Starting a loan company can be quite profitable. You can achieve great success with proper preparation, execution, and hard effort. The next sections will teach you how to start a successful loan business.

1. Choose the Name for Your Loan Business

The first step to starting a loan business is to choose your business name.  

This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally, you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your loan business:

1. Make sure the name is available. Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
2. Keep it simple. The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
3. Think about marketing. Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your loan business.

2. Develop Your Loan Business Plan

One of the most important steps in starting a loan business is to develop your business plan. The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise money for your business.

Your business plan should include the following sections:

1. Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your loan company.
2. Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your loan business and what type of loan business you operate. For example, are you a secured loan, unsecured loan, home equity loan, or personal loan business?
3. Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the loan industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
4. Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing services like the ones you will offer?
5. Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
6. Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
   • Product: Determine and document what products/services you will offer 
   • Prices: Document the prices of your products/services
   • Place: Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
   • Promotions: What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your loan business? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.

7. Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
8. Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
9. Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
   • What startup costs will you incur?
   • How will your loan business make money?
   • What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
   • Do you need to raise funding to launch your business?

3. Choose the Legal Structure for Your Loan Business

Next you need to choose a legal structure for your money lending business and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

• Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the business owner and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

• Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start a loan business together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

Read Also: How to Get a Small Business Loan Fast?

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

• Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a loan business include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

• C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a loan business is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

• S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your loan business, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account. We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

4. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

The licensing requirements to start a loan business vary by state. You may need a business license, a loan broker license, and a credit services organization license. Make sure to check with the state where you plan to start your business for specific details and requirements.

5. Develop Your Loan Business Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your loan business.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

1. Logo: Spend some time developing a good logo for your loan business. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
2. Website: Likewise, a professional loan business website provides potential customers with information about the services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
3. Social Media Accounts: establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your loan business.

You are now ready to open your loan business. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business.