Using peer-to-peer lending to fund a small business

As the economy struggles to recover from the financial crisis, many small businesses have had difficulty securing credit decisions in order to grow, while a significant number of entrepreneurs have faced similar troubles in trying to start a business. Some owners have turned to nontraditional financing methods, such as launching a firm solely with a personal credit card. However, a move such as this is not always advised, nor is it always successful. Another trend that has grown popular is peer-to-peer lending. According to Reuters, websites such as Prosper Marketplace and Lending Club allow groups of lenders to band together, offering as little as $25 per person to support a venture or other cause. "A peer-to-peer loan could be a good idea for businesses, since most loans are still tight and difficult to get given the current state of the economy," Cynthia Hsu wrote for the source. "If a bank turns your business down, it might be worthwhile to check out a peer-to-peer lending site." However, peer-to-peer lending isn't without fault, either: It's notoriously difficult to get accepted - Lending Club turns away approximately 90 percent of its applicants.