— Resources
Tools for financing a consumer brand.
The data, directories, and models Ben Tregoe uses to think about brand capital, free to use. Start with the guide, then benchmark, shortlist, and compare.
Start here · Guide
Judge capital by the growth it enables.
How to judge inventory financing and every other capital option by the growth it unlocks, not its sticker price.
Data, directories, and calculators
Each one is a free, view-only Google Sheet. Open a page to see what's inside and how to use it.
Directory
Lender directory
47 lenders that fund consumer brands, compared on how their loans work, how fast they fund, and how well repayment matches your cash cycle.
OpenDirectory
Equity investor directory
469 consumer-focused funds with stage, sector focus, geography, and partners, for founders planning a raise.
OpenData
Elephant Herd Index
Monthly financial benchmarks for 71 public consumer brands and retailers: margins, inventory, cash cycle, and marketing efficiency.
OpenTool
Loan comparison calculators
Spreadsheet models of how popular brand lenders' loans actually work, so you can compare offers apples to apples.
OpenStart here on the blog
Six posts that explain how Ben thinks about capital, cash, and inventory.
How You Think of Capital is Wrong
The three questions to ask about any capital option, in order of importance, and why rate is not one of the first two.
Read the postIRR? APR? How to price your capital
Why two lenders can both quote 12% APR and charge very different amounts, and a better way to price capital.
Read the postSpin Your Capital Cycles Faster
Two companies with the same income statement and very different growth, because of how much inventory each carries.
Read the postDeath by Inventory Part 1
Why slow-moving inventory keeps sinking otherwise healthy brands.
Read the postManage to Cash
Companies go insolvent when they run out of cash, not contribution profit. Make cash the metric you run the business by.
Read the postAn Opinionated Guide to Surviving a Cash Crisis
A fast roadmap for founders in a severe cash crunch, when time is the enemy.
Read the postMore reading
AI assistant
Not sure where the problem is? Ask Herd CoPilot.
Herd CoPilot is an AI assistant trained on Ben's experience in brand finance, capital raising, and operational turnarounds. Describe what you're facing and it helps you find the real constraint, what you can do now, and where to go next.
— GET STARTED
Let's see if our funding lines up with your inventory cycle
Send us your last 12 months of revenue, your buying plan, and a 3 statement model. We'll come back with a facility size and structure within a week.
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