Business
If You Want Capital, Fix Your Numbers First
Money Follows Credibility
The first thing serious money looks at is your numbers.
Your financial records are telling a story about your business — whether you know it or not.
Banks, investors, and even friends who lend money are always trying to answer one question:
“Can this person be trusted with money?”
The truth is simple.
Money is not scarce in Nigeria.
Credibility is.
Capital Is Not the Problem
Many entrepreneurs believe there is no money available.
But the reality is different.
Banks, investors, and high-net-worth individuals don’t lack capital.
What they lack are people they can confidently trust with their money.
When there is:
- No structured business account
- No monthly financial records
- No clarity on profit and loss
- No systemized data showing performance
Then the story your numbers tell is not a growing enterprise.
It looks like an unstructured hustle.
And most funders don’t fund hustles.
They fund systems they can understand, measure, and protect their investment in.
Your Cash Flow Is Your Financial CV
Cash flow is one of the strongest signals of business health.
Think of it as your financial CV.
It tells lenders one thing:
Your capacity to repay.
When money consistently flows through your business account, lenders gain confidence.
But when transactions are scattered across:
- Cash payments
- Personal bank accounts
- Informal records
The business looks smaller than it actually is.
Many entrepreneurs are doing big business, but appear small on paper because they are hiding their own financial story.
Understanding Collateral the Right Way
When people hear the word collateral, they immediately think of:
- Land
- Buildings
- Physical assets
But collateral is not only about assets.
It is also about commitment.
Collateral shows a lender that you also have something at stake.
It signals that you are invested in the outcome of the business.
Even if you do not yet have traditional collateral, you can grow into it by:
- Building credit history
- Starting with smaller loans
- Strengthening your financial structure over time
Trust grows step by step.
The Power of a Simple Business Plan
Have you ever seen a one-page business plan that builds trust?
Many entrepreneurs prepare 50-page documents that investors rarely read.
In reality, what investors want first is clarity.
Your business plan is essentially your proposal for trust.
Nobody releases serious money to vague ideas.
But when you can clearly explain:
- How much money you need
- What the money will be used for
- How it will generate income
- How repayment will happen
You move from begging for money to presenting an opportunity.
Your Reputation Is Invisible Collateral
Beyond documents, projections, and plans, there is something even more powerful.
Your reputation.
In business, your name becomes invisible collateral.
A history of:
- Integrity
- Repayment
- Consistency
Attracts capital faster than any pitch deck.
Over time, money begins to trust people who have proven they can be trusted.
Becoming Lendable
Becoming lendable is not complicated.
But it requires intentional preparation.
If you consistently work on:
- Strong financial records
- Clear cash flow visibility
- Structured systems
- Credible reputation
You position yourself for serious capital.
In fact, if you truly prepare well, accessing ₦500 million in funding becomes possible.
Because preparation is what makes money comfortable coming to you.
NC
About the Author
Engr. Ndubuisi Chidomere, MNSE is a Nigerian engineer-turned-entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Pamtech Group, a diversified conglomerate operating in automotive, oil & gas, media, and innovation sectors. He is a Forbes Business Council Member and thought leader on African entrepreneurship.
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