Scaling a business is one of the most exciting stages in the entrepreneurial journey, but it’s also one of the most resource intensive. Whether its launching into new markets, expanding the team, upgrading infrastructure, or investing in stock, growth rarely happens without financial support.
But when exactly should you seek external finance? And how do you make sure it fuels your scale-up, rather than slowing you down?
At NGI Finance, we help businesses identify the right moment (and the right structure) to make finance work as a growth enabler and not a constraint.
- When demand outpaces capacity
If a business is regularly turning away work, running low on inventory, or stretching teams to their limits, that’s a key indicator it’s time to scale.
External finance can help:
- Purchase new stock or raw materials in bulk
- Expand premises or open new locations
- Invest in equipment to boost productivity
Structured correctly, finance allows a business to grow with demand, rather than missing out on key opportunities.
- Launching new products or services
Innovation requires investment, whether that’s in R&D, prototyping, marketing, or tech infrastructure.
Using external finance to launch a new revenue stream can help preserve working capital while giving an operational team room to test, refine, and scale new ideas.
Popular options include:
- Project-specific loans
- Short-term working capital funding
- Revenue-based finance (where repayments flex with a business’s turnover)
- Investing in people
A growing business, needs a strong team. But recruitment, training, and onboarding can be expensive, especially as the return on investment can take considerable time.
Finance can smooth this by funding:
- Wage support during onboarding
- Training programmes or certifications
- Recruitment drives for scale-up roles
- Upgrading systems and infrastructure
As a business grows, so should its systems. That could mean investing in:
- A new CRM or ERP system
- Automation tools to reduce manual work
- Cybersecurity upgrades to protect customer data
With technology often requiring upfront investment, asset finance or software-specific funding can help a business stay ahead of the curve without cash flow pressures.
- You’re forecasting strong growth
If a company’s projections show steady or accelerated growth, planning for finance early puts them in control.
- Avoid rushed, reactive borrowing
- Secure better rates and terms
- Align repayments with projected revenue
At NGI Finance, we work with growing businesses to map out finance that fits their expansion both now and in the future.
Finance isn’t just about funding gaps; it’s about unlocking opportunity. Our business finance team can demonstrate how right external finance could be a very valuable tool. To find out more please call us on 01993 706403 or e-mail enquiries@ngifinance.co.uk.
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