Start-Ups That Get Business Loans More Likely to Survive
The researchers found start-up firms with better performance prospects are more likely to use debt and, in particular, business debt.
Start-up firms that take out loans in the name of the business in the initial year of operation, as opposed to personal debt obtained in the name of the firm鈥檚 owner, are significantly more likely to survive and achieve higher levels of revenue, according to a new study by faculty at 抖M女仆鈥檚 .
The research study, published by the , analyzed the relation between different forms of debt financing at the firm鈥檚 start-up and subsequent firm outcomes. The researchers distinguished between business debt, obtained in the name of the firm, and personal debt, obtained in the name of the firm鈥檚 owner and used to finance the start-up firm. They found start-up firms with better performance prospects are more likely to use debt and, in particular, business debt.
鈥淚f you go to borrow $100,000 from the bank to start your business the bank鈥檚 evaluating your business, picking winners and losers,鈥 said , Ph.D., author of the study and the Kaye Family Endowed Professor in Finance at 抖M女仆.
As part of this process, Cole explained, the bank is asking: Is this a good firm? Is this a good prospect? Are you going to be able to repay this loan?
鈥淎nd then after he makes the loan he鈥檚 got skin in the game, so he鈥檚 going to monitor you and mentor you,鈥 Cole said. 鈥淪o it makes sense if you can get a business loan that you鈥檙e going to have superior outcomes. And that鈥檚 exactly what we find.鈥
Cole and study co-author found that firms that borrow in the owner鈥檚 name actually do worse in terms of future revenues, so it鈥檚 actually a negative to use personal credit to finance a business. That makes sense, Cole said, because the owner only has so much debt capacity and if they鈥檙e using their own credit line at the start-up it can quickly get tapped out.
鈥淚f you then try to get a small business loan you鈥檙e probably not going to get one,鈥 Cole said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e already tapped out your personal line of credit, so you鈥檙e not going to be able to invest and grow.鈥
Much like a young person who just started their first job, a start-up business should establish a credit history, Cole said. Small businesses can apply for credit from a bank, which typically will issue a business credit card to the firm based on the owner鈥檚 personal credit score. Once the business establishes a credit history, it can apply for a traditional line of credit for a larger amount.
聽鈥淲e don鈥檛 talk about financial literacy for small businesses,鈥 Cole said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 encourage firms to borrow just to establish a track record, but it鈥檚 an important thing. If you want to have that financial flexibility down the line you need to get a loan as soon as you can in the name of the firm, so the firm is getting a public track record.鈥澛
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