Financing is not an easy thing to find and has never really been anyway, especially for small businesses or start-ups. But there are some ways to find funds if you really need them. Here are a few sources:

• Friends & family
• Lending circles
• Banks & financial institutions
• Angel networks
• Other sources

A common misconception that new and inexperienced entrepreneurs have is that people will be willing to invest large amounts of money in their new business without having a say in how it is managed, and without requesting much of a participation (i.e. % of the business you are giving away in exchange for the financing). If you need serious financing, be prepared to let go of an important percentage of your business! If you are not willing to do that, find a way to start without any financing. But always remember that a smaller percentage of something is better than a larger percentage of nothing!
Read on...