Capital is the Fuel for Growth

They say it takes money to make money, and that’s certainly true of a growing business. Starting and growing a successful business calls for access to capital. And there are hundreds of ways to fund your company. Which is right for you?
Let me show you how to find and raise capital from angel investors, venture capitalists (VC), friends and family, and lots of other hidden sources of cash.

Post image for Don’t Be Shark Bait: Tell an Investor What Your Company is Worth Now… and Later!

The ABC reality TV show “Shark Tank” is incredible.  Each week, contestants are offered millions of dollars for a piece of their company.  They have about 30 seconds to say yes or no.  It looks simple, doesn’t it? Behind the scenes, it is anything but simple — and the business owners are the most likely [...]

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Cash When You Need it Most: How to Use Your Customers Credit to Borrow Money Now

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Employees won’t wait for payroll and landlords don’t want to hear about your cash flow when rent is due. Sure, cash is a problem.  But if you have Accounts Receivable, you already have the keys to unlocking more cash. Here’s how you can get the cash when you need it the most: The Root Cause [...]

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Loan Applications: 4 Things to Never Tell your Banker (by guest blogger Rob Severson)

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In my 40-year career I have met with 100’s of business people seeking loans.  It is the fun part of what I do. But I’ve also seen some common mistakes that entrepreneurs make, particularly when talking to a banker. Sometimes I think bankers speak a different language than entrepreneurs.  Be very careful that what you say is [...]

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Crowdfunding Update: What you Need to Know Today to Raise Equity from the Crowd

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If you’re looking to raise money for your business or startup, you should start getting ready now to offer stock to the general public under the new law called Jumpstart our Business Startups, or JOBS Act. Title III of the JOBS Act allows private businesses — even startups — to raise money from the general public for the [...]

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Saved by a PEG: How Private Equity Groups are Riding to Your Rescue

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If these seem like dark days for funding or selling your business, you need a white knight to save the day.  Today, that’s likely to be a Private Equity Group.  There are hundreds of Private Equity Groups in the USA that together control billions of dollars of business capital.  Much of it can be invested with [...]

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Retirement is Dead: Retire in Entrepreneurial Style by Building Wealth Instead of Savings

Thumbnail image for Retirement is Dead: Retire in Entrepreneurial Style by Building Wealth Instead of Savings

I’ve accepted it: Retirement is dead. Anyone still working today might never be able to retire. So why are we all putting money into retirement savings accounts?  Between IRAs, ROTHs, 401(k)s, SIMPLEs, SEPs and SOLOs, there’s no shortage of ways to save for a day that may never arrive.  And yet Morningstar reports that the [...]

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When You Swim With Sharks, Take Your Calculator

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You ought to have your calculator handy when you watch ABC’s Shark Tank, the TV show where wealthy angel investors make on-the-spot investments into small businesses. Last night a middle-aged company owner was offered 3 deals in rapid succession.  For me, this was a simple math problem: Which offer gave the owner the best valuation? [...]

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Bridge Loans: How Angels Can Get You Cash When VC Can’t

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Whether your business is growing rapidly or just getting started, you need cash.  But negotiating equity investments can take a long time – time you don’t have. You need cash NOW… meanwhile, venture capitalists (VC) and other investors will spend months negotiating deal terms. And just when you think the terms are finally set, there’s [...]

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Negotiating with Angels: When to Rescue a Funding Deal – and When to Walk Away

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You’ve been carefully nurturing an equity investor and now he’s threatening to walk away from the deal. Despite an endless number of presentations, term sheets, meetings with partners and expensive legal documents, it looks like the negotiation is going to unravel.  And that could unravel your business too. What’s an entrepreneur to do? You might [...]

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Top 5 Pet Peeves of Venture Capitalists

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Venture Capitalists can be a tough group to please. Because they hear hundreds of pitches every year, VC learn to sort the best from the B.S. I had a chance to discuss this topic with Mr. Ed Goodman, General Partner and Co-Founder of Milestone Venture Partners in New York City.  During his VC career, Ed [...]

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3.5 Places Where Angel Investors Hide

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You’ve probably heard stories of Angel Investors swooping in to help fund a company.  In today’s tight financial environment, it almost sounds like an urban myth.  But wealthy individuals who invest in private companies do exist.  And they are more plentiful than you might imagine.  You might already know several. Now, I wouldn’t count on [...]

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2 Websites Every Business Planner Must Know

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Whether you’re a launching a new product or a new startup, business planning and funding takes a huge amount of time.  Now you can cut weeks – or maybe even months – off of the business planning and fundraising process of your new business idea.  Before you do anything else, get to know these 2 [...]

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How to Clip the Wings of an Angel Investor

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I almost don’t want to say it… “Do what you love, and the money will follow.”  You’ve heard it a thousand times, but it has a whole new meaning if you are looking to raise money from angel investors. Angel investors — high net-worth individuals who make personal bets on small companies — like to [...]

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Don’t Let Investors Boss You Around

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You love being your own boss, but will investors in your company let you keep that job? Taking venture capital – or even just a few thousand dollars from angels – often comes with strings attached.  Be ready for investors to ask for a seat on your board of directors – even if you don’t [...]

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Don’t Even Think About Raising Capital… Without These 5 Answers

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If you are looking for a loan or an investor, are you prepared to present a rock solid idea to them?  Whether you are a start up or a giant company, investors ask tough questions. Fortunately, most questions fall into just a few categories. In fact, if you can confidently answer these 5 investor questions, you’re [...]

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