The Internet Home Business Magazine for Moms & Dads

Should You Find an Investor for Your Business?

 

Ever have an entrepreneurial seizure? The kind in which you aren’t really sure which way to go - up, down, sideways… or even back to the comfort of a J.O.B?

Last June I hit a bit of a wall with this blog - I couldn’t grow anymore without something changing around here… and I was getting burnt out fast.  In the ensuing seizure, every possible outcome was on the table, including scrapping this site and starting something new. (Don’t worry, it came off the table almost as quickly as I was even willing to consider it).

But one of the things I had never considered before was finding an investor to grow this site… and suddenly, I realized that it was something I needed to put onto the table if I really took this business seriously.

I still may be a ways off before I take this step, but I’ve done a lot more research on it since June. When I met Nataly Kogan, founder of WorkItMom earlier this summer, I was so excited to find another mom in the social media space with a background in Venture Capital.

I asked Nataly to write up an article talking more about her experience with raising money for businesses. I knew that if I had a ton of questions about it, so would you. What she wrote  was a fantastic, down to earth article that covers everything you need to know to start considering all the different ways to get the funds you need to start and grow your business:

“If you’re thinking about starting your own business or are already in the process of doing it, the question of whether you should raise some money for your venture will inevitably come up. It’s a good question and one you should be asking. I’ve spent a better part of my career being a venture capitalist and investing in small companies. Then I went and launched my own company called Work It, Mom!, which is a community for working moms. I’ve learned a lot about raising money from my experiences and I wanted to share some of it with you.”

Nataly’s 5 tips for raising money for your small business:

  1. You don’t need to raise money to start a business and many businesses won’t require you to get outside funding at all.
  2. Focus on generating revenues.
  3. Raise as little money as possible at the beginning.
  4. Carefully consider different sources of capital.
  5. Get a thick skin.

I highly recommend reading the entire article - put it on your must-read list, because if you are ever going to grow, you need this info!

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  • Discussion

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    Comments

    1.
    On September 17th, 2007 at 1:00 pm, George said:

    Very interesting timing for you to post this. A fairly big name Internet marketer approached me last week about buying my blog. Not sure what I am going to do yet.

    I will head over and check out this article.

    2.
    On September 17th, 2007 at 1:28 pm, Wendy Piersall said:

    Wow, George - that’s really interesting and I’m sure a difficult decision. I’m not sure what I would do approached with the same question.

    With this new BlogRush widget coming out with John Reese’s name on it, I was giving some thought this weekend to big name internet marketers who seem to be jumping on the blogging bandwagon a little too late.

    I guess I’m wondering if the ‘old school’ approach to internet marketing can find a way to play in the blogging arena? In some ways, it’s hard to see how it could work.

    Keep us posted on what you decide to do! ;)

    3.
    On September 17th, 2007 at 1:46 pm, George said:

    I will keep you posted. I wouldn’t be surprised to see other Internet marketers follow in this person’s footsteps. From what I can tell he has a good plan.

    We shall see…

    4.
    On September 17th, 2007 at 2:28 pm, lornadoone said:

    OK, the visual of an entrepreneurial seizure will keep me chuckling for the rest of the day.

    I see eyes rolling up into the head and pupils replaced by dollar signs. I see Starbucks coffee cups knocked from the desk as the flailing entrepreneur spills a teetering pile of papers and how-to books that fall like a blizzard around the work space. I see hands-free phones zapping hapless brains and computer screens that say nothing but “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” over and over again.

    I could go on, but I suspect that I am officially procrastinating now. ;-)

    5.
    On September 17th, 2007 at 5:19 pm, Erika Jurney, Plain Jane Mom said:

    I met Nataly a few months ago (in fact, I’m pretty sure you were there at the time!), and I’m not surprised she pulled this off. Thanks for pointing it out, and you’ve really got me wondering about what you’re going to do next. You are full of surprises…

    6.
    On September 17th, 2007 at 6:37 pm, Suzie Cheel said:

    Food for thought , both the article and in the comments. Have been over to Nataly’s more food for thought. The comment from George and your reply is interesting. A friend, who doesn’t blog, but know Des & I do blog, has been forwarding me blogging stuff forwarded on from a big internet marketer- looks like you may be right:(
    I can see from George’s site I need 24 more hours in a day

    7.
    On September 20th, 2007 at 11:55 am, George said:

    Wendy,

    I just posted the results of my conversation with the Internet Marketer about buying my blog:

    http://www.canimakebigmoneyonline.com/index.php/20070920-how-much-would-you-sell-your-blog-for/

    As you already know, it was a little disappointing, but I am sure it was for the best.

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