Which source of funding for manufacturing is right for your business?

New business owners can underestimate how challenging success can be. For owners of a manufacturing business, bridging the gap between receiving a new order and getting cash in the bank can lead to failure if not sufficiently funded.

Having the right finance support at the right time will ensure a business can invest in new machinery that is required to fulfil orders and reduce costs. It will ensure employees are paid to produce the goods before payments have been made and it will allow a business to buy the raw materials needed to produce the goods.

Below, we cover sources of funding for manufacturing businesses and more importantly offer a guide to choose the right source of funding for your business.

Manufacturing in the UK in numbers

In the 1970s, UK manufacturing was booming and contributed 25% of the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP). Due to several factors (such as the decline in textiles and the demise of Rover) this figure has now reduced to a steady 10% of UK GDP. However, manufacturing currently makes up 45% of all exports with a total revenue of £275bn for UK businesses.

The UK is the ninth largest manufacturer worldwide, in between France and Brazil. Not the strongest position for products but, since the 1980s, as a nation, the UK has been focused on exporting services, of which it holds second place worldwide.

The dominating areas of manufacturing in the UK are the car industry (15% of goods exported) and chemical and pharmaceuticals (13.9% of goods exported) with both areas having a significant investment in their research and development departments.

As manufacturing is a vital part of the UK economy, employing over 2.7 million people, investment in startups and the expansion of existing businesses is essential for a strong economy and our workforce. Therefore, there is much encouragement to create opportunities for manufacturing, especially when focused towards export.

Why the right finance is so important for manufacturing businesses

Figures reported in January 2018 (for the preceding year) show that 17,243 UK companies entered insolvency and that figure had risen 4.2% from the year before.

It’s no secret that the first few years of a business are a critical time for its survival and statistics show that by year five, a business has only a 44.1% survival rate.

The reasons that a business fails range from product failure, lack of understanding of a market and too much competition, through to the complexity of tax systems and too much red tape. However, the predominant reason that businesses fail centres around financial planning: lack of funding, late payments, increased business rates and maintaining your cash flow.

Without a stream of cash to sustain itself, a business will die very quickly.

“The UK is a great place to start a business, but survival rates are low. The recession has had an unsteadying effect on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and we need to work hard to rebuild their confidence” – David Swigciski, head of corporate, DAS UK Group

When is the right time for a business to borrow?

It’s not just during the startup phase that capital is required. The life cycle of a business needs cash injections at many stages, such as:

• Expansion into new products or markets
• Sourcing new suppliers
• Increasing inventory volumes to reduce costs
• Bridging a late payment from a large customer that is in financial difficulty

A good financial model for cash flow forecasting will highlight when your business may need more cash to continue to operate and understanding your working capital cycle is a vital part of this model.

The working capital cycle explained

The working capital cycle (WCC) is the length of time it takes to convert net working capital (assets and liabilities) into cash in the bank.

If a business has a short WCC then it quickly releases cash from its production cycle, which is then free to either reinvest or to purchase more materials. As a result, the business will require less funding.

If a business has a long WCC, then capital is ‘trapped’ in the working capital process and is not free to use. Businesses in this position are more likely to need funding and finance.

A business will try to reduce its WCC to as few days as possible, usually by increasing the payment terms with their suppliers and reducing the time to collect what it’s owed by its customers. Other ways to reduce the gap include streamlining processes, reducing manufacturing times and decreasing the sales cycle.

Understanding the WCC of a business is essential to plan for stability. As any CEO will tell you, the ability to weather all storms is the key to business success.

Once a business is aware of where the financial ‘gaps’ are to be bridged, it can then implement funding to ensure a healthy cash flow is available at all times in order to continue operating. This can range from organising a working overdraft, invoice financing or a short-term bridging loan for growth periods, for example when completing either a new order or launching a new product.

With this knowledge, a business owner can then look for sources of funding to support the business and to keep a healthy cash flow.

Sources of finance

The difference between equity and debt finance and how to choose which is right for you:

How to choose a finance option

The first option would be to look for any government funding and loans that would be either a non-repayable grant or a low-cost loan. These are regulated by specific guidelines and are often regionally based.

Do I need equity or debt finance?

Ask yourself the following questions:

How much money do I need?

Debt finance is suitable for anything between a few thousand to millions of pounds – dependent on finding a willing lender. Equity finance is usually from tens of thousands up to tens of millions and many VCs will only consider investing large sums.

Are you prepared to give away equity and a share of your business?

This is a clear choice between equity and debt. You will also have to consider how much equity you’re prepared to give away if you choose to go down an investment route.

What are your growth ambitions?

An equity investor is predominantly motivated by aggressive growth, for a return on their investment. A lender such as a bank is only concerned with their capital being repaid and growth is generally not an issue.

How long do you need the money for?

For a short-term cash injection, debt finance is the most suitable. If you have long-term needs, then equity investment could be a better option.

Do I need support?

An angel investor will also act as a mentor and can have significant input into helping you start up and grow a business. If you have a great product or a proven business but need help to take things to the next level, then an angel could be the best option for you.

It is worth noting that equity finance is a more expensive way to borrow money overall but the investor is taking most of the risk. Debt finance means that you keep control of your business – and at a lesser cost – but the risk is all yours to take.

What do I need to prepare to apply for funding?

1. The first stage is to evaluate the business and to have a clear understanding of what the requirements are for the business.
2. You will need a business plan to clearly outline your strategy for growth and how you will use the required funding.
3. You will also need to consider if your plan is realistic and achievable, and you will need to be able to back this up with research. It’s essential to know your business, the market and your figures inside out.
4. Get advice on the application process, especially if you’re seeking equity investment. Speak to an adviser who can help you prepare your plan and give you advice on how to apply and pitch.

Sources of finance for manufacturing businesses

Government grants and regional agencies

The government has a variety of schemes, grants and funding options for businesses at every stage, from startup to innovation and exporting, and every business should review what funding and support is available. This type of funding is focused mainly towards small businesses but not exclusively.

Grants and schemes are all subject to strict criteria and some are match-funded, which means the business must either self-fund or find external funding to match the grant on offer.

Funding support is available for businesses around the UK, with a variety of grants and loans on offer, all with specific regional criteria. Grants are constantly changing; therefore, it’s best to review what’s currently available here.

• For business innovation, Innovate UK has a series of competitions to fund between £25k and £10m for a product development project.
• UK Export Finance can offer advice and support to businesses who are exporting, usually though underwriting loans and finance.
• Business Finance Partnership helps small to medium-sized businesses find finance from private sector investors.
• The Prince’s Trust has helped small businesses and entrepreneurs under the age of 30 since 1983. It offers mentoring, grants and loans.

Start-up loans

For a new manufacturing business struggling to get finance, the government-backed Start-up Loans can offer a personal and unsecured loan of up to £25k. The benefit of this loan is that you do not need any assets to secure funding but the individual is personally liable for the loan and not the business.

To be eligible to apply you must be:

• Unable to have secured funding from elsewhere.
• Your business is less than two years old and is based in the UK.
• You are 18 or older and a UK resident, with the right to work in the UK.

If there are multiple partners, each person can apply for a loan of £25k up to a maximum of £100k investment in one business. The loan is to be repaid over one to five years at 6%.

With the funding, a business also receives one year of mentoring and support to prepare a business plan.

Sir Richard Branson also offers the same loan to entrepreneurs through the Virgin Start Up.

There are other lenders that also provide funding for new businesses at varying rates.

Bank loans and commercial mortgages are the fourth most popular form of external finance among UK SMEs – British Business Bank Analysis, SME Finance Monitor 2017

Bank business loan

For an established business with a trading history, a bank loan is one of the most popular choices for securing finance.

Your options would be based on the credit history of the business (including that of the business owners) and whether you have any assets that you can offer as security. Property is usually the bank’s first consideration for security but machinery and equipment may be considered.

The business must prove that it can afford to repay the loan.

The other option, of an unsecured loan, will usually require a personal guarantee from the owner or directors of the business and will be subject to higher interest rates.

The benefit of a business loan is that you retain control of your business and can arrange funds quickly.

For a manufacturing business, a close relationship with their bank is essential to support their financial plans and to facilitate expansion and growth.

Business loans are suitable for buying equipment, machinery or to fund the development and launch of a new product.

Bank overdrafts

Another option for established businesses to support cash flow is a working capital overdraft with the bank. 16% of SMEs use an overdraft, according to the British Business Bank.

An overdraft is not a loan but is a means to both facilitate growth and to manage cash flow. An overdraft is expected to be used to bridge gaps on a monthly basis with the account being in credit for part of the month.

Overdrafts tend to have high interest rates but this is only paid on the overdrawn balance and so offers a flexible solution on a short-term basis to bridge gaps. There will also be an arrangement fee to pay.

Venture capital (VC)

One of the most popular ways to fund a startup or a business in its early stages, which has aspirations to scale quickly. VC investment has been popularised by the BBC TV programme Dragons’ Den.

A VC is a fund of investors who are motivated to make an above-average return on their investment and in return they’re prepared to take a risk on early stage, unproven businesses. They do factor that a certain percentage of their investments will fail but the ones that succeed can deliver massive returns.

The VC is focused on investing in a business that has long-term growth potential and will require a significant percentage stake in the business to reflect the risk that they’re taking. They expect to hold an interest in the business for five to seven years before they see a return.

Investment is delivered in a series of ‘rounds’, beginning with the seed round to test a proof of concept and then ‘series A’ onwards will be large cash injections to allow the business to scale.

A VC is not only looking for a strong business plan, they’re also concerned with the founders and the management team, and are investing in their ability to quickly scale and grow their business, as much as the business idea itself.

Venture capital investment can be used by a manufacturing company that has a new product to launch and expand into new territories or on a worldwide scale but in return, they will have to give away an equity stake in the business.

VC is an incredible partnership between financial professionals and founders. Many VCs are often ex-entrepreneurs, so their advice can be invaluable. – David Mott, chairman, Venture Capital Committee, BVCA

Private equity (PE)

Where a VC is focused on early stage investment in a business, PE is a medium-to-long-term finance option. It’s more relevant for a proven business that wants to grow or move to the next level and which needs help to achieve that.

The PE investment comes from individuals or specific private equity businesses, rather than funds made up of investors looking to speculate.

The PE investor will take a significant share of the business, often taking control. For this reason, this source of finance is relevant for owners who feel they have taken the business as far as they can and who now need help to achieve the next level, and are willing to relinquish control in return for this.

Or, they may want to retire or step down from running the business and instead, retain a minority stake.

For a manufacturing business, growth could represent developing new and existing products, reducing costs and streamlining processes for more profitability and expanding into new markets.

You build relationships in private equity over three or four years. So, if you’re thinking of retiring and there’s no obvious succession plan, private equity makes your exit easier. – Tim Hames, director general, BVCA

Angel investment

An angel investment is finance provided to a business with a focus on investing in the entrepreneur/owner. Angel investors are focused on helping startups rather than making huge returns and are often friends or family of the person they’re investing in.

An angel investor usually has substantial business experience, with considerable knowledge to help another business succeed and will therefore be hands-on and have significant input into the business. A strong working relationship is essential between an angel investor and the business owner they invest in.

Angel investors tend to take a minority stake in their investment, usually 10-25% but for an early stage business, the input from the angel is where the real value of this financial injection lies.

A manufacturing business that has developed a new product would benefit from angel investment or a startup that needs the expertise of an experienced business owner to mentor them.

Expansion capital

Once a business is established and has proven its success, it can reach a point where it wants to grow. Rather than relinquishing control with private equity funding, expansion capital can be a partner to help the business achieve its goals by having the ability to inject funds at each growth stage with subsequent investments.

Expansion capital tends to be for higher amounts, such as £1-20m and an investor will expect a 10-30% stake of the business in return.

For a manufacturing business, expansion capital can be applied to the production of new products, entering new territories or even the strategic acquisition of another company (for either their manufacturing capability or even the intellectual property of another product).

Asset finance

For an established business that has a trading history and which can show assets (that have value) on the balance sheet, finance secured on those assets can be an option to raise funding for growth, without giving away equity.

Banks often require a security guarantee for a loan but are restrictive in what they accept as security – usually only property. An asset finance lender will accept a wider range of security, such as the debtor book, machinery, equipment and stock. In some instances, intellectual property rights or patents can be used.

Traditionally, asset finance was considered a ‘last option’ to raise funding but has become more popular for any business that needs to quickly raise cash.

Leasing and hire purchase

A form of asset finance that is so popular in the UK with small to medium businesses that it’s second only in use to overdrafts.

The difference is:

Leasing means you pay a ‘rental’ on the item that you require, such as a van or a piece of machinery. At the end of the rental period the item is returned.

Hire purchase is an agreement to buy an asset over an agreed period of instalment payments. This means the business has the equipment it needs immediately without a large upfront investment and keeps the item once it’s paid for.

For a manufacturing business that needs to invest in a new fleet of delivery vehicles or production equipment this is an option to quickly put in place what is needed. This is ideal for startups and growth periods.

It does the job that businesses need it to, allowing them to get the asset on board quickly and simply so they can start using it within their business. Sam Dring, senior product manager, Asset Finance, Lloyds Banking Group

Invoice financing

Also known as factoring, invoice financing is a way to reduce the working capital cycle by releasing the value of an invoice as soon as it’s issued to the customer.

An established business will need a trading history and payment terms of less than 90 days on their invoices. They will also need to show that their customers are reliable payers.

An invoice financing lender will lend up to 90% of the value of the invoice and then manage the payment recovery from the customer. The cost of the financing is a percentage of each invoice.

Especially relevant to manufacturing businesses who want to reduce a long working capital cycle, release finance out of the cycle quickly and manage their cash flow more efficiently.

The business owner has access to cash and retains control of the company without relinquishing equity.

It’s very rare that any business would be so cash positive from the outset to never need funding at some stage. Usually the growth stages are the most critical and are when a business would seek to bridge the gap with external finance.

When a business believes it’s in need of finance, the first action is to prepare detailed financial projections to understand where any potential liabilities may exist and how much money is needed to keep the business healthy or to facilitate growth.

Preparing a business plan will be necessary when applying for funding and as an exercise, it helps the business focus on their strategy for better success.

Before making any decisions about borrowing money or seeking investment, always seek professional advice.

Disclaimer

The information provided above is a guide only and has no legal basis.