Can You Use Your 401(k) to Finance a Business Idea?

If you have a 401(k), you might be wondering whether you can use it to finance a business idea. A 401(k), of course, is an employer-sponsored retirement account. You can deposit money into your 401(k), and depending on how it’s set up, your employer may match these deposits. Rather than using it for retirement, though, you may want to use your 401(k).

Can You Use Your 401(k) to Finance a Business Idea?

Yes, It’s Possible to Use a 401(k) for Financing

It’s possible to use a 401(k) to finance a business idea, but there are caveats. You won’t be able to simply withdraw money from your 401(k). Rather, you’ll have to take it out as a loan.

if you’re looking to finance a business idea, you’ll have to borrow money from your 401(k). And like with traditional loans, you’ll have to repay the borrowed money.

Advantages of 401(k) Financing

With 401(k) financing, you can tap into your retirement savings account to turn your business idea into a reality. You won’t have to seek financing from a bank or alternative lender. Rather, you can use tap into your 401(k).

You don’t have to worry about getting rejected due to bad credit or no credit. After all, 401(k) financing involves borrowing money that you — as well as your employer — have already deposited into a savings account. It doesn’t require the same credit-based application process as traditional forms of financing.

Disadvantages of 401(k) Financing

Some sponsors prohibit employees from borrowing money from their 401(k) plans. Sponsors are employers. If you want to use your 401(k) to finance a business idea, you’ll have to determine whether it’s allowed by the sponsor. Not all sponsors allow employees to borrow money from their 401(k) plans.

There are limits to how much you can borrow from your 401(k). Even if your sponsor allows it, for instance, you’ll have to follow the limits set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Under the IRS’s guidelines, you can only borrow up to 50% of your balance or up to $50,000. The lowest number is the limit. If you have a 401(k) with $70,000, for instance, you can borrow $35,000. If you have a 401(k) with $110,000, you can borrow $50,000.

The low borrowing limit is the biggest disadvantage of 401(k) financing. You’ll probably need more than $50,000 to finance your business idea. With 401(k) financing, though, you won’t be able to borrow more than this amount.

This article was brought to you by Intrepid Private Capital�Group�� A Global Financial Services Company. For more information on startup and business funding, or to complete a funding application, please visit our�website.