Author: mikelebus

You have a powerful idea for the next big thing, but before you sell it to anyone, you have to get it all down on paper. It’s time to make a business plan. How do you know if you’re headed in the right direction? Washington State University created an infographic that provides 10 guidelines to help prospective entrepreneurs organize their thoughts and wow potential investors.

What’s your Number 1 business plan tip?

If you’re an experienced angel investor looking for new opportunities, you may find what you’re looking for by investing with a group instead of individually or with a few friends. According to an article published on Phys.org, the benefits of working as a group include better deal flow, diversified portfolios, due diligence and evaluation, along with social interaction with other investors. If you’re just getting started with angel investing, participating in a group gives you the ability to learn from more experienced investors, helping you limit the risk of going in blind or unprepared.

The Basics of Group Angel Investing  

An angel investor is an individual who provides capital to start-up businesses in exchange for ownership equity or convertible debt. In an angel group, you’re still able to provide capital to start-up businesses, but you do so with other investors as part of a larger group. This provides you with access to better research, evaluation, and due diligence, enabling you to make more informed decisions about where to invest your money without relying solely on online reputation and individual research.

Investing as part of an angel group promotes individual investors to pool their money together, allowing for larger investments over a longer period of time. For businesses, this means access to deeper pockets without the need to include venture capitalists for initial or follow-on funding. Businesses also benefit from a more streamlined and professional funding process, as angel groups have a “gatekeeper” or group administrator who handles the administrative process. Having a group administrator is another benefit for inexperienced angel investors, as well.

Looking for Positive Returns

In an article published on Forbes, research conducted by the Kauffman Foundation found that the average return for angel investors is 2.5 times the initial investment. Unfortunately, the odds of a positive return at all is less than 50 percent. While this type of investment risk is on par with that of venture capitalists, there are better ways to increase your odds.

A diversified portfolio is a great start, a benefit that angel groups can provide. In addition, joining an angel group can give you access to higher quality deals that aren’t available as an individual investor. With over 330 active angel groups in the United States and Canada, finding one to join may not be as hard as you think.

Joining an Angel Group 

With better research, evaluation and due diligence, access to higher-quality investment opportunities, a group administrator to take care of funding and administrative work, you’re probably looking for the sign-up sheet. Keep in mind there are usually requirements for joining angel groups, and yearly investment requirements aren’t uncommon.

Investing as an individual usually allows you to choose the amount of time you want to commit to your investment business. This may not be the case when participating in an angel group. In addition to attending a mandatory screening process, many groups have events you must attend throughout the year.

Before you investment money in a new start-up business, take a look at angel groups in your area that may have access to better opportunities. With more diversified portfolios, group administrators, and the expertise of other investors, you may end up with a better return on your investment.

This article was written by Brian Flax, a freelance writer based out of the Washington, D.C., area. He holds a master’s degree in education technology and a bachelor’s degree in entertainment business. Brian is experienced in a variety of topics, including technology, finance, business management, and what to look for when you’re looking for an article writer.

Here’s some help on how to crack Twitter.

The Journal and Dow Jones VentureSource are tracking companies that are valued at $1 billion or more by venture-capital firms. The club is becoming less exclusive as venture capitalists funnel large sums of capital in the best startups. Today there are more than 30 such companies in the U.S., Europe and China.

If you are an entrepreneur seeking funding for a new business, there are a number of funding sources available for consideration. However, not all funding options may be suitable for you. When determining which type of funding is most appropriate, it is important to determine how much control you are willing to give up and what sort of payment schedules are realistic for your new venture. Although many entrepreneurs are hesitant to give up partial control of their new business, angel investors are a smart way to raise capital quickly.

Angels versus Banks

Angel investors can offer on-going support, management expertise, and badly needed capital. However, it is important to acknowledge that these investors will inevitably want to control aspects of the company in exchange for their money. It’s not necessarily a bad thing as these people are typically highly skilled in business with valuable advice to offer. As investors will be seeking a portion of the profits, they will need to protect their investment as well as yours. But as Forbes magazine suggests, this is one of the most difficult decisions an entrepreneur must make.

Business loans are appropriate for those who do not want to give up any control of their business. However, you will need to begin paying back your loan much sooner than if you were partnered with an angel investor. Furthermore, there is much more flexibility with an angel investor to reach favorable terms where as it may be a much larger challenge to convince a bank to offer a better rate. The key benefit of angel investors is that they understand the importance of keeping money in a business during the start-up months and they will not typically seek any remittance until the business is profitable. To learn more about current loan rates, check this blog post explaining why  ‘good’ payday loans still very expensive.

Sometimes you may find yourself in a position of difficulty where you may need extra cash. Whether that’s for an overdue bill, car expenses, personal reasons, or an extra sum to pay for some much-needed home improvements. Good credit, or bad.

Control versus Expertise

Angel investors commonly fund high growth companies in exchange for an equity position. As there can be great risk involved, most investors are not satisfied with moderate success. In many cases, they want at least a twenty percent annual return. As an entrepreneur, it is important that you approach angel investors with a realistic mindset. It may be easier to get money out of a bank rather than an angel as most entrepreneurial businesses will not generate the level of returns desired by the investors without giving up significant equity. However, it is also important to understand that angel investors are also experts in their fields with extensive managerial experience which can provide tremendous value to entrepreneurs.

The mental value of investors found in their networks, experience, and expertise is equally as important as their financial investment. Angels will want to be involved in the business but that can work to your advantage as they are agents of the business that can bring in expertise, sales, and contacts. If you have the privilege of choosing among a variety of angels, it is most practical to select one with proven experience in the industry of your business.

Everyone Needs a Realistic Return on Investment

Angels are most often drawn to companies that can benefit from increased government spending. New companies in infrastructure, health care, energy, or technology often do well. By doing your homework and research in advance, entrepreneurs can determine if their business is suitable for angel investors. If an entrepreneur approaches an angel investor with an outrageous company valuation or unrealistic equity proposal, it will be a waste of time for all stakeholders. However, that doesn’t mean that an entrepreneur should give their business away just to attract an angel investor. It is equally important for the entrepreneur to get a full return on their investment as well. It is wise to value your company at a realistic level to prevent a prospective investor from jumping to the conclusion that they need to justify their investment with means beyond the equity stake. But investors don’t just evaluate the financial aspects or number crunching either. As Entrepreneur magazine reports, angels like to invest in people rather than products.

Benefits of Equity Financing

Funding your business through an equity financing model with an angel investor enables entrepreneurs to cut the bank out of the picture. Rather than spending badly needed cash on loan repayments, entrepreneurs can use the money to continue growing the business. While angel investors may be hard to get, one key benefit is that if the business fails, you are not required to return their original investment which minimises risk to the entrepreneur and eliminates any burden of debt. With banks, you are always required to pay back any loans regardless if the business succeeds or fails. Equity investment is a long-term partnership that involves the investment of not only cash but experience into a new business. It is always important to remember that in the challenging early days of your business, angel investors can offer valuable business advice and assistance that you may not be able to obtain from banks, friends, or family.

Striking the Right Deal with the Right Partner

In certain cases, entrepreneurs may not be partnered with a single angel investor but rather an angel group that involves multiple investors. Angel investments are highly suitable for businesses that are already established beyond the risky start-up period but may need additional capital to expand. Always choose an investor that you believe can provide the right mentorship. When their money is on the line, they are equally motivated to ensure that the business succeeds. Angel groups are often easier to find while individual investors are most commonly found through networking. Angel investors like to see entrepreneurs who also invest some of their own capital in their business. The angel financing industry is huge around the world. In the United Kingdom alone, it is estimated that approximately 18,000 angels invest nearly £850 million annually, according to the UK Business Angels Association. However, in the event that you fail to strike an equity deal with an angel investor, that doesn’t mean that you can’t strike any deal with them. In some cases, investors may not be willing to accept an equity proposition but they may be willing to offer a private business loan independent of any banks. These are beneficial as the terms can be much more flexible. As UK website Money reports, peer to peer business loans can often result in lower borrowing rates for entrepreneurs than those offered by banks and better access to credit is available than through traditional channels.

Whether you work with a group of angel investors or a single investor, finding the right partner is critical to the success of your business. It is important to identify one with a vision that synergises with your own. Conflicting interests can be a disaster not only to your relationship but to the business as well. Never jump at the first offer of cash as the deal must always be mutually beneficial.

This article was written by Evelyn Millachip.

This infographic will help you understand the difference between vanity metrics and those that actually matter.

As a marketer, which trends are you anticipating in 2014?

Prominent VCs and angel investors may dominate the headlines with their big sticker investments, but personal loans and credit – along with investments from friends and family – make up the lion’s share of funding for startups in the U.S.

According to recent data only 0.91 percent of startups are funded by angel investors, while a measly 0.05 percent are funded by VCs. In contrast, 57 percent of startups are funded by personal loans and credit, while 38 percent receive funding from family and friends.

Want a more detailed breakdown of startup funding? Check out the infographic below.

The SEC has lifted the ban on General Solicitation and permits startups, private companies, venture capitalists, and hedge funds to openly advertise that they’re raising money in private offerings.

We hope this list will come in handy on your startup journey and help you to avoid some of the pitfalls that brought down other startups.

Have you been part of a failed startup.  If so, what were the main reasons that it didn’t make it?