How To Get Investors And Bankers To Part With Their Money For Your Business

Time and time again entrepreneurs are losing out on getting the capital they need because of making basic mistakes in their pitch. It's great to have a magic product and tons of enthusiasm, but it's not enough. Follow these five rules and see your success rate climb.

1. Look like someone who can make money.

At the start of the presentation walk in vigorously and shake hands. Look them in the eye. Look at all people on a panel. Dress formally - dark suit, white shirt/blouse, black clean good-quality shoes and smart accessories. For men a yellow/red tie with no patterns and women ? good quality jewellery ? not overdone. Forget the crap about being yourself. You may be a creative or software or artistic genius and work in your shorts and t-shirt. If you dress like this in the presentation you'll loose.

2. Show tons of energy and excitement.

It's not naive or stupid to show excitement ? you must. First of all investors are buying you and your belief that the venture will work. They're looking for passion ? that burning desire that will carry you through when times get tough. Do not memorise a set speech. Talk from the heart ? explain why you love what you're doing. Talk quickly and loudly (but not too quickly and loudly). Gesticulate and smile. Move about a bit. Take the time to set up your display, visual aids ? don't rush. If you're afraid of presenting get help.

3. Tell and show exactly what your product/service is.

Explain clearly what your product/service is or does in one sentence. More importantly, explain exactly in one sentence why people will buy it. What benefits does it give purchasers? Use samples ? give them something to see/touch. Do not use jargon, acronyms or technical terms. Keep slides and posters simple and limit to three. Give some numbers regarding market size and expected sales.

4. Listen, listen and listen and be polite

During question time show you are listening. Acknowledge good points/comments and show you can take criticism. You're asking people for money so be polite. Do not interrupt. Don't show them you think they're stupid. Avoid responses like "You are entitled to your view". Investors are looking to see if you can take advice.

5. Give confidence by explaining away problems.

Every new venture will have problems. Prepare by thinking of all the things that could go wrong or could hinder progress. Have answers/solutions. Pick the top three problems and raise these in your talk. Investors want to know you have your head screwed on and feet on the ground.

Dr Bill assists companies and small businesses hone their bid documents and presentations to dramatically increase the chances of success. bill@profitimprovers.com

---

How To Be the Ultimate American Consumer

Feel like a lemming lately? Ready to follow the crowd... Read More

Saving Money By Spending Wisely

Why is it that the older and richer people become,... Read More

How To Grow Your Mental Power and Let Your Brain Make You Rich

No one has complete control over their thoughts. But with... Read More

Turn That Fixed Rate Mortgage Into A Goldmine

When you purchased your home, you most likely got a... Read More

Wealth Secrets: Saving Your Way to a Fortune

SCENE 1: Pharaoh has just woken up from a very... Read More

3 Steps To Increasing Your Income

Most accountants, financial planners and wealth-building experts agree that there... Read More

The Predicament of the Newly Rich

They are the object of thinly disguised envy. They are... Read More

How to Save Money and Take the Vacation You Always Wanted

Many people don't realize how much money they spend on... Read More

Endowments and Endowment Shortfalls - What You Need To Know

Endowments and endowment mortgages have received a lot of bad... Read More

Investment Techniques For Creating Passive Income

There are many wealth creation strategies and investment techniques available... Read More

The 11 Best Money Saving Ideas of All Time - Part 3

At any time in history, no matter what the current... Read More

Building Wealth: A Wealth Building Strategy Is More Than Simply Diversifying Your Investments

Wealth - an abundance of values. Each of us determines... Read More

How To Get Investors And Bankers To Part With Their Money For Your Business

Time and time again entrepreneurs are losing out on getting... Read More

What Are Your Beliefs About Money and Wealth?

What is your attitude towards having wealth? Do you believe... Read More

Getting An Offshore Bank Account Via The Internet

There is no need to use the many middleman websites... Read More

The PDQ? Factor

It's the beginning of a brand new year: a time... Read More

Learn How to Bank Like a Banker

The business of banking has changed dramatically over the last... Read More

How to Make More Money

When I was a student in London, I had a... Read More

Financial Planning for Beginners

Financial planning at an early age may seem complicated, however... Read More

Understanding the Three Different Types of Income

Part of learning to become financially free is to begin... Read More

Build Wealth From Home

As you sit in traffic, inching along between irate drivers,... Read More

The Three Step Plan To Prosperity

You have $100 in your bank account, your rent is... Read More

Financial Planning For Singles

Financial planning often gets a bad rap. Part of the... Read More

Residual Income - 3 Ideas for Long Term Profits

A residual income is one that comes in no matter... Read More

Steps to Financial Freedom

Financial freedom is the power to do what you will... Read More

The 9 Critical Steps To Success In Demolishing Your Money Worries For Good!

Articles on 'How to make money' come a dime-a-dozen. How... Read More

Saving Money - 35 Pieces of Advice to Save

There are only 2 ways to grow your wealth -... Read More

Tax Strategy - Theres More to Building Wealth than Clipping Coupons

We talked recently about the wealth formula:Spend less than you... Read More

Residual Income - Part Three Finding Leaders

In my last article on Creating Residual Income I mentioned... Read More

Do You Want To Save Money Easily?

Living on credit is fashionable. Indulging oneself is fashionable. Saving... Read More

I Dont Need A Financial Coach To Help Me!

You've been thinking that your financial life could probably be... Read More

Top 7 Lucrative Paper Businesses You Can Run

Why not run a lucrative paper business? Paper businesses do... Read More

What is Your Creative Retirement Plan?

The idle are a peculiar kind of dead that cannot... Read More