Online Marketplace Financing: 10 Tips for the Successful Financing of an Online Marketplace

The internet is booming and allows us to accomplish more and more tasks online. An important component of the web is eCommerce – the ability to shop online conveniently. eCommerce has been booming for years, so it is not surprising that more and more new platforms are emerging on the market. However, an important factor for success is having the right financing. Because a successful online marketplace is often associated with high costs when it is operated professionally. In this article, you will learn tips and tricks to improve your chances of obtaining financing.

Which Online Marketplace Would You Like to Create?

The Essentials at a Glance

What Exactly Is an Online Marketplace?

An online marketplace is, in simple terms, an improved online shop. The marketplace typically offers a wider variety of functions and the ability to list different products under various categories and conditions. While you can simply offer products and services for sale on an online marketplace, it is also possible to set up auctions or publish time-limited offers that automatically expire after a certain period or on a specific date.

Overall, this means that an online marketplace is even more complex than a traditional online shop. In fact, there are many online shop builders and platforms on the market. However, very few of them allow for the creation of a marketplace. To achieve this, the necessary functionality must be created through plugins and extensions. Moreover, there are shop systems that are not suitable for the creation of an online marketplace.

Benefits and Goals of an Online Marketplace

An online marketplace generally serves as an extended online shop. So if you want not only to sell products and services in the traditional way but perhaps also to incorporate auctions or time-limited listings into your system, you generally cannot avoid using an online marketplace. Although it is more expensive and elaborate in terms of acquisition and development, here you will find all the functions that are important in eCommerce.

A good online marketplace, however, still offers the same advantages and functions as an online shop. A good marketplace is easy to use. It combines a multitude of functions and is directly connected to the company and its database. For example, the platform can often send emails, notify specific responsible persons, generate customer invoices, etc. Just think back to the last time you used a portal like eBay or Amazon. Consider the many functions that were offered to you, and you will realize what it is all about and what advantages and goals such a platform offers. And: What you see as a user is only the frontend. The backend—with all its functions and tasks detailing who is informed when and how, and how interactions occur—is an entirely different matter.

10 Tips for Financing an Online Marketplace

Now that you know what an online marketplace is and how it differs from a shop, and that you are familiar with the advantages of such software, it is time for you to learn how to successfully finance and implement such a complex project. In this section, we present you with ten expert tips that will help ensure that the financing of your project becomes a success.

Tip 1: Be Thorough in Planning and Preparation

The first and most important step is thorough planning and preparation of your project. An online marketplace is a very complex undertaking, and thorough planning and preparation are essential not only to understand the workflows but also to accurately calculate the costs. The information and data gathered during the planning phase are very important later on in other steps for financing.

Tip 2: The Business Plan is Essential for Financing

Whenever you start a new company or project that relies on external financing, you must create a business plan. The development of an online platform is of course no exception. The business plan must include information about your project, its forecast, competition, etc. The business plan alone is a very important and comprehensive undertaking. We recommend that you thoroughly research how to create one and, if necessary, consult a professional.

Tip 3: Hire a Professional Agency

An online portal is a demanding and complex project. It requires solid expertise, the necessary tools, and the appropriate software for programming and development. So if you do not have a professional and experienced IT team, you should entrust the development to a professional agency. This may drive up costs, but it shows that you are serious and significantly improves the success chances of your project and its financing. It is important that you compare various offers from agencies. This way, you can learn about different services and prices and make an informed choice. You can include the various offers with your financing application. It is further proof that you have been actively involved and have dealt with the topic.

Tip 4: Compare Financing Options and Possibilities

Before deciding on a loan—for example, from your local bank—you should familiarize yourself with the various options and possibilities. There is a wide variety of loans and funding options, each with different terms and conditions. While a loan from your local bank is one option, a startup founder loan, which usually offers better terms than traditional banks, might be more worthwhile for your online marketplace. A thorough and detailed comparison is worthwhile, especially since you might not qualify for a traditional loan with your project, but you could be eligible for a founder loan, etc.

Tip 5: Learn About the Competition and Potential Niches

There are as many online marketplaces and other eCommerce businesses as there are grains of sand. For example, if you want to create a video platform, there are well-established competitors such as Vimeo, YouTube, or Dailymotion. They all offer more or less the same services and share the majority of the market among themselves. Therefore, with your video platform, you need to find a niche that these competitors do not offer and in which you can succeed. Otherwise, no one will grant you a loan for financing. For example, Dailymotion is known for allowing users to watch entire movies and series, as there are no restrictions on the length of the video or material. On the other hand, Vimeo is a platform primarily used for professional videos and courses, while YouTube is a platform for many producers to earn money.

Tip 6: Marketing and Development of an MVP

In general, planning and talking about it can be done extensively. However, implementation is often not as simple, and there is a lack of the necessary expertise. This can be mitigated by developing a prototype or MVP—the prototype of the final product, albeit usually with very limited, basic functions. Nevertheless, an MVP has the advantage of allowing you to show your project to customers and potential investors and financiers while proving that you possess the necessary skills. Furthermore, the MVP is also important for marketing, which you should certainly not neglect when planning a new project and its financing.

Tip 7: Contribute Your Own Capital

For every loan and financing, equity plays an important role. It shows the banks that you are willing to take action yourself and invest in your project—a sign that you believe in its success. For this reason, you should also include your own capital when financing an online shop or marketplace. And: Equity does not always have to be in the form of cash in your account. Expenses incurred in advance for marketing, servers, etc. can also be taken into account. It is important that the bank sees that it is not shouldering the responsibility and risk alone, but that you are also contributing your part.

Tip 8: Do Not Submit the Financing Application Alone

In many cases, the chances of obtaining a loan are better if there is a co-applicant. This person brings their own capital and collateral to the loan. It is no different when financing an online portal. Here too, it can be beneficial to apply for financing together with a partner. The prospects of success increase manifold.

Tip 9: Look for Partners and Investors

In addition to financing from banks, it is also sensible to look for investors and partners. While investors primarily provide financial support and improve your available capital, partners can contribute in many areas. Partners can be companies that offer you a server or firms that commit to hosting the internal courses and tutorial videos for your platform. Partners and investors demonstrate that people are interested in your project, which in turn increases the appeal of potential financing.

Tip 10: Learn About Discounts and Reimbursements

In Germany, there are many tax benefits for startups and new projects. Additionally, there are various ways to have expenses reimbursed. For example, office supplies, server costs, etc. are tax-deductible. This is money that you do not immediately get back or can use directly, but over the course of the fiscal year, significant amounts can accumulate that are definitely worthwhile. If in doubt, you should have a tax advisor explain everything in detail.

Conclusion and Summary

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