Ben: We followed your advice and signed up for a small business program through our local community development association. The crucial challenge now is financing. Obviously, we will fund the company with our savings, but I'm worried that we've underestimated costs and could run out of money.
Uncle Bob: That is a very important issue for small businesses to deal with. After all, undercapitalization is one of the major reasons that small businesses often fail.
Ben: I know. We're looking into small business loans, but the interest rates seem really high. How did you pay for your hardware stores when you first started?
Uncle Bob: To be honest, I didn't actually start the first store. Instead, your Aunt June and I used our savings to buy into an existing business. Later, we bought out our business partner and then expanded the business.
Ben: So you didn't arrange outside financing?
Uncle Bob: Not at first. Like you said, lenders often charge a premium for small business loans because they are so risky. We were worried that the cost of servicing a loan would actually hurt the business. Instead of borrowing right away, we waited until the business was a little better established. Then we borrowed money and used it to expand the business.
Ben: So you think we should wait before getting a loan? How will I know when the time is right to borrow?
Uncle Bob: Once companies are more established, the owners have a lot more choices. They might, for example, get a line of credit, take on a partner or get a loan. If borrowing money will make you money, then it's time to consider it.
班 ：我們照您的建議，透過本地的社區發展協會加入了一個小型企業計畫。目前最重要的挑戰就是籌措資金。很明顯地，我們要用存款來為公司注資，可是我擔心低估了成本，恐怕會把錢用光。
鮑伯叔叔：那是小型企業要處理的一個非常重要的問題。畢竟，資金不足往往是小型企業失敗的主要原因之一。
班 ：我知道。我們正在研究小型企業貸款，可是利息似乎太高了。你最初開始經營五金行時，是怎麼籌錢的？
鮑伯叔叔：老實說，第一家店並不是我開的，而是你嬸嬸瓊跟我用存款買下一家現有公司的一部分，後來，我們收購了生意夥伴的那部分，然後又擴展生意。
班 ：這麼說來，你沒有安排向外籌措資金了？
鮑伯叔叔：一開始沒有。就像你說的一樣，貸方常常向小型企業貸款收取保費，因為這些企業風險非常高。我們擔心支付貸款的利息實際上會損害生意。我們沒有立刻貸款，而是等到公司建立得比較穩固後，才借錢好用來擴大生意的規模。
班 ：所以你認為我們應該多等一下再貸款？我怎麼知道貸款的時機到了？
鮑伯叔叔：一旦公司變得比較穩固，公司所有人就有更多選擇。比方說，可以得到信用額度、找合夥人或是取得貸款。如果借錢會讓你賺錢，那麼就可以來考慮借錢的事了。
