• University of Leeds

Starting a Business 6: Funding Your Business

Raising funds in an important when starting a business; find out which source of funding is most suitable for your business idea.

39,488 enrolled on this course

Starting a Business 6: Funding Your Business

39,488 enrolled on this course

  • 2 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

A successful business requires funding to get it started. There are many ways to get your business up and running, from the informal such as personal savings and borrowing, borrowing from friends and family, to the more formal avenues like bank loans, raising equity to crowd-funding. This course will help you consider the finance options available for businesses, and how to fund the expansion of a business.

This is the final course in a series of six about ‘starting a business’.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 10 seconds This is the final course in a series of six, designed to help you on the journey of entrepreneurship. In this course, we consider the importance of being able to raise funds when starting a business. There are many ways to get your business up and running, from the informal– such as personal savings and borrowing– to the more formal avenues– like bank loans, raising equity, and crowd funding. This course will provide you with the opportunity to consider what kinds of funds might help you with your new venture. Through videos, activities, and quizzes, this series of business courses introduce case studies of young entrepreneurs who are already on the journey. They share their business challenges with you and a panel of business advisers.

Skip to 0 minutes and 54 seconds Through discussion and activities, you have plenty of opportunity to define and work on your business plan, as well as helping others.

Skip to 1 minute and 1 second Sign up now to “Starting a Business: Funding Your Business.”

What topics will you cover?

  • The options available to raise capital for new ventures
  • Financial support in your locality
  • How to fund the expansion of a business
  • An introduction to crowdfunding
  • Pitch your business idea, product or service
  • The business plan: funding a business

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the types of funds that can be raised to help get a business up and running.
  • Identify the factors which impact on the way a new venture is financed eg company type, the market or sector the company is trading within, the aspirations of the founders.
  • Discuss the entrepreneur’s business challenge: How can the expansion of the team’s company be funded?
  • Assess funding for a business plan.
  • Assess whether funding is required to get started.
  • Reflect on how you would approach financial sources.

Who is the course for?

This course is part of the Going to University collection which has been specifically designed for students at schools and colleges. They provide a taster of undergraduate study at the University of Leeds and help students to decide which subject to study at university.

Completion of the courses will also enhance students’ university applications.

The courses can also be used as a teachers’ classroom enrichment resource.

Courses in this collection are also great for people that want an introduction in the specific subjects discussed in each course.

Who will you learn with?

Associate Professor in Enterprise at the University of Leeds. Passionate about entrepreneurship. Part of the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies team delivering 'Starting a Business'

I'm now the Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Business, Computing & Digital Industries at Leeds Trinity University

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 11 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

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  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

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  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
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Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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