Raising Capital

[Sam Green]

I've thought about getting involved in some serious real estate deals, but doing so takes serious money.

How would I go about raising large amounts of capital, like $2 million or so? I know I need to talk to everone I know, but what is the best way to bring in some real big fish?

[Jason Barnett]

Before you go looking for serious financing you need a well written business plan. Show the ROI and cash flows for each year. Be cautiously optimistic with your estimates. If you don't have this first then you might end up meeting that big fish, but you don't know how to sell your dream to him!

So once you have the plan together.... you're looking for what is called an "Angel Investor". They usually have groups in local areas and it takes some real searching to find one. It's not a slam dunk, but it's the single best way to get serious financing for a solid deal.

Another resource you might try is your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC). These are retired veterans of industry that very well could be Angel Investors themselves. Even if they're not they might know someone.

In the end it's all about networking. You are just 6 degrees of seperation from a big fish. Talk to everyone you know! Make a sign and bring it with you when you sit down in a coffee shop! You never know where opportunity will stirke and you just need to keep looking. Good luck!