Money or a partner: what moves your business forward?
3 min read
When it comes to growth, many founders think of money first. Understandable, because money feels like the answer to everything. But sometimes the problem lies elsewhere: in knowledge, in time, or in work nobody picks up. Then a pile of money helps less than you think.
Three ways to move forward
A loan. You borrow money, from a bank or another lender. You keep your whole company, but you pay it back, with interest.
An investor. Someone puts money into your company and gets a share of it in return. You do not repay, but you are no longer the only owner. Some investors think along, others mostly do not.
A partner. Someone steps in with a stake and builds with you: with knowledge, a network and the work itself.
What you get, and what it costs
| Loan | Investor | Partner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money | yes | yes | sometimes |
| Knowledge and network | no | sometimes | yes |
| Someone who does the work with you | no | no | yes |
| You keep your whole company | yes | no | no |
| Repay with interest | yes | no | no |
Where is your problem, really?
Ask yourself one question: if you had 50,000 euros in your account tomorrow, what exactly would you do with it? If you know it down to the euro, money is probably what you are missing. If your answer gets vague ("marketing", "growth", "hire someone, I guess"), the problem is more likely knowledge or execution.
Say
Robin has an online store that has been flat for two years. Robin is thinking of a loan for advertising. But the ads already running bring in little, and nobody knows why. More money would mostly mean more of the same. What Robin needs is someone who knows how online sales work.
What fits you?
Choose based on what you are missing
You know exactly what to do with the money, and you will earn it back.
LoanYou mainly need money to grow faster, and you are happy to share ownership.
InvestorYou are missing knowledge, hands or someone who builds and decides with you.
PartnerGiving away a share
Giving up part of your company feels like losing. Look at it another way too: a smaller share of a company that grows can be worth more than all of a company that stands still. What matters is that you bring in the right person, and that you make good agreements.
Where we stand
Akalra steps in as a partner, with a stake in the company. We first look as an investor: where is the growth, and what is holding the company back? If we see potential, we step in and do the work with you: strategy, brand, website or app and marketing.