Getting a startup loan for your small business can be a pretty daunting experience. You need the loan to get the business started, but the bank needs you to be in business for 2 years in order to get the loan in the first place. Talk about a catch 22! As much as we like to bash on bankers, you have to look at it from their point of view. They are not in the investment business, but they lending business. Their job to their investors is to make sound investments in solid companies so they can appease the shareholders of the bank. Having said that, here are some tips for finding the financing you need to get your business off the ground and going.

1. Find a partner-You bring the knowledge and he brings the cash. Dont get too excited and forget about the big picture though. If you need $10,000 and your partner puts in $9,000 and you $1,000, remember that if that business grows to 10 million that he is entitled to 90% of those profits. Keep a situation like this in mind when you are thinking about bringing a partner on board.

2. Go to family-Your family, hopefully, will be a little more willing to lend you money than a bank. Plus, you wont have to answer as many questions! Just make sure that you have an understanding family and make it a point to make a formal arrangement to repay them.