Turning Business Opportunities into Growth-Limited Working Capital to Project Capacity Expanded

For Zefri bin Mohd Zin, running a business has always been about more than finding customers.

As a trader supplying goods and services to government offices and corporate clients, he needs to make sure he can deliver what he promises. And sometimes, that means having the cash ready before the customer’s payment arrives.

That working capital gap has been a reality of running his business since he started in 2012.

From Sales Executive to Business Owner

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Zefri worked in sales for a manufacturing company. He was involved in selling office furniture and equipment, eventually taking responsibility for government and corporate-sector clients.

The experience gave him a close look at how the business worked—and eventually encouraged him to build something of his own.

In 2012, he started Cergas Maju Resources.

Today, the company operates primarily as a trader. Zefri sources products from suppliers and arranges delivery to his customers, covering areas such as office furniture, stationery, office automation equipment, and machinery-related work.

But running the business also taught him an important lesson:

Having sales opportunities does not always mean having enough cash to take them.

When a Good Business Opportunity Still Needs Working Capital

For Zefri, cash flow is closely tied to growth.

When a new project comes in, he needs to secure the products first. At the same time, customers may take some time to make payment.

In the past, supplier credit terms made this easier. But as business conditions changed, suppliers became more cautious about extending credit.  For Zefri, this meant that more of the working capital had to come from his own business. 

This can limit the number of projects the business can handle at once.

Even if you have a project, you still need the money to buy the goods first.

And that created a frustrating situation: there could be opportunities to take on more projects, but not always enough cash to execute them. 

The challenge: finding financing that matched his reality

Before discovering FundingBee, Zefri had explored financing through traditional financial institutions.

Although he had maintained a good personal repayment history, factors such as credit scoring and existing financial commitments could make obtaining business financing difficult.

He was frustrated. He had a functioning business and a track record of making payments, but accessing additional capital was still challenging.

He eventually came across FundingBee through a Google search.

Rather than applying immediately, he researched the company, checked customer reviews, and contacted FundingBee to understand the financing costs.

The positive reviews, reasonable financing cost, and focus on Malaysian businesses gave him enough confidence to apply.

A simpler application—and faster access to working capital

Zefri completed his application through the FundingBee website and submitted the required documents.

His first application involved extra steps, such as visiting the office, but when he applied again later, the process was even smoother. (Previously, visiting the office was part of the process. Now, all procedures can be completed online.)

What stood out to him was the speed.

His first financing was accessed in around a week. On his second application, the funds were made available much faster.

For a business where timing can determine whether an opportunity is practical, that accessibility made a real difference.

The change: more room to operate

The impact of the financing went beyond simply covering expenses.

With more working capital available, Zefri had greater flexibility when purchasing from suppliers. In some cases, being able to make cash or upfront payments also allowed him to negotiate better prices and secure discounts.

That could directly improve a project's profitability.

More importantly, he no longer had to look at every new opportunity purely through the question of whether there was enough cash available at that exact moment.

Working capital gave him more room to operate.

It also meant that if customer payments were delayed, he could continue managing overheads and other business commitments without the same level of financial pressure.

Looking at the Next Opportunity

Zefri's business is now in a position to take on more projects simultaneously.

The opportunity is there. The challenge is making sure the business has enough capacity to fulfill those commitments.

For him, financing is therefore not simply about borrowing money. It is a tool for managing the timing gap between doing the work, paying suppliers, and receiving customer payments.

His experience has also reinforced the importance of using financing responsibly.

His advice to other SME owners is simple: apply for an amount that matches the business's actual needs and repayment capacity, and maintain a good repayment track record.

For Zefri, that approach has helped him build an ongoing relationship with FundingBee rather than constantly searching for different financing providers.

After more than one financing experience with FundingBee, he remains focused on the same goal he had when he first started his business:

To keep growing, deliver what he promises, and be ready when the next opportunity comes.

‍

Could this be your story next? See how fast funding can move when you're ready — apply in minutes, fully online. Check your eligibility 

‍