Why might a business find it difficult to get external funding for its development?
Michael Gray
Updated on March 03, 2026
New businesses find it difficult to raise finance because they usually have just a few customers and many competitors. Lenders are put off by the risk that the start-up may fail. If that happens, the owners may be unable to repay borrowed money.
Why do start ups find it difficult to secure funding?
However, start-ups are struggling to spend that money on growth, with some 95 percent of start-ups facing difficulties in making spending decisions. More than one in four start-ups cited economic and political uncertainty as one of the biggest challenges in spending money on growing the business.
Why might finance be difficult for a new business?
Because new businesses don’t have business credit of their own, the bank has to look at the credit of the people who own the business. Banks often deny startup loan requests because the personal credit of the borrower has problems. For example: Low credit ratings also affect the ability to obtain startup funding.
Why do businesses need external financing?
External financing is needed if companies require major asset purchases. Major assets include facilities, equipment the owner vehicles needed to complete business operations. Financing allows business owners to retain their company’s capital and use outside debt on investments to purchase necessary business assets.
Why do companies need external sources of Finance?
If the company funds too much from its resources, it would be difficult for the company to expand the business. At the same time, if the company depends too much on external sources of finance, then the cost of capital would be huge. So, the company needs to know how to fund its immediate or long-term requirements.
When to look for internal or external funding?
Companies look for funding internally when the fund requirement is quite low. In the case, external sources of financing the fund requirement are usually quite huge. When a company sources the funding internally, the cost of capital is pretty low. In the case of external sources of financing, the cost of capital is medium to high.
Why is it so difficult to get funding for new business?
Government banks can be more easy going with new businesses. Back to your question as to why it is difficult, it is because as a new business, you only have access to a subset of funding options. The smaller the pool of options, the harder it is. In a sense, its kind like dating.
What’s the difference between internal and external financing?
Internal and external sources of finance are both critical, but the companies should know where to use what. The right approach is to use the right proportion of internal and external financing. If the company funds too much from its resources, it would be difficult for the company to expand the business.