Accessing financial assistance for your business: When, Where and How?

One of the major factors in the growth of a business is finance. These questions should be answered when plans are being made to seek financial assistance:
-Do I need financial help now?
-Where do I access financial?
-Is my business organized enough to seek financial help?
Your business needs financing when you are unable to optimize your opportunities or maximize your potentials due to non-availability of funds, during expansion, business diversification, change in business model.
The phase of your business should be a guide to where you can access financial assistance. Grants, Intervention funds, seed finances from governments and Non-Governmental Organizations are most suitable for start-ups. Loans from banks are suitable for businesses in the growth phase (expansion, diversification).
The same way people put their homes in order when they are expecting a visitor is the same way a business owner is expected to put his business in order in anticipation of funds arrival. Is your book keeping up to date? Financiers will be interested in the financial health of your business, your business plan and aspirations seeing that they are not charity organizations.
Have a financial partner that is genuinely interested in your growth and knowledgeable enough to point you to the right direction as it relates to financial decisions. Be accountable, disciplined and financially educated.