The Role Of Business Finance Small and medium-sized businesses play a key role in the development of any economy, employing almost 60% of the private sector workforce and accounting for almost half of all private sector turnover. Their continuing success is vital to building the economy of any nation. Being able to access the right type of finance at the right time allows these businesses to invest, grow and create jobs. A good understanding of the options available is an essential starting point and enables businesses to select the type of finance that is right for their circumstances and plans. Businesses are, in effect, investment agencies or intermediaries. This is to say that their role is to raise money from members of the public, and from other investors, and to invest it. Usually, money will be obtained from the owners of the business (the shareholders) and from long-term lenders, with some short-term finance being provided by banks (perhaps in the form of overdrafts), by other financial institutions and by other businesses being prepared to supply goods or services on credit (trade payables (or trade creditors)). Businesses typically invest in real assets such as land, buildings, plant and inventories (or stock), though they may also invest in financial assets, including making loans to, and buying shares in, other businesses. People are employed to manage the investments, that is, to do all those things necessary to create and sell the goods and services in the provision of which the business is engaged. Surpluses remaining after meeting the costs of operating the business – wages, raw material costs, and so forth – accrue to the investors. Of crucial importance to the business will be decisions about the types and quantity of finance to raise, and the choice of investments to be made. Business finance is the study of how these financing and investment decisions should be made in theory, and how they are made in practice.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
The Role Of Business Finance
The Role Of Business Finance Small and medium-sized businesses play a key role in the development of any economy, employing almost 60% of the private sector workforce and accounting for almost half of all private sector turnover. Their continuing success is vital to building the economy of any nation. Being able to access the right type of finance at the right time allows these businesses to invest, grow and create jobs. A good understanding of the options available is an essential starting point and enables businesses to select the type of finance that is right for their circumstances and plans. Businesses are, in effect, investment agencies or intermediaries. This is to say that their role is to raise money from members of the public, and from other investors, and to invest it. Usually, money will be obtained from the owners of the business (the shareholders) and from long-term lenders, with some short-term finance being provided by banks (perhaps in the form of overdrafts), by other financial institutions and by other businesses being prepared to supply goods or services on credit (trade payables (or trade creditors)). Businesses typically invest in real assets such as land, buildings, plant and inventories (or stock), though they may also invest in financial assets, including making loans to, and buying shares in, other businesses. People are employed to manage the investments, that is, to do all those things necessary to create and sell the goods and services in the provision of which the business is engaged. Surpluses remaining after meeting the costs of operating the business – wages, raw material costs, and so forth – accrue to the investors. Of crucial importance to the business will be decisions about the types and quantity of finance to raise, and the choice of investments to be made. Business finance is the study of how these financing and investment decisions should be made in theory, and how they are made in practice.
