chapter 4 finance(1)

SOURCES OF FINANCE
the money that a business needs may come from its owner,from lenders or people who are willing to take a risk,or from other outside sources.usually there is a risk attached to borrowing money,but that is what enterprise is all about--risk taking

some definitions:

• discount:a reduction in prices
• retained profit:amounts not distributed to owners but "ploughed back"into the business
• start-up grants:an initial sum of money,given to help a business become established

owners` funds

one of the main sources of finance for starting a business is the money that the owners already have.they can risk this in the business in the hope that the business will be profitable.sole traders may use their own funds.partnerships will share resources.limited companies can rise funds by selling shares to the owners(the shareholders).once a business is a success and profitable,it may keep some of its profit for future finance.this is called retained profit.

Borrowing

if business owners do not already have the funds,then they need to borrow them.usually businesses borrow from lending institutions such as banks.the most common forms of business borrowing are shown in the table below.there is a cost to borrowing.usually this takes the form of interest.generally,the riskier the loan and the longer the period of borrowing,the more interest will need to be paid.

short term:(from a few days up to 3 years)

overdrafts

loans

trade credit

factoring

medium-term:(from 3 years to 10 years)

hire purchase

loans

debentures

long-term:(10 years +)

loans

mortgages

the types of borrowing can be described as follows:

trade credit--a business promises to pay in the future for goods that is has received (hopefully,it will pay for the goods that it has sold them).the period of trade credit can be up to 90 days but is often less.unusually,interest is seldom charged-but there will be penalties if payment is not made and there could be discount for early payment.

overdrafts--a bank allows a business to take more out of its account than it has in,up to an agreed limit.this is very flexible and interest is only charged on what is actually owed,for the time that it is owed.

loans--borrowing a fixed amount,for a fixed term.the business makes regular repayments and is charged interest on the full amount for the term of the loan.

factoring--selling debts to a specialist firm,which then collects the money owed.the factoring firm makes its money by paying less for the debt than it actually collects.

hire purchase--paying for a piece of plant or equipment in instalments.the business can use the item while it is still paying for it.

mortgages--long-term loans used to buy expensive items such as land or buildings.

debentures--guarantees to pay at a time in the future,which may offer low risk but good interest rates for investors.they can be issued by large businesses.

Secured and unsecured borrowing

a mortgage is a secured loan,an overdraft is likely to be unsecured.but what does this mean?in the case of the mortgages,if it is not paid,the lending institution may be able to retrieve its money by seizing and selling the asset(a house or factory,for instance).if the loan is unsecured,the lender has no security of this type.

Grants

sometimes businesses do not have to use their own funds or borrow them,because there are grants available.a grant is sum of money made available to a business by a body such as central government,the European union or a local council.charities may also provide grants.the prince`s youth business trust,for example,provide start-up grants for businesses set up by young people.

key points!

three main sources where come from

• owners` own money--owners`funds
• money from banks or other lenders--borrowed funds
• money that dose not have to be paid--grants

COST AND REVENUE

businesses produce either a good for sale or a service.if it is a good,there are raw materials and other inputs to pay for.if it is a service,the business needs to let people know that it exists. in either case,therefore,there are costs.the money that the businesses received for its sales is called revenue.business costs are divided into fixed costs -also called indirect costs or overheads-and variable costs .

Fixed costs

Fixed costs do not vary with output-that is, with the amount produced.Example are rent,interest payments and rates.They have to be paid whether or not a business is producing.

Variable costs

Variable costs are those costs that vary with output,such as raw materials.packaging,parts and components,ingredients,power and labour charges.Total cost is fixed cost plus variable cost.Sometimes it is difficult to decide whether a cost is fixed or variable,as it may have elements of both within it.Utilities are a case in point .A power or telecommunications bill,for example,has a fixed element for the supply of the service,plus a variable element for the amount of the service used.

Semi-variable costs

These are costs that do vary with output,but not directly.For example,a business may need to pay overtime,or a shop may need to open for longer hours.

Other definitions

Costs can be divided into start-up costs and running costs.Start-up costs are only paid when setting up a business.Financing this may become part of a business`s fixed costs.Running or operational costs have to be paid to keep the business going.These may be fixed costs such as rent,or variable costs such as wages.

KEY POINT!

• fixed costs do not vary with output
• Variable costs vary with output.
• Semi-variable costs vary indirectly with output
• Start-up costs are paid to get a business started
• Running costs are paid to keep it going

some definitions:

• output:the amount of a good produced,or service carried out
• overheads:the term often used in accounting to refer to fixed costs
• utilities:essential services such as water and power