Financing Going Concerns

Choosing Your Financing Method

Let's say that after mulling over your money-raising options - equity financing versus debt financing - you decide to recommend to the board that the company issue common stock to finance its expansion. How do you explain your decision? Issuing bonds is an attractive option because it won't dilute your ownership, but you don't like the idea of repaying interest-bearing loans: at this point, you're reluctant to take on any future financial obligation, and money obtained through the sale of stock doesn't have to be paid back. Granted, adding additional shareholders will force you to relinquish some ownership interest: new shareholders will vote on your board of directors and could have some influence over major decisions. On balance, you prefer the option of selling stock - specifically, common stock. Why not preferred stock? Because it has drawbacks similar to those of debt financing: you'd have to make periodic dividend payments, requiring an outflow of cash. Once the matter has been settled, you take a well-deserved vacation. Unfortunately, you can't stop thinking about what you'll do the next time you want to expand. In particular, franchising seems to be a particularly attractive idea. It's something you'll need to research when you get a chance.