you may not even have the cash to tie up in inventory. Regardless of your situation, inventory funding can help accelerate your business. If you’ve explored this option before you may have been detoured by the cost, qualification requirements, and other elements. At Kickfurther, you can secure inventory funding from a community of backers. Kickfurther is up to 30% cheaper than other options.

Here’s how Kickfurther can help.

Many business owners struggle in growing their businesses because they just don’t have the cash flow they need to finance major inventory purchases. With Kickfurther, you can finance millions of dollars worth of inventory – in less than an hour. With over 1000+ opportunities funded, Kickfurther has helped businesses all over the world elevate sales. Kickfurther has an average funding of $78,000, but can fund up to $1MM. As the world’s first online inventory funding platform, Kickfurther enables companies to access funds that they are unable to acquire (or afford) through traditional sources.

If you’re interested in getting funded on Kickfurther, start by creating a free business account. Once you complete the online application you can review deals with potential account reps. Once a deal is made, you could get funded within minutes. 

The advantages don’t stop there. Enjoy the freedom to pay back backers, only when you start making sales. At the end of each of your sales periods, you’ll submit sales reports to Kickfurther. You only pay for what you’ve sold during that specific sales period.

Conclusion

Effective inventory management is critical for the success of a business. You want to make sure you have just the right amount of inventory on hand. While there are other elements that play a key role in the growth of a business, inventory is a big part of the success and profitability. While inventory funding may cost money, it may be a worthy investment for the current and future success of your business. 

Accelerate sales. . . get inventory funding today!

6 Amazon Inventory Financing Options for Sellers

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

Are you waiting for Amazon to pay you so you can buy more inventory – and keep your business afloat? This is a common dilemma that many sellers find themselves in.

What financing options are out there- and are they right for you? In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know. Keep reading to learn more about Amazon seller financing. 

What is inventory financing for Amazon sellers?

Inventory financing for Amazon sellers will help you get a lump sum or cash so you can order inventory without waiting on Amazon to pay you. 

If you use Amazon financing processing usually takes just a few moments and you might not even have to put your inventory up as collateral. In some cases, there isn’t even a credit check (this makes Amazon inventory financing a unique and far more desirable option compared to getting financing from a bank). 

To qualify, you’ll simply need to leverage your account health and sales performance. This will make you eligible for a cash advance or inventory loan – there’s no tangible collateral needed. You just have to show that you’re capable of repaying the loan with your business income. 

However, a majority of Amazon sellers will need to use alternative solutions for inventory funding. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there, some that may even be a better fit than Amazon financing. A little later on we will look at alternative inventory funding solutions.

Common reasons Amazon sellers seek inventory funding

Amazon sellers and businesses are not always like traditional businesses. This abstract nature of the inventory can make it tough for sellers to get approved for a loan. Therefore, Amazon sellers are often left searching for alternative inventory funding options. After all, the whole foundation of an Amazon business is based on the products they sell. A lack of funds can send Amazon sellers in desperate search of funding. This is one of the most common reasons Amazon sellers seek financing. 

Another common reason Amazon sellers seek inventory funding is to improve cash flow. Purchasing and holding large quantities of inventory can disrupt cash flow, especially when Amazon can take a while to pay for sold inventory. Inventory funding can help improve cash flow and alleviate financial stress.

Most common inventory financing options for Amazon sellers

Here are a few of the most common ways for Amazon sellers to get inventory financing.

Amazon Lending

Amazon Lending is a relatively new option that is offered, as you might guess, by Amazon itself. These direct loans allow sellers to borrow working capital from Amazon at rates that are less than  credit cards. The application process is simpler, but the loan amounts tend to be smaller. However, you’ll have the money quickly. 

SBA Loans 

Amazon sellers may also qualify for SBA or Small Business loans. Usually, these are small (a few thousand dollars or so). You may not have the money as quickly as if you were working directly with Amazon Lending. 

Credit cards

Another way to get inventory financing is to put it on your credit card. This isn’t always the wisest choice, financially, since credit cards tend to carry high interest rates. If you need to float those costs for longer than one month (the typical billing period on a credit card), credit cards are not advised. However, for short-term expenses when you’re in a pinch, credit cards, particularly business credit cards, are just fine. 

Merchant cash advances

This is a type of financing that will allow you to get a cash advance based on the purchase and sale of future credit card income. You don’t have regular fixed payments but instead, the lender will recoup a set percentage of your credit card sales each day. 

7(a) Loans

A 7(a) loan is a loan offered by the SMall Business Administration. It provides short and long-term working capital and has minimal eligibility requirements. Most 7a loans are repaid with monthly payments or principal and interest. 

Inventory funding with Kickfurther

One of the best Amazon inventory funding options for sellers is offered by Kickfurther. Kickfurther can connect you to a community of backers that can help you fund the inventory you need, at up to 30% lower cost than other options. It gets better – you won’t have to pay a dime until you sell. You can fund millions of dollars’ worth of products in just an hour, making it a great option for Amazon sellers who need inventory – and fast.

Benefits for Amazon sellers financing their inventory

There are countless benefits for Amazon sellers who choose to finance their inventory. Here are some of the most noteworthy.

Relieve Short Term Cash Flow Issues

The most tangible benefit of financing your inventory as an Amazon seller is that you will be able to leverage your account health to get inventory financing fast. You won’t have to worry about stock outs or lost sales. 

Secure Cash for Extra Stock 

Another Obvious benefit of Amazon inventory financing is that it will let you buy extra stock for important selling dates like Black Friday or Prime Day. Since you have the money you need, you can buy more inventory to turn it over faster – and make more money.

Add New Products 

Are you thinking about adding new products to your inventory – or perhaps adding completely new and unrelated products? If so, financing might be the best bet. This will give you the cash you need to add new products so you don’t miss out on big opportunities just because money is tight. 

Take Advantage of Special Offers

Finally, Amazon inventory financing will allow you to take advantage of special offers. You might find that slower months are a good time to buy inventory, since you’ll enjoy off-season discounts. When you have the right financing in place, you can take advantage of these special offers regardless of your cash flow, something that can help save you money. 

How fast can my business get Amazon inventory financing?

It depends on the financing option you choose. For some, like Kickfurther, you can get the financing you need in less than an hour. For others, you may have to wait a day or two for your sales profile to be verified (or your credit to be checked). 

Qualifications to obtain inventory financing to be aware of

In order to get inventory financing, you’ll usually need to be a product-based business (obviously, service-based businesses are not eligible). You should have been in business for at least one year and meet the lender’s minimum requirements. Some will only lend to businesses that need hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of inventory to make the loan worth the investment.

You may also need to provide a detailed financial history, including financial records like tax returns, profit and loss statements, and inventory turnover ratios. At Kickfurther you will need to sell a physical product(s) or non-perishable consumables with revenue between $150k to $15mm over the last 12 months. If you meet these minimum requirements you should create a profile to get started.

How Kickfurther can help

If you’re an Amazon seller, you likely already know what it takes to succeed in this competitive business sphere. Do everything you can to be successful – and take advantage of Amazon inventory financing options for sellers. Remember, Kickfurhter can help you meet your goals – while saving you time and money.

Kickfurther makes funding your Amazon inventory easier. With a 99% funding success rate and 1000+ opportunities funded, Kickfurther is proven to help small businesses thrive. Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory financing platform that enables companies to access funds that they are unable to acquire through traditional sources. Perks such as customized repayment schedules and fast funding (sometimes in as little as one hour) are sure to benefit your business.

Interested in getting funded on Kickfurther? Create a free business account today to get started!

10 SEO Tips for Ecommerce Businesses

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

If you’re running an ecommerce business, then you know that SEO is vital to your success. In order to attract customers and convert them into buyers, you need to rank high in search engine results pages. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to improve your SEO rankings. Keep reading to learn exactly how to do SEO for ecommerce and 10 ecommerce SEO tips for bolstering your business. 

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of improving the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs). It is a collection of techniques used to increase web traffic from organic (unpaid) search results. SEO includes both on-page and off-page strategies that help to improve a website’s ranking in search engine results pages.

On-page SEO tactics include optimizing website content for relevant keywords, addressing technical issues that can hinder search engine crawlers, and improving site structure. Off-page SEO tactics include building links from high-quality websites and creating content that attract links naturally.

When employed together, these two types of SEO can help to increase website traffic, leads, and sales.

How SEO can help an eCommerce business

As any online retailer knows, eCommerce is a highly competitive landscape. In order to succeed, businesses need to find ways to stand out from the crowd and attract potential customers.

One of the most effective ways to do this is through search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of optimizing a website for Google search, making it more likely to appear high in search results. This can be achieved through a variety of methods, such as creating keyword-rich content, building links, and improving site speed. For eCommerce businesses, SEO can be a powerful tool for driving traffic and increasing sales.

By investing in SEO, businesses can improve their visibility online and reach a wider audience of potential customers. In today’s digital world, SEO is an essential part of any eCommerce marketing strategy.

Best 10 SEO tips for eCommerce brands

Choose the right keywords that people search for

Choosing the right keywords is all about understanding your audience. Who are your buyers and what are they searching for? It’s important to do some research and get a sense of what language they will be using when searching for products or services like yours online.

You should also take into account the competitive landscape – which words are other companies targeting and how can you stand out from the crowd? Ultimately, engaging with your target audience and focusing on quality content will help you to find the most effective keywords for boosting your search engine ranking and driving more traffic to your site.

Utilize descriptive product descriptions

When it comes to driving traffic to your website, search engine optimization is key. And one of the best ways to improve your SEO is to write descriptive, keyword-rich product descriptions. By including relevant keywords in your product descriptions, you can help your website rank higher in search results and attract more visitors.

But beware: stuffing your product descriptions with too many keywords will not only turn off potential customers but could also result in penalties from search engines. The key is to strike a balance by including a few relevant keywords without compromising the quality of your writing. With a little effort, you can create product descriptions that are both informative and SEO-friendly.

Mobile friendly website

A mobile-friendly website is a website that can be easily viewed and used on a mobile device. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to access the internet, so it’s important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly.

 You can do a few things to make your website more mobile-friendly, such as using a responsive design or creating a separate mobile version of your site. You should also make sure your pages load quickly and that your content is easy to read on a small screen.

By making your website more mobile friendly, you’ll improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), since Google now takes mobile compatibility into account when ranking websites. In other words, making your site mobile friendly can help you attract more visitors and improve your SEO.

Optimized SEO Meta Data

Optimizing your website’s SEO meta data is essential for driving traffic to your site and increasing brand visibility. Many different factors go into optimizing for SEO, including engaging content, carefully chosen keywords, and well-structured web page tags.

However, one of the most important components of effective SEO is optimizing your metadata. This means implementing techniques like using titles and descriptions that accurately reflect the content on each page, as well as making a point to include relevant keywords throughout your metadata. Additionally, it is important to regularly monitor and optimize your meta data in order to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to rising search engine trends.

Valuable, unique and comprehensive content

There is no single formula for creating quality, unique content that will appeal to search engines. However, there are a few key strategies that you can use to ensure that your content is engaging, valuable, and comprehensive. One approach is to focus on incorporating keywords into your text in an organic, natural way. This means that you should avoid overusing or including keywords unnaturally. Instead, take the time to read through your writing and fine-tune the language so that the keywords blend seamlessly into the context of your message.

Another important strategy is to add visual elements such as images and videos whenever possible. Not only can this help to make your content more appealing and interactive, but it also helps search engines better understand what your content is about by providing additional context cues.

Fast page load time

Your website’s page load time is important for two reasons. First, fast page load times improve the user experience on your site. Users are more likely to stay on your site and continue browsing if your pages load quickly. Second, fast page load times are a ranking factor for search engine optimization (SEO). Google and other search engines want to provide their users with the best possible experience, so they favor websites that load quickly.

You can do a few things to improve your website’s page load time, such as optimizing images and using a content delivery network (CDN). By making some simple changes, you can help ensure that your website loads quickly and ranks well in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Measure and tracking Analytics

Analytics are a critical component of search engine optimization (SEO). In order to measure and track your website’s performance, it is important to implement tools like Google Analytics. These powerful platforms allow you to evaluate how well your site is performing with respect to key metrics like traffic volume, conversion rates, and search engine rankings.

They also enable you to track changes over time so that you can make adjustments and optimizations as needed. By measuring and tracking your site’s analytics, you can ensure that your SEO efforts provide real results and deliver the competitive edge your business needs.

Search friendly URL structure

In order for search engines to properly index and rank your website, it is important to have a well-organized URL structure. A search friendly URL contains keywords that help describe the page content, making it easier for both users and search engines to understand what the page is about.

ALT tag in images

ALT tags are a key part of search engine optimization for images. They provide information to search engines about the content of an image, which can help them to index it appropriately and return it in results for relevant searches. For instance, if an image contains a product that someone is searching for, then having an ALT tag with the product name can help the image to appear in the search results.

Avoid broken links

Broken links are a major problem for websites and can have severe repercussions on SEO. As anyone who has ever tried to access a website with a broken link knows, these links are frustrating and can result in lost traffic and potential customers. Furthermore, search engines take broken links into account when ranking websites, so having too many broken links can cause your rank to plummet.

How Kickfurther can help

Kickfurther is the number one solution for affordable inventory funding. With over 1000+ opportunities funded, Kickfurther has helped ecommerce businesses all over the world elevate sales. Kickfurther has an average funding of $78,000, but can fund up to $1MM. As the world’s first online inventory funding platform, Kickfurther enables companies to access funds that they are unable to acquire (or afford) through traditional sources.

If you’re interested in getting funded on Kickfurther, start by creating a free business account. Once you complete the online application you can review deals with potential account reps. Once a deal is made, you could get funded within minutes. Kickfurther is up to 30% lower cost than other options.

The advantages don’t stop there. Enjoy the freedom to pay back backers, only when you start making sales. At the end of each of your sales periods, you’ll submit sales reports to Kickfurther. You only pay for what you’ve sold during that specific sales period.

Conclusion

If you plan to invest in a solid SEO plan, you’ll want to make sure you can sustain the growth. For some ecommerce sellers that will mean having enough cash to buy more inventory. Brands that sell physical products or non-perishable consumables with revenue between $150k to $150MM over the last 12 months can qualify for inventory funding through Kickfurther.

Interested in getting funded on Kickfurther? Create a free business account today!