How to raise capital

A definitive guide to capital raising strategies for all types of business

1. RAISING CAPITAL FOR STARTUPS

2. FUND IT YOURSELF

3. BUSINESS LOAN

4. CROWDFUNDING

5. ANGEL INVESTMENT

6. PERSONAL CONTACTS

7. VENTURE CAPITALIST

8. VENTURE CAPITALIST
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a startup, or an established business owner, knowing how to
raise capital can often mean the difference between success and failure.

At the end of 2018, there were over 1.4 million outstanding small business loans held by
community banks, worth over $94 billion. But while community banks are a critical source of
capital for small businesses, they have been declining. Luckily, there are more ways to fund
your business.

In this article, we’ll explore several capital raising strategies and provide advice on preparing
for a capital raise.

Transform your capital raising with Ansarada Deals™—start for free today!

How to raise capital: debt or equity?

There are two main methods of raising capital: debt financing and equity financing.

Equity financing
Equity financing is when a company raises capital by selling shares of company stock. These
can be either common shares or preferred shares. The main downside of equity financing is
that the company is effectively selling off little pieces of business ownership.

Learn more: Equity financing

Debt financing
Debt financing - also known as debt raising - is when a company borrows money and agrees to
pay it back later. This is often by way of a loan, but not always.

The other option is to sell corporate “bonds” to investors, which mature after a certain date.
Before they’ve matured, the company must pay interest payments on the bond to the
investors.

Learn more: Debt financing

Get the capital raise checklist

A digitized checklist of all the critical data a company needs to prepare
for a raise

Download the checklist

How to raise capital for a startup: 7 capital raising

strategies
1. Fund it yourself
It might not sound ideal, but dipping into your personal savings is probably the easiest way to
raise capital for a startup. Of course, funding the business yourself carries some risk. However,
the fact that you have enough confidence in your business to invest in it can make investors or
lenders more likely to commit funding to it too.

2. Business loan
Small business loans are still a major stepping stone on the road to success for many
entrepreneurs launching a new business. However, loan approval is not guaranteed. You will
need to meet specific requirements, like having an excellent credit score and being in business
for a certain period of time.

3. Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the most recent capital raising strategy to make it onto the scene. Thanks to
the internet, startups like Elevation Lab (makers of the iPhone dock) and Oculus (later acquired
by Facebook) have become household Try nowKickstarter,
names. for free GoFundMe and Indiegogo are 3 of
the best-known crowdfunding sites.

4. Angel investment
Angel investors are wealthy, accredited individuals that usually fund businesses alone but
sometimes join other angel investors to do so. Ever seen the show, Shark Tank? This is what
presenting to an angel investor can be like - so make sure you have a solid business plan and
pitch ready, with all the key financial information at your fingertips.
5. Personal contacts
You might not feel comfortable asking friends and family members for money but according to
Fundable, 38% of startup founders report raising money through their loved ones. Not only
that, but friends and family reportedly invest the most - more than $60 billion per year.
However, mixing family and business may add more stress to the capital raising process than
necessary.

6. Venture capitalist
Venture capitalists tend to invest in more mature companies than angel investors, and operate
out of a firm, rather than working alone. Compared with angel investors, venture capital firms
invest in a lower ratio of businesses that apply for funding - but when they do, they generally
invest more money.

7. Private equity
Similar to venture capitalist fundraising, private equity fundraising is when private equity firms
buy shares in companies on behalf of institutional and accredited investors. The main
difference is that, while private equity is capital invested in a private company, venture capital
is funding given to startups or other young businesses that show potential for long-term
growth.

Looking to raise capital for your startup without giving up

equity?
Here are 8 effective strategies:

Bootstrapping:

Start with your own funds and reinvest profits to grow your business.

Crowdfunding:

Use platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo to gather financial support from a large pool of
individuals.
Grants and Competitions:

Explore grants and startup competitions that offer non-dilutive funding opportunities.

Business Loans:

Consider traditional loans from banks or alternative lenders to finance your venture.

Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Sponsorships:

Forge partnerships with established companies or seek sponsorships to secure financial

backing.

Revenue-Based Financing:

Raise funds by sharing a portion of your future revenue with investors.

Vendor Financing:

Negotiate with suppliers or service providers for extended payment terms or financing options.

Invoice Factoring:

Convert outstanding customer invoices into immediate cash by selling them to a factoring
company.

Raising capital for an acquisition

Raising capital for an acquisition involves a combination of debt and equity financing. If your
company lacks sufficient funds for the acquisition, there are various options available. Third-
party debt, such as bank loans, SBA loans, or private debt, can provide the necessary capital.
Additionally, you can consider using owners' equity or exploring a line of credit to fund the
acquisition. By exploring these avenues, you can secure the capital needed to facilitate a
successful acquisition.

Raising capital for business: be prepared

Now you know how to raise capital, but do you know how to prepare for a raise? When getting
ready for a capital raise, the first thing you need to do is get your material information in order.

Executive summary, company structure, business and marketing strategies, profit and loss
statement, balance sheets, tax returns, bank statements and legal documents - they all need to
be lined up in order to secure that all-important funding. Investors will do their due diligence
and our capital raise checklist can help you prepare. A digitized template, it contains all the
critical data points that ensure a company is healthy and prepared for investment.

Ansarada Deals™ brings together a purpose-built set of solutions into one fully integrated
platform that delivers value across the complete deal lifecycle. Centralize all your capital raising
activity with Deal Workflow™, project management tools, advanced data rooms, and AI deal
insights.

Now you can control every aspect of your raise from start to finish.

Planning a raise?
Discover how much easier it can be with Ansarada Deals - try for free today.

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FAQ

What are 4 ways to raise capital?

Four common ways to raise capital for a company are through personal contacts, private
equity or vc firms, crowdfunding, or a business loan.
What is the cheapest source of capital?
The least expensive way to increase the equity capital in a company is through retained
earnings, i.e. profits that are not paid to owners but rather reinvested in the company.

How do small businesses raise capital?

The most common ways a small business can raise capital are debt financing and equity
financing.

How do hedge funds raise capital?

Hedge funds raise capital through various methods, targeting investors who are willing to
allocate their funds to alternative investments with the potential for higher returns. Here are
some common ways hedge funds raise capital:
• Institutional Investors
• High Net Worth Individuals
• Fund-of-Funds
• Seed Capital and Strategic Investors
• Private Placements
• Managed Accounts
• Prime Brokers and Investment Banks

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