What Is an Angel Investor?: Who They Are and What They Can Do for Your Business

Whether you’re looking for seed investors to get your business off the ground or you need to raise money to expand your business (and your profit), angel investors are worth looking into. But how do they work? And how are you supposed to get one?

That’s what we’re here to explain. So if you want your business to be touched by an angel investor, read on to learn how you can make that happen.

Angel investors are individuals who invest in startups and young businesses by providing funding in exchange for equity (ownership shares) in the business. Technically speaking, angel investors must be accredited investors, but increasingly, you’ll see business owners’ investing family and friends described as angel investors—even if they don’t meet the wealth requirements.

Not all angel investors work individually, though. There are plenty of investor groups, or angel networks, out there formed by investors who pool their resources to invest in companies.

Some angel investors and angel networks have specific funding interests. For example, Hivers and Strivers is an angel group that invests in the business ventures of US military academy graduates. Likewise, you might find investor groups that fund businesses with founders from minority groups.

As we said, angel investors make a startup investment in exchange for equity. So how much money can you expect to get? Well, the numbers can range from tens of thousands to (rarely) millions. But according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the average investment from an angel investor is $330,000—not a bad chunk of change.²

Exciting as that sounds, we want to be clear that angel investors are not just throwing money at your business and hoping you do well. Angel investing is a type of equity financing. So while getting money is great, don’t forget that you’re giving up business equity to get it. How much equity will depend on your specific investment angel and the deal you make with them, but we’ve seen anywhere between 10% and 40%.

What the angel investor does with that equity will also depend on the individual, but it’s pretty common for angel investors to get heavily involved with the businesses they fund.

You’ll see lots of active angel investors who see their investment as an opportunity to provide not just money but also advice, mentorship, and networking opportunities. That means you can benefit from the entrepreneurial experience of a seasoned investor, but it also means that you’re giving up at least a little control.

So is the trade-off worth it?

Well, there’s no guarantee that an angel investor will get paid. In fact, a lot of angel investors claim that angels usually lose money on their investments because they pick unsuccessful startups.

But let’s assume your business takes off and everything goes well (yay!). In that case, how does your angel investor get paid? It all goes back to that equity they take.

Angel investors are anticipating what is often referred to as an equity event. In many cases, the startup ends up getting sold, and the angel’s equity means they get a share of the profits. Other startups have an IPO, or initial public offering. In that case, the company starts selling shares on the stock market. Sometimes, the angel gets paid off as part of the IPO. Otherwise, the IPO gives the angel investor a chance to cash out their shares. In some instances, angels simply get dividends that the startup pays to its owners.

All of which is very nice for the angel investor. But is the trade-off in equity worth it for you?

Honestly, there’s a lot to like about angel investors.

Like the fact that they provide financing to startups that haven’t been around long. Getting startup business loans can be difficult since banks don’t want to risk lending to brand-new businesses. Angel investors are more likely to take a risk on young, up-and-coming companies (and young entrepreneurs).

It’s the same with cash flow. If you want to get the best small-business loans, your business will need to have a history of profit and healthy cash flow. But angel investors care more about where your business is going—they may not care if you haven’t had $250,000 in profit for the past two years.

Aside from providing financing to startups that otherwise can’t get money, angel investors provide those mentorship and networking opportunities we talked about above.

And of course, one of the best benefits of getting money from angel investors is that you don’t have to pay anything back (at least, in the form of a periodic payment). The money is yours to use for the business.

Which brings us to the big con: losing equity in your business. Again, angel investors can request anywhere from 10% to 40% in your business. With any luck, that will never be a problem because you and your angel investor will get along so well and agree on the direction the business is going. But there is a possibility that your angel investor will use their equity to push the business in a direction you don’t like.

Remember, your angel investor becomes a minority shareholder in the success of your business. That means you should look for an angel who doesn’t just have money, but who also has the expertise you need to help your business grow.

Now you know the pros and cons of angel financing. Still interested? Then let’s talk about how to get in on this source of funding.

First, make sure your business is a good candidate for angel investing. Angels tend to look for a high return on investment, so if you want to open just one boutique clothing shop and never expand, don’t be surprised when investors pass on your pitch. But if you’ve got a business that will explode—if you can just get the right funding—then you’re exactly what an angel investor wants.

Put another way, angels (and venture capitalists) look for businesses that are ready to scale with the help of some capital. More specifically, they want to invest in businesses that will eventually have an IPO (initial public offering) or be acquired—giving the angel a good return on their investment.

So come with a good pitch. As part of this, make sure to create a business plan that shows business projections with how you plan to achieve your goals. Likewise, you should include information about the market opportunity for your business—what niche are you filling, and who will buy your services or products? Go ahead: prove you’ve got the entrepreneurship to succeed.

Once you’ve got a good pitch ready, you can find angel investors. There are online directories, like AngelList, but don’t forget to look locally too. Your local Chamber of Commerce may have great leads on investors looking to invest money in local businesses. Some universities have strong connections with angel investors. And if you have a flair for the dramatic, you can even try to get on Shark Tank. There are plenty of ways to find angel investors to pitch to.

However you find your investor, make sure they’re a good fit. While it’s tempting to accept funding from any investor who will give you money, you want to be sure that their vision of your partnership and the company aligns with your own. Otherwise, giving up that equity will be a problem.

But if they like your pitch and you like their style, then congrats! You’ve found yourself an angel investor.

If angel investing isn’t right for your business, you have plenty of other small-business funding options.

For example, if you want another type of funding that doesn’t require you to repay a loan, you can look into grants. Grants will give you free money for your business, making them a super appealing option for most businesses. The downside? Grants require lengthy applications, and they’re highly competitive. Plus, the funds may be earmarked for specific uses. Even so, grants are an option for free cash.

Then there’s crowdfunding. There are plenty of sites that offer crowdfunding for startups (though Kickstarter is our favorite). You pitch your idea to the world, and if people like it, they’ll help fund your project. Usually people fund in exchange for some kind of reward, but equity crowdfunding is common too. If your product clicks with people, it can be a boon for your business. But with so many companies competing for people’s money and attention, you’ll have to invest plenty of time into making your pitch.

And of course, there are loans. Unlike angel investors, grants, and crowdfunding, loans require you to actually repay the money you get, which makes it a less appealing option. But loans are a tried-and-true way of funding and expanding businesses, and you have tons of loan options. So while it may not be your first choice, there are plenty of reasons to get a startup business loan. For the record, we’ve found Lendio to be the best source of loans for most businesses.

The exact amount of equity an angel investor wants will vary from investor to investor and startup to startup, but most estimates we’ve seen are in the 10% to 40% range.

As we mentioned, angel investors usually invest in younger startups than venture capitalists do. They also invest less money, and they usually expect smaller returns than a VC firm would.

For a more detailed breakdown, check out our comparison of angel investors vs. venture capitalists.

Technically, no, not everyone can be an angel investor. An angel investor has to be an accredited investor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has income and net worth requirements. So most “legit” angel investors are very wealthy individuals looking for investment opportunities.

That being said, lots of people get described as angel investors without meeting the technical definition. Non-accredited investors, like friends and family who decide to invest in your startup, might get called angel investors—if only because investing in a risky new startup is a pretty angelic thing to do.

A wealthy angel investor can be a great way of securing your business’s financial future—if you have what it takes to find them, pitch to them, and secure their investment. Sure, you’ll have to give up some company equity, but you’ll receive money and mentorship in return.

Not a bad trade-off, we think.

Not sure angels are right for you? Check out another nontraditional funding option with our guide to the best crowdfunding sites for startups.

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