Get All Access for $5/mo

Do This Before You Look for an Investor (60-Second Video) Feel like the time is right for outside investment? Consider these three things.

By Dan Bova

You've been bootstrapping, doing it all on your own...a little outside investment would be nice, but is it the right time? Here are three things to consider before looking for outside investors.

  1. Have you made the most of your resources? Is there no more you can possibly do on your own? The more value your company has before you meet potential investors will help give you leverage when negotiating with them.

  2. If all you have is a really good idea and some talent, you might want to slow your roll. An investor stepping into that situation may want a controlling share of the ownership in return for capital.

  3. Make sure the investor understands your business, your goals -- and your timeline. An investor who doesn't understand your business plan could get nervous and pull the plug at the exact wrong time.

Good luck!

Watch the next 3 Things to Know video

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

More from Entrepreneur Exclusives

3 Simple Ways to Boost E-Commerce Sales

Why Your First 1,000 Customers Are Your Most Important

How to Grow Your Business By Finding New Customers

3 Stress-Busting Relaxation Exercises You Can Do Anywhere (60-Second Video)

Business News

Elon Musk's Proposed $56 Billion Pay Package Is 'Obviously Not About the Money,' Writes Tesla Chair

Tesla's chairperson of the board of directors sent a letter to Tesla shareholders, warning them that the company could lose Elon's attention if they don't approve his pay package.

Leadership

I Led 26,000 Employees Across The World — I See This Leadership Skill Being Overlooked The Most By My Industry Peers.

By bonding with their team individually and at scale, leaders can create a culture where people take risks and overcome the toughest challenges

Marketing

5 Small Business Marketing Tactics to See Results This Quarter

Five quick and effective small business marketing strategies that can yield both short-term results and long-term success.

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Innovation

How to Break Out of AI-Fueled Analysis Paralysis

Instead of getting overwhelmed by an abundance of data, leaders should focus on clear use cases and quick wins.