The Rough Start Guide to Raising Money: How to Fund a Business from First Cash to Serious Investment: 18

The Rough Start Guide to Raising Money

How to Fund a Business from First Cash to Serious Investment

Every business requires financial resources, but knowing how much money is needed, where it can be obtained and what obligations accompany it can be among the most difficult decisions facing an entrepreneur or business owner.

The Rough Start Guide to Raising Money examines the process of securing business finance, from modest initial funding and commercial borrowing to business angels, venture capital, private equity and substantial investment transactions.

Written for aspiring entrepreneurs, existing business owners, company directors and students, this comprehensive guide explains business fundraising from first principles without assuming previous specialist financial knowledge.

The book begins by examining why businesses need money, how funding requirements are calculated and how different financial arrangements affect costs, cash flow, ownership and commercial risk. It then considers the preparation required before approaching funding providers, including financial forecasts, business plans, supporting evidence and the criteria used by lenders and investors.

The principal sources of business finance are examined in detail, including personal resources, family funding, bank loans, asset finance, invoice finance, supplier credit, grants, government programmes, crowdfunding, customer finance, business angels, venture capital and strategic corporate investment.

The later chapters explain how to identify suitable providers, make initial approaches, prepare and deliver funding pitches, respond to objections, assess investment offers, negotiate financial agreements and complete the due diligence and legal requirements associated with securing capital.

Across 25 chapters and six practical appendices, the book combines academic research, financial calculations, worked examples and practical explanations. Particular attention is given to the United Kingdom's business finance environment, alongside international investment principles and terminology.

Part of the Rough Start Guidebooks collection, this title complements the specialist guides to Term Sheets, Due Diligence and Building a Capitalization Table while remaining a complete, independent introduction to obtaining business finance.