For those of you who are looking to start your own small business, buying a business opportunity, distributorship, licensee opportunity or even a franchise of some kind may be a reasonable option. But for many of you, the big question is, “Where do I find the money I need to get started?” or “Even if I do have enough startup capital or already own a successful small business, where do I get the money I need to survive and grow more long-term?”

The latest news on the lending and borrowing front is encouraging, with small-business loan approvals jumping this month to an all-time high of more than 16% at big banks and increasing for the fifth consecutive month at smaller institutions. And while that’s certainly good to hear, is borrowing money from a bank your only option? Is it the smartest one? What if your local bank has already turned you down? Then what?

Here to help you answer those critical questions along with so many others is this month’s FREE eBook of the Month pick: 16 Best and Most Common Business Financing Options for Your Small Business (Plus One Bonus Idea). Written by Tom Gazaway, the country’s foremost expert on unsecured lending solutions for small businesses and the President and CEO of working capital provider Hawkeye Management, the book is not designed to provide an “exhaustive” look at every possible funding option out there. Rather, it does offer a great overview of the financing solutions that comprise roughly “90% of all the capital obtained by small-business owners” today.

And that’s a great place to start!

Echoing that sentiment in a recent BusinessOpportunity.com interview, Gazaway said, “You have to understand and know your options, or one of two things will happen. You’ll either make the wrong decision by getting the wrong type of financing, or you’ll…let fear stop you from doing anything.” That fear, he says, can paralyze you to the point that you end up accomplishing little or nothing, something that is definitely NOT the hallmark of a successful entrepreneur.

It’s the critical need for that most “basic (level of) education and understanding in the business credit and financing space” that fuels all of Gazaway’s ongoing efforts to reach out to small business owners with helpful tips and information—that and the fact that the internet is “both a blessing and a curse.” “We’re constantly reading inaccurate information about business financing online,” he says. “You have to know who you can trust.”

While Gazaway will concede that the eBook serves as somewhat of a lead-generator for his business, that’s not his primary motivation for writing it. “It’s truly available without any strings attached,” Gazaway explains. “Anyone can grab all of our content and follow (us) without ever giving us a phone number. If someone needs us or wants some assistance with their business credit or financing, they always know how to reach us and where we are,” he continues. We want people to think of us as the thought leaders in (our industry). The content and (our dedication to) education (are) deeply ingrained in our business model and our DNA.”

Let us know what you think! Did you find this month’s FREE eBook recommendation helpful? What other small business financing options have you found for your home-based or other small business? We’d love to hear from you!