8 Tips on How Much Money to Ask for from Investors - Gust (2024)

FAQs

How much money should I ask for from an investor? ›

If your company is early stage and has a valuation under $1M, don't ask for a $5M investment. The investor would be buying your company five times over, and he doesn't want it. If your valuation is around $1M, you can validly ask for $200K–$300K, and offer 20–30% of your company in exchange. Type of investor.

The amount of money you should be asking for when seeking investment for your startup depends on a number of factors. Some of these factors include the stage of your startup, the amount of money you need to get to the next stage, the amount of equity you are willing to give up, and the valuation of your startup.

Your pitch should be clear, concise, and persuasive. It should also be tailored to each individual investor. Investors are going to want to know your numbers, so it's important that you're prepared to share this information. This includes your sales projections, financial statements, and any other relevant data.

Be honest. Investors can sniff out BS from a mile away, so it's important to be honest in your answers. If you don't know the answer to a question, just say so. It's better to be honest than try to BS your way through it.

For angel investors, the typical standard is to provide between 20-25% of your company's profits. This is the return that investors will expect if you sell the company when it is still young. Investors must have enough power to prevent you from later deciding not to sell the business.

The silent partner provides their contribution. In return, they secure equity or partial ownership of your business (reflected in a percentage, e.g. 20% of your business). The silent partner steps back and lets you run the business. Once your business turns a profit, the silent partner receives 20% of the net profit.

For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must equal at least 1% of the purchase price. If you want to buy an investment property, the 1% rule can be a helpful tool for finding the right property to achieve your investment goals.

On average, startups are reserving a 13% to 20% equity pool for employees. This is important for startups to consider before they pursue series funding or other investments, in which they may be offering percentages of equity to investors.

Angels hand out smaller checks than VCs. While there are no strict rules, think funding in the range of $50,000 to $500,000. However, your request will depend on the stage of your company and the deal terms you offer.

How do I ask an angel investor for money? ›

Be transparent: Be open and honest about your financial situation and your need for money. Explain why you need the money and how it will be used. When discussing repayment terms, be specific about the amount of money you need, when you need it, and how you plan to repay it.

The greater the stake in a company, the better. All in all, holy messenger investors hope to get their cash back within 5 to 7 years with an annualized inner rate of return ("IRR") of 20% to 40% of stake in a company. Investment reserves take a stab at the higher finish of this range or more.

If you live paycheck to paycheck, 15% might seem like a crazy amount to invest. Don't panic: It's OK to start small, even just 1%. The important thing is to get started so your money will grow over time. Plan how you'd like to invest your money.

The average stock market return is about 10% per year, as measured by the S&P 500 index, but that 10% average rate is reduced by inflation. Investors can expect to lose purchasing power of 2% to 3% every year due to inflation. » Learn more about purchasing power with NerdWallet's inflation calculator.