While equity crowdfunding is still in the future, company's needing capital now can begin to explore advertising as a means to reach potential investors.

A startup’s entity choice and financing options affect other aspects of the business, including its long-term fate. Familiarizing yourself with some differences among various entities should help when talking with your professional advisor about how to set up and finance your business.

Financing options available to a small business vary based on the current life cycle of the company: startup, growing, mature, existing and aging.

If you're willing to open up ownership to the general public, an initial public offering (IPO) provides an attractive way to obtain capital without relinquishing any operational control over business activities. But as you'll find, this option isn't for everyone.

In need of some short-term funding? Check out the SBA 's capital umbrella program CAPlines that offers asset-based lines of credit and revolving lines of credit to small businesses.

To encourage private lenders to provide funding to small businesses, the SBA will guarantee repayment of a substantial percentage of the loan amount if the borrower defaults on the loan. Find out your options, what business qualify, and which businesses aren't eligible for SBA-backed loans.

Not all banks are created equal, but many of them focus on the same areas throughout the loan review process. Learn what documentation, projections and narratives you'll need to prepare as well as tips to ensure you negotiate the best loan package available.

When you need financing for your business, Uncle Sam might be just the man for the monetary job. Despite its uncertain future, the SBA still offers entrepreneurs important financing options.

To generate working capital or to meet specific short-term cash needs, you may use certain short-term assets, such as inventory or accounts receivable, as collateral for commercial loans. Personal assets, such as insurance policies, can also serve as a source of short-term financing.

Before signing on the dotted line of the loan papers, you'll want to consider a variety of other monetary and nonmonetary costs to help you determine the real cost of borrowing.

Before pursuing traditional debt and equity financing options, you may want to consider your own financing options, help from family and bootstrap funding methods.

With myriad varieties of loans and financing options available from banks of all sizes, you'll need to know the which is option is best for you.

Bank lending policies toward small businesses tend to err on the side of conservatism, and you'll have to convince the lender you're worth the risk. Learn the ins and outs of obtaining loans from large commercial banks, small community banks, credit unions and finance companies.

Banks and investing institutions aren't the only ones providing funding to small businesses. Learn how to work with private investors, business angels and other alternative forms of financing that won't require you to go public.

Learn how to secure more financing through mergers, joint ventures, consolidations and many other combinations of business entities.

Discover the vast array of financing options, and what they mean for your business, available to your small business enterprise.

Debt financing allows you to find funding for your business while maintaining complete control and ownership of your business.

Rather than racking up debt to finance your business, you can give ownership in exchange for the money you need. Learn what forms of business and what equity financing options can work best for your business.