DC has many banking, financial,
and community resources that can
help businesses start, grow, or
expand. Identifying and accessing
financial resources outside of
an immediate business network
can be transformational.
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THERE ARE MANY WAYS to finance a small business, and small
business owners should consider the implications for a
particular growth strategy. Funding options include:
• Obtaining a traditional bank loan;
• Working with a lender to get a loan guarantee from the
U.S. Small Business Administration;
• Securing funds from an angel investor, venture capital
firm or small business investment company;
• Obtaining a loan from an alternative community lender
such as a community development financial institution
(CDFI); and
• Crowdfunding.
Some of the best resources, when evaluating funding
opportunities, can be found at the District of Columbia
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB)
and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
INVESTMENT CROWDFUNDING (DC ONLY)
Crowdfunding allows District-based businesses an
exemption from the District’s securities registration
requirements to encourage capital formation and simplify
investing in D.C.-based businesses (including start-ups
and small businesses). To qualify for the exemption, the
business must be organized under D.C. law and have
its principal place of business in the District, and the
securities in the offering must be offered only to D.C.
residents. Visit disb.dc.gov/smallbusinfo and disb.dc.gov/
crowdfunding for more information.
The District of Columbia Business Capital Program
(DC BizCAP) at DISB provides capital to District small
businesses and entrepreneurs. Three DC BizCAP
programs provide alternatives to traditional commercial
financing to facilitate private lending and investments in
District small businesses.
CONTRIBUTORS: The Department of Small and Local Business
Development ∙ The Department of Insurance, Securities and
Banking ∙ The U.S. Small Business Administration ∙ Latino Economic
Development Corporation
/smallbusinfo
/disb.dc.gov