Business borrowing use cases
Clear answers for the way businesses actually borrow.
Use these practical, US-first guides to structure borrowing from partners, family, friends, clients, suppliers, and private lenders. Every guide leads with a direct answer, steps to document the arrangement, common failure modes, and a primary source.
How to Borrow Money From Business Partners
A practical guide to documenting a loan from a business partner, setting repayment terms, and protecting governance.
Read the guideThe Right Way to Borrow Money From Family for a Business
How to create a clear family business loan with terms, payment tracking, and boundaries that protect relationships.
Read the guideHow to Track Money Borrowed From Friends for a Business
A simple system for documenting and tracking a friend loan to a business without relying on memory or text messages.
Read the guideTaking Project Advances From Clients
How to use client deposits or project advances as responsible working capital while protecting delivery obligations.
Read the guideUsing Supplier Financing and Trade Credit
How to use supplier terms, vendor advances, and purchase-order financing to support inventory and operations.
Read the guideDocumenting an Employee or Founder Loan to a Business
How to handle an employee or founder cash advance to the company with approvals, records, and repayment terms.
Read the guideUsing a Bridge Loan While Waiting for Client Invoices
How to structure short-term bridge borrowing around accounts receivable without creating a repayment mismatch.
Read the guideUsing a Private Loan to Buy Business Equipment
How to finance equipment with a private IOU, model payback, and document collateral and ownership correctly.
Read the guideBorrowing to Buy or Acquire a Business
A practical starting point for seller notes, partner loans, and acquisition financing for an existing business.
Read the guideBorrowing for Seasonal Inventory
How retailers and product businesses can use short-term private borrowing to purchase seasonal inventory responsibly.
Read the guideRefinancing a Private Business Loan
How to refinance a private IOU without losing track of payoff, priority, and the history of the original agreement.
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