In the last third of the year, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably in panic mode asking:

How am I going to reach my year end numbers in the next four months?!!

But we’ll address this issue in another post. Instead, this article is for those companies seeking to take advantage of an optimal time to raise money by the end of the year. Although the economy appears to be strong today, a nagging question persists: How long will it last?

And it is during this time of uncertainty that many small business owners start to think about whether to strike now and raise money while the conditions for doing so remain ideal.

Based on our conversations with private equity firms and investors, there appears to be a fair amount of money on the “sidelines” waiting to be invested in up-and-coming companies. However, their optimism can quickly change if these prime conditions do not continue or turn negative.

So if you’re nodding your head and believe this is the right time for your company to raise money, what is the best way to approach this?

Be Diligent: Research finance partners that you wish to recruit for your firm. You need to ask yourself, “What do you want this partner to bring besides cash?” Maybe expertise in manufacturing or connections in other parts of the country/world. Or maybe it’s simply a good listener who is patient and answers your questions. The most important thing to do is make sure that the partner you choose has a good team beneath them.
Be Realistic: I have never met an entrepreneur that didn’t think that his or her company has the same value as Uber or the hottest IPO out there at the time. The reality is that those kinds of companies are considered “unicorns” (a rare and beautiful thing). You don’t want to leave money on the table, but you also don’t want to walk away from a great potential partnership because your valuation is unrealistically high.
Be Prepared: When you get finance executives in the room listening to your pitch, make sure you have all aspects and details of the presentation nailed down perfectly. As you review your financial slides, your information must be through, realistic, evidence-based, well-researched and supported by facts. It is also critical to demonstrate or show the potential investors how they will make money because if they can’t see a path to profitability, in the words of Mr. Wonderful, you’ll be “dead to them”.

Take-away: This is the time of year where small business owners start thinking about 2020 and if the time is right to sell all, or part of, their business. Since the environment is right to raise money, make sure you have the winning approach to achieve your financial goals. Contact us with questions about your financial slides.

Brian Califano