Raising Capital For Dummies (ePub)

While raising capital has never been easy, it has become a lot more
difficult over the past few years. The dot-com debacle has made
investors skittish, especially when it comes to financing
early-stage start-ups. As a result, more and more entrepreneurs are
being forced to compete harder and harder for a spot around the
money well. At the end of the day, all most have to show for their
efforts are tattered Rolodexes and battered egos. What they need is
the competitive edge that comes with having a friend in the
business-an advisor who'll cut through the mumbo-jumbo
and tell them in plain English how to get the money they need. What
they need is Raising Capital For Dummies.

Whether you're just starting your business and need a
little seed capital to launch your first product, or you're
looking for a little help expanding an established business into a
new market, this friendly guide helps you get the financing you
need to realize your dreams. You'll discover how to:

* Tap personal sources of financing, as well as family and
friends

* Approach customers and vendors for financing

* Hook up with commercial lenders

* Find angel investors

* Get an SBA loan

* Raise cash through private equity offerings

* Woo and win investment bankers and venture capitalists

Venture capital guru, Joseph Bartlett explains in plain English
the capital-raising strategies and techniques used by some of
today's most successful businesses, including tried-and-true
methods for:

* Assessing your financial needs and creating a solid financial
plan

* Researching sources of financing and making first contact

* Finding, contacting, and convincing angels

* Getting your customers to finance your company

* Understanding and exploiting matching services

* Exploring commercial banks, savings institutions, credit
unions, finance companies, and the SBA

* Qualifying for a loan

* Working with placement agents

* Raising cash through IPOs and mergers

From raising seed capital and funds for expansion to IPOs and
acquisitions, Raising Capital For Dummies shows you how to
get the money you need to survive and thrive in today's
winner-take-all marketplace.