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Top Recession Crowdfunding Campaigns: How to Push Your Recession Crowdfunding to the Top
The COVID-19 pandemic and the likely resulting recession has most small business owners scrambling for ways to fund their business. First, be sure you take advantage of all that is offered by the Federal government and your state government, including the Paycheck Protection Plan, or PPP.
How to Run a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign in a Recession
Crowdfunding in a recession may or may not work. It will be harder to run a successful campaign for sure. In the best of times, crowdfunding can be hit or miss, so it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to realize it can be worse during a recession. We can show you how to help yours become one of the top recession crowdfunding campaigns so you can stay afloat during hard economic times.
To become one of the top recession crowdfunding campaigns, you first need to understand what makes any crowdfunding campaign successful. That’s what we are attempting to help you to do here. We have found taken a look at some of history’s most successful campaign, and dissected them to figure out what the secret was to their success.
Of course, in a recession people generally have less disposable income. You can still run top recession crowdfunding campaigns, but it may be harder. The formula holds however. The characteristics of a top campaign remain the same, recession or not.
In both, a healthy dose of luck is needed. That’s the element that is outside of anyone’s control. So focus on what you can control. The first step is understanding exactly what crowdfunding is.
Top Recession Crowdfunding Campaigns: What is Crowdfunding?
It’s actually pretty cool. Crowdfunding sites allow you to pitch your business to thousands of micro investors. Anyone who wants a piece of the action can buy a piece of the proverbial pie.
Investors pledge amounts on a broad spectrum depending on the campaign and the platform in use. They may give $5, $80, $150, or even over $500. Generally speaking, investors can pitch in however much they like.
Though not always necessary, most entrepreneurs offer rewards to investors for their generosity. Typically, this comes in the form of the product the business will be selling. Different levels of giving result in different rewards. For example, a $50 gift may get you product A, while a $100 gift will get you an upgraded version of product A.
Hit the jackpot and weather any recession with our best webinar and its trustworthy list of seven vendors who can help you build business credit.
Where Do You Start to Launch Top Recession Crowdfunding Campaigns?
There are many crowdfunding sites, but the most popular are Kickstarter and Indiegogo. While the platforms are similar, there are some very large differences. The most obvious is the timing in which you receive the funds from investors.
With Kickstarter, you have to reach your preset goal before you can receive the funds. If you set a goal to raise $12,000, investments have to reach that amount before you get your hands on any of the money.
Indiegogo, on the other hand, lets you choose if you want to receive funds as they come in or wait until you reach your goal. In addition, they have the option for InDemand, which lets you continue to raise funds after your initial campaign is over, without technically starting a new campaign.
Indiegogo also has a flexible funding option for those who may need it.
Each have warranted amazing results for many entrepreneurs. To make the choice for yourself, you need to evaluate who your audience is, and which platform will best reach them.
How Successful Can A Crowdfunding Campaign Really Be?
It can be quite successful actually. While it certainly isn’t the norm, these top campaigns far exceeded their fundraising goals.
Pebble Smart Watch
Pebble actually has several of the top 10 campaigns ever on Kickstarter. Their 2nd campaign is the highest funded campaign to date, reaching over $20,000,000. That’s not too shabby for a goal of only $500,000. They blew it out of the water!
Are they still successful? Well, yeah, but not in the way you may think. They actually sold to FitBit. I call that success, but they no longer exist as their own company.
FlowHive
This one is not one that most would expect to explode onto the scene the way it did. The FlowHive Indiegogo campaign definitely generated some major buzz. The idea was to find a way to get the honey from bees without harming the bees.
Traditionally, hives are simply broken open to obtain the honey. This process can kill the bees. FlowHive developed a fake hive of sorts, made from reusable plastic. Bees make honey in it, and the honey flows through a spout out into the world. The bees are safe and fresh honey is ours for the taking.
Apparently, beekeeping is a growing interest. This campaign raised $14,000,000. Though they won’t disclose exact numbers, the bees at the top claim they are still buzzing along nicely.
CoolestCooler
The CoolestCooler was a Kickstarter campaign that came in at over $13.000,000 raised. The cooler boasted bluetooth and a blender among other super cool gadgets. Investors received a cooler for their donation toward the cause.
This one did run into some trouble when it wasn’t able to deliver investment rewards as quickly as promised, and there was actually a lawsuit. In the end, everything worked out and everyone got their rewards.
The cool gang at CoolestCooler says they are glad to put that behind them and get back to work. You can still buy one today, and it is definitely cool.
Kingdom Death Monster 1.5
Yeah, you read that right. What do you say to that? Well, apparently a lot of people said yes. They said yes to the tune of $12,000,000 on Kickstarter.
It’s a board game, if you are wondering. It did take a while to get the ball rolling, but investors finally got their copy. After production stopped resale values went upwards of $1,000. A later campaign promising updated material did just as well. Seems like a lot people love horror games.
Hit the jackpot and weather any recession with our best webinar and its trustworthy list of seven vendors who can help you build business credit.
BauBox Travel Jacket
This jacket was set to be hot with 10 different go-go gadget like design elements like a drink holder and a neck pillow. They raised over $11,000,000 across 2 campaigns. While it had a bumpy start, including the jacket being available on retail sites before investors even got theirs, it is still selling today.
What Makes a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign?
There is never a guarantee, but there are a few things that most campaigns that reach epic status have in common. These things don’t guarantee success, but they can usually help you get over any bumps in the road if you also have a great business idea and everything else in place.
Without further ado, here are our best tips for how to become one of the top recession crowdfunding campaigns:
Research
You can’t go in blind. You have got to know what you are getting into. This is a risk, and research is your protection. It’s like you are jumping out of a plane, and research is your parachute.
Make sure you can meet demand. Know your market. Find out how much you actually need before you set your goal. Many a well-meaning entrepreneur has kicked off a campaign only to find the demand isn’t there or their goal fell short of what they actually needed to get started.
Show Them Something Real
If you are selling a product, have a sample to show investors. This is key to becoming one of the top recession crowdfunding campaigns. People are much more likely to jump onboard if they can actually see the ship. This one is so important that Kickstarter actually requires you to have a prototype to show investors.
Crowdfunding Platforms are not One Size Fits All
Once you know who your target audience is, you can decide if you would be best served by Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or some other, lesser known yet equally successful platform. If your audience doesn’t frequent the platform you are on, it won’t matter how great your idea or product is. They will never see it.
Do Not Be Afraid to Offer Incentives
But be sure you can deliver. Be fearless. Don’t hold back. I mean, don’t give away the company either, but if someone one is going to help you get started, they deserve something pretty epic for their trouble. Don’t you think? Go beyond a thank you note and be generous with what you offer as a reward for their support.
Goal Setting is Vital
Setting attainable goals is absolutely necessary to becoming one of the top recession crowdfunding campaigns. Make sure you crunch the numbers with actual facts before you set a fundraising goal. Be
certain you have production facilities on the line that can meet the timeline goals. Never set random goals with no clue what it will take to reach them or if they are even realistic to reach.
Be Extra with Marketing Materials
You can’t just throw something together. Videos need to be professionally edited. Social media needs to be specifically geared toward your audience. This means you, of course, need to know your audience well. Are they preppy? Cheesy? Hippy? Play to what they love.
All marketing has to be relatable to your core audience.
Does Being One of the Top Recession Crowdfunding Campaigns Guarantee Success?
No, it doesn’t. If you don’t have the other pieces of the puzzle in place, it doesn’t matter how much you raise, you won’t be able to make a go of it. Meeting your crowdfunding goals certainly helps however.
Just be sure you can meet expectations. If you make promises to investors, keep them. Get your arms around how long it will take to deliver and don’t promise anything any sooner than you can actually handle, taking the recession into account.
If there are problems, address them like a professional. Communication with investors goes a long way.
Hit the jackpot and weather any recession with our best webinar and its trustworthy list of seven vendors who can help you build business credit.
Have a Back Up Plan
Now, what if you do everything right and it still isn’t enough? This is where having solid business credit comes in. If you need to bridge the gap between your crowdfunding funds and capital needs, a good old-fashioned working capital loan or even business credit cards can get you there.
How to Get Business Credit
Start working on your business credit in conjunction with your crowdfunding campaign, if you haven’t already. It is never too early. The first steps are the easiest. You need to get separate contact information for your business. This includes an address and a phone number that are not your own. It also means getting a separate business bank account and using it for all business-related transactions.
Make certain your phone number is toll free, and list it along with your business address under the business name in the directories.
You also need a professional business website and dedicated email address. The email address should have the same URL as the website. Do not use a free service such as Yahoo or Gmail.
In addition to these simple things, there are a few other steps that will help further separate your business from yourself. These include formally incorporating, obtaining an EIN, and applying for a DUNS number.
When it comes to incorporating, you can choose from a corporation, an S-corp, or a limited liability corporation. They vary in cost and the amount of liability protection they offer, but they all serve the purpose of separating your business so you can build business credit equally.
You can obtain an EIN for free on the IRS website, and the DUNS number is free through the Dun & Bradstreet website.
What’s Next?
Work with starter vendors in the vendor credit tier. These are vendors that will offer net 30 invoice terms without a credit check, and then they will report your payments to the credit agencies. If you have laid the groundwork by establishing your business as separate from yourself and getting the necessary identifying numbers, you will now be well on your way to building business credit.
Top Recession Crowdfunding Campaigns are Possible
They really are, but they are not always enough. Follow these tips and you may meet all your crowdfunding goals. Start building business credit now though, so that if it isn’t enough, you will have something to fall back on. Funding a business is never easy, and a recession makes it even harder. Still, it is possible if you know where to start and where to go.
The post Top Recession Crowdfunding Campaigns: How to Push Your Recession Crowdfunding to the Top appeared first on Credit Suite.
Under Cover: Sometimes Minority Owned Business Loans are In Disguise
Minority owned business loans are probably different than you think. Sometimes they are just like they sound, loans for minority business owners. Other times, they are just loans for everyone that work well for minority business owners as well.
Minority Owned Business Loans Do Not All Look the Same
Sometimes you can be so busy looking for minority owned business loans specifically that you miss the great options that will work but are not for minorities only. In a way, these loans are undercover. They are available to more business owners than just minorities. However, they work really well with the challenges that are unique to minority business owners. Here are just a few examples.
Loans from The Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration specializes in helping all small businesses. They offer a number of products and resources through SBA programs, not just minority owned business loans. For the most part, the SBA does not lend money directly. They work through partner financial institutions to guarantee SBA government loans. As a result, they are able to leave the administration of the loans and disbursement of funds to those who do it on a regular basis. That is, lenders and non-profits that are in the communities where the businesses exist.
SBA 7(a) Loans & 8(a) Business Development Program
These loans are open to all small business owners. However, if a minority business owner takes part in the SBA Business Development program, they increase their chance of getting this type of loan.
Honestly, about 80% of SBA loan applications from Hispanic and African Americans are for $150,000 or less. This is according to the SBA itself. Surprisingly, these smaller loans seem to be harder to get. Honestly, this is probably because lenders don’t make as much money from them.
In fact, the SBA got rid of the fee for loans that are less $150,000 to help with this.
Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit.
SBA Community Advantage Loans
These are to meet the needs of small businesses in neglected markets. That includes minorities. The goal is to get local lenders to increase loans up to $250,000. This is done by backing up to 85% of the loan amount. The hope is that this helps small business owners who might not be able to get traditional financing.
SBA Microloan Program
First, loans through this program go up to $50,000. Secondly, funds come from a third-party lender. Usually, this consists of nonprofit organizations in the community. Often, they also offer other types of assistance to business owners along with the loan.
Minority Owned Business Loans: Non-SBA Loans
There are private lenders that offer loans that will meet the needs of minority business owners also, but they are not specifically minority owned business loans. One such example is Accion.
Accion U.S. Network
Accion offers loans in all states. Funds are available to the following:
- minorities
- veterans
- women
- those with disabilities
- and low to medium income business owners
Typically, loan amounts start at $200,000 and go up to $300,000. Also, Accion can put owners in contact with others to help build a network of support.
Comparatively, the minimum credit score for these loans is 575. In addition, you cannot be 30 days late on paying any accounts. Finally, you will not qualify if you have late rent or mortgage payments over the past 12 months.
Minority Owned Business Loans That Don’t Wear a Mask
In contrast to the above loans that anyone can apply for, some minority owned business loans are exactly what you expect. They are designed specifically for those in minority groups to aid in overcoming the unique challenges they face in obtaining business funding.
Union Bank Business Diversity Lending Program
This program from Union Bank offers business loans for minority business owners. Indeed, this one is specifically for minorities. In fact, to qualify, you must be Hispanic, American Indian, Latino, Asian, Alaskan Native, African American, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander.
Furthermore, a business that makes up to $20 million could qualify for a loan of $2.5 million. However, you must be in business for at least 2 years. Likewise, the business must be at least 51% minority owned.
The National African American Small Business Loan Fund
This is a partnership between JP Morgan Chase and the Valley Economic Development Centers . It serves small businesses with minority owners that are in low income or medium income communities. However, only those in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are eligible.
Business Center for New Americans
Presently, The Business Center for New Americans offers minority business loans of $5,000 to $50,000. They work with immigrants, refugees, women, and other minority entrepreneurs. The goal is to help minority business owners who have not been able to get traditional financing.
Camino Financial
Camino Financial is a lender that operates all online. They offer minority owned business loans. Conveniently, their entire application process is online. Microloans range from $5,000 to $50,000. Additionally, they offer small business loans between $10,000 to $400,000.
Build Business Credit to Increase Your Chances of Approval with Any Loan
Business credit is a huge piece of overall fundability. The business credit building process is the same for everyone, minority or not. When you work through the process, you increase your fundability. That in turn, increases your chances of being able to get funding of all types in the future. How do you build business credit?
It Starts with the Foundation
When you set up your business, you need it to have a foundation that will help build fundability and separate it from you as the owner. Even if you are already in operation, you can take the steps necessary to do this. However, the sooner the better, for a number of reasons. What does it take to build a foundation of fundability?
- Separate contact information
Your business needs its own phone number and address.
- An EIN
This is free on the IRS website.
- All necessary and appropriate licenses
If you are not properly licensed to do what you do, lenders will not take you seriously. This step is necessary to being a legitimate business.
- Incorporation
There are many reasons for this. However, for business credit building the big thing is it further separates your business from you as the owner.
- A D-U-N-S Number
This is free to get on the Dun & Bradstreet website. You cannot have a business credit profile with D&B without one.
- Business Bank Account
Like incorporating, there are many reasons for this. The main one for building credit building however, is that it further solidifies your business as an entity separate from you the owner.
- Professional website
This one surprises a lot of people. These days, if you don’t have an online presence you might as well not even exist. However, a poorly put together online presence is just as bad. Pay for professional design and hosting. It’s worth it.
Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit.
These things are not only necessary for overall fundability, but they are also the first step in the business credit building process, and it is a process. It takes time, and you have to start at the beginning.
The Business Credit Building Process
Even though most lenders will still take personal credit into account, separate business credit allows them to judge your business on its own merits. If they can see that, despite some personal credit issues, business credit is just fine, it may sway them if they are wavering on approving funding.
In addition, business credit opens up new funding doors that are not available to individuals, which in turn can only help you run and grow your business.
You Need Accounts Reporting to Your Business Credit Report
The key to this is to get accounts in your business’s name that do not really take your personal credit into account. It may feel like it is impossible, but it isn’t. There are a few ways to do it.
First, vendors you already have a relationship with may be willing to extend credit without a credit check. If that isn’t happening, they might be willing to offer net 30 terms on invoices. The worst that can happen is they say no. If they say yes, ask them to report the payments to the business credit agencies.
Utilities might also report accounts to your business credit. You already pay utilities, rent, and internet each month. Ask those providers to report your payments to the business credit reporting agencies. Make sure your accounts are set up in your business name with your business contact information. Worst case scenario is that they say no. It never hurts to ask.
Starter Vendors in the Vendor Credit Tier to Help Build Business Credit
This is the business credit building secret that many business owners are unaware of. We call them starter vendors. These are part of the vendor credit tier. They are certain companies that will extend Net terms in your business name without a credit check. After you pay, they will report those payments to the business credit report agencies (CRAs).
Since they do not check your credit score, it doesn’t matter that you do not have one. Of course, they do have other ways of reducing risk. They vary by vendor. Below, we have listed a few of these starter vendors to give you an idea of what you are looking for.
Crown Office Supplies
Crown Office Supplies is a true starter vendor. They sell a variety of office supplies and take helping clients seriously. They say, “just starting your business, or maybe have an existing business, but you have a question regarding office supplies… we are here to help!” And they report to Dun and Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax.
There is a $99.00 annual fee, though they do report that fee to the business credit reporting bureaus. For other purchases to report, the purchase must be at least $30.00. Terms are Net 30.
Grainger Industrial Supply
Grainger sells power tools, pumps, hardware and more. In addition, they can handle maintenance of your auto fleet. You need a business license and EIN to quality, as well as a D-U-N-S number.
You can apply by fax or over the phone. If you need less than $1,000 in credit, you only need a business license for approval. For over $1,000, you will need trade and bank references.
If you are just starting out and do not have references, the $1,000 is plenty to get you started building your business credit.
Behalf.com
Behalf is a way of getting paid through an app. However, they also offer funding. The more you have your customers pay you through Behalf, the more likely Behalf is to offer you favorable terms when it comes to funding.
Funding can be through purchase financing or a virtual Mastercard option. Terms run from Net 30 to 180 days, and they report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. The fact that they report to all the major credit reporting agencies makes them an extremely valuable tool in building business credit.
Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit.
Then What?
After you have enough of these types of accounts reporting payments to your business credit report, you should have a strong enough score to move on to the next tier. We call this the retail credit tier. They offer more traditional credit. These are credit cards for use at specific stores such as Office Depot or Lowes. This is also sometimes referred to as store credit.
After you have several of these store credit accounts reporting, you can apply for cards in the fleet credit tier. These are gas cards with companies such as Shell and Fuelman. They can be used for fuel and auto repair and maintenance only.
Lastly, with accounts reporting from all previous tiers, you should have a score strong enough to apply for cards from what we call the cash credit tier. Of course, that is only if you have been making payments consistently on time.
These are traditional credit cards that are not connected to a certain store or type of purchase. They can be used for anything and everything. In addition, they often have better interest rates and nice rewards programs.
Building Business Credit Can Open the Door to Many More Funding Options
Looking for and applying to minority owned business loans is a completely viable option. However, do not limit yourself. Take a look at other loan possibilities that you may not even realize you qualify for. At the same time, start working through the business credit building process. Then, you’ll have many more funding options available in the future. The more funding available to you, the faster and stronger you can grow your business.
The post Under Cover: Sometimes Minority Owned Business Loans are In Disguise appeared first on Credit Suite.