Finance & Investors are the life blood of business. You can have a great product or service, but unless you have the money to actually produce and distribute it you will not be in business for long. Therefore, you must be ready to pitch your tent with a number of investors who will be willing to pour their money into your business startup. So how do you find the right people to invest in your business? Here are some tips that you should consider:
Consult with local business associations. There are probably a number of small business associations in your community. Many of these organizations may offer funding & investors programs to help entrepreneurs create their business dreams. Some of these associations will even have attorneys that are willing to discuss the legal aspects of getting capital. If you find a business association in your area, check out their website to learn more about their financing options and their mission. You can then approach members with questions or inquiries.
Search online. There are a number of professional investors out there who are more than willing to invest in your business startup. You can contact them on their websites and discuss what you have to offer. Most investors are very interested in helping businesses get bank loans, so you will likely find a few that are willing to finance your new venture.
Develop a solid business plan. Before contacting potential investors, create a business plan that outlines the details of your business and why it is unique. Include an executive summary that gives a detailed overview of the product or service that you are offering, the market you are looking to tap, and your financial forecasts. If you have already written up a business plan, then all you need to do is send it along to potential investors.
Have a strong business plan. Your investor list will contain some very interested investors. When pitching your business to potential lenders, you need to show them that you are a good risk. Investors don’t like to loan money to anyone that has a history of bankruptcy, or an unstable business. Therefore, it is important to have a well thought-out plan that will show investors that your business has the ability to profit and repay the loan if it goes through. The last thing any investor wants to do is hand over money to someone that has no chance of paying it back!
Meet with various investors. You should contact several different investors before you approach any one in particular. Each individual investor may want slightly different things when it comes to loaning money to a new business. For example, some may be interested in providing seed funding, while others may want to fund an initial public offering (or IPO). By meeting with various investors before you secure a loan, you will be able to gauge their interest in funding your business.