A Quick Guide to Understanding What Investors Need To See Before Saying “Yes”
According to a Harvard Business Review survey, on average of 101 opportunities received, only ONE DEAL will eventually close. Of 101 opportunities, 28 of these will lead to a meeting with management. 72% lost the chance in the screening process!
It is not new to hear that raising capital is no joke at all. You will spend not just your effort and time (which by the way, a typical deal takes 83 days to close), but also the ca$$$h you bleed during the process – including your time, hard cash paid for support, and loss of sales because after all, your attention is on fundraising. Sounds troublesome but it’s just a part of the journey!
As you’ve likely heard before, prevention is better than a cure. So what can you do to combat these odds? You can take your time and thoroughly prepare beforehand to impress investors and make your business attractive in terms of profitability and growth potential!
In this article, I will show you my secret to getting an investor’s attention so that you can properly prepare and set expectations on what investors look for before saying “yes” to investing in your business. Here it goes:
Financial Hygiene + Strategic Roadmap + Financial Plan = INVESTORS’ ATTENTION
FINANCIAL HYGIENE
As the wise say, learn from the mistakes of others because you will never live long enough to make them all yourself. Now, let’s flip it to the business side: learn the financial hygiene of successful business owners, or else your business will not live long enough to reach its financial stride.
“Marguerite! When you say “financial hygiene” what parts of my hygiene should I be focusing on to grab the attention of the investors?”
Good question! In order for your business to be attractive to investors, you need to have the following:
✔️ Clean Historical Financial Records
Investors want to see a track record of financial responsibility. Ensure your financial records are clean, accurate, and up-to-date. This includes balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. Any discrepancies or irregularities could raise red flags.
✔️ Tracked Financial Performance
Demonstrate that you are actively monitoring your financial performance. Investors appreciate businesses that can spot trends, adapt to changes, have good traction, and make informed financial decisions. Regular financial reporting and analysis show that you’re in control of your finances.
✔️ Easy Access to your Data Room
Investors value transparency. Create a data room or a secure online repository where investors can easily access all your relevant financial documents and records. This not only saves time but also shows that you’re open and ready for scrutiny.
Make sure your financial documents are well-organized, easy to navigate, and properly labeled. This simple step can leave a lasting impression of professionalism and attention to detail. If you want investors to have a good impression of you, be organized – not just on the financial data but also on your systems and processes which are a good sign that you have good financial hygiene.
BUT if your business is still far away from being ‘financially hygienic’, join us as we will have our once-a-year Biz Money bootcamp for small business owners, like you, to boost your profitability, uncover ways to generate more revenue, and get your business finances organized in JUST 5 DAYS! Yes! You only need 5 days to get your financial hygiene in check! Click here to learn more.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
So, imagine a helpful roadmap that also leads you to the money! It’s like a roadmap with a purpose, guiding you toward the areas where the cash will be flowing. Investors want to know where your business is headed. A strategic roadmap outlines your business’s vision, goals, and how you plan to achieve them. It’s your blueprint for success.
It takes into account important stuff like:
- What will be the things/projects you will do to generate money?
- What will be your initiatives/projects to improve your operational efficiencies?
All those important business aspects plus many more while keeping an eye on the costs, timing, and what’s most important for your business to grow. This roadmap is like a bridge, connecting where you are now to those big-picture goals and values your company holds dear. With a compelling strategic roadmap and growth to covers the various aspect of your business, there investors are better positioned to understand, love, and be attracted to your business.
Did you know that in the Finance Savvy CEO™ community, we have a face-to-face Financial Wellness Retreat 2x a year where we do the strategic and financial planning for our business with hands-on support from business financial experts and other like-minded small business owners? It is only available for a limited number of people and if you are one of those “focused and seriously geared towards success” business owners, we’d be happy to keep you updated on our January Strategic Planning Retreat!
FINANCIAL PLAN
You see, investors aren’t just looking for a flashy pitch or a charming smile. I mean those are both nice too, but they want cold, hard numbers and a clear plan for success. That’s where your financial plan steps in which consists of:
- Revenue Plan
- Spending Plan
- Profit Plan
- Cash Map
- KPI Dashboard
Investors are attracted to profitability and a comprehensive financial plan – how you plan to crunch and maximize that revenue goal, how you will optimize your expenses, and how you will manage the cash and a financial plan does just that! It showcases your financial numbers, demonstrating every penny you will earn and spend, and lets you plan for multiple scenarios that may (or may not) happen to your business.
Your financial plan is like a secret weapon that will show the investors that you are really talking about “money business”, not monkey business. So, if you want investors to line up and throw money at your brilliant venture, get that financial plan polished and show ’em the money!
While a one-year financial plan is the minimum, investors prefer to see a longer-term commitment. Aim for a 3-5-year financial plan roadmap to provide a more comprehensive view of your business’s growth potential. This demonstrates that you’re thinking ahead and have a clear strategy for scaling your operations.
But if you are a small business owner with an idea, and passion for your craft but have no idea how to build a business financial plan that is attention-grabber of investors, join the waitlist for our high touch Your Profit Playbook™ business financial planning program with live weekly coaching to help you accelerate getting your financial plan to the finish line! Learn more here!
CONCLUSION
Understanding what investors look for before investing is the first step toward securing the capital you need to grow your business. Start by ensuring your financial hygiene is impeccable – clean records, active financial tracking, easy to access data, and organizational excellence. Then, craft a strategic roadmap that outlines your vision, and don’t forget to extend your financial plan to cover at least 3 years.
Remember, attracting investors isn’t just about numbers; it’s about instilling confidence in your business’s potential. So, take the time to prepare and present your business in the best possible light. With the right approach and a well-prepared pitch, you’ll be well on your way to securing the investment you need to take your business to the next level. Good luck!
BONUS: Grab your investor checklist now!
