Becoming a loan shark is an aspiration that might not appeal to everyone, as it has somewhat criminal connotations due to the checkered past of the mafia lending money to those in need, then enforcing those debts with violence if necessary. However, today, those who are interested in investing in startup companies might find that a good way to do this is through loaning their money privately to individuals who need it. However, to keep everything legal and above board, there are certain ways that you need to go about this.
To begin with, you must assess your own finances, to see if you have adequate funds that will allow you to start loaning to other people. When you are investing in startup companies, you’ll want to weigh these companies carefully to determine if this is a sound investment or not. If someone has what seems to you to be a foolproof idea, and you have no doubt that they are going to be making money off of this, then there is no harm in lending them the start up cash to get the business off the ground. Be sure to draw up a very specific contract, however, with terms for repayment.
It’s highly recommended to work with a qualified lawyer or banking executive if you are going to be acting as a private lender when investing in startup companies. Without a contract or any legal recourse, you might not make any money back at all. With the proper precautions in place, however, you could earn your money back with a tidy fee or reward also tacked onto it. In the United States, there are many lenders who have managed to become licensed to offer loans to those borrowers who are unable or unwilling to get their money from standard sources. Consumer financing has many different outlets available to lenders and borrowers alike.
What makes the idea of becoming a loan shark so unsavory are the unethical lending practices that many have exhibited in the past, but by going through the right channels to offer services, private lenders can rise above that. Investing in startup companies is a good way to help foster the spirit of competition, and help new businesses acquire the funding they need to promote better service and ideas. This is also a sound way of making money in the long run.