Equity financing involves raising capital by selling ownership shares or stocks in a company, giving investors a stake in the business in exchange for funding.
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Equity financing allows a company to raise money by selling shares of the business to investors. If you’re not sure if equity financing is the right solution for your business, check out our funding guide to evaluate your options.
The definition of equity financing is the process where investors purchase shares in a business to provide capital to the company. Essentially, equity financing’s business definition means a company sells an ownership interest to raise cash.
Both private and public companies can take advantage of equity financing, meaning both types of entities can sell ownership interests. Private placements of stock may go to friends, family, angel investors, crowdfunding platforms, venture capital firms, private equity firms, or corporate investors. If a company is ready to go public, it may make an initial public offering (IPO) of stock.
Public companies sell stock to the public on one of the major stock exchanges.
A business owner seeking to raise equity can sell common stock, preferred stock, convertible preferred stock, or warrants. Members of the public tend to purchase common stock, while angel investors or venture capitalists may request preferred or convertible preferred stock.
What are equity financing’s main advantages? There are two big ones.
Companies can raise cash through equity financing or debt financing. A small business or startup may not qualify for large loans, so equity financing offers them a way to raise money. One of equity financing’s advantages is that it doesn’t inflict a financial burden on the company. Debt, on the other hand, imposes a liability that needs to be repaid.
When companies are able to obtain equity financing from angel investors or venture capital firms, they also gain the expertise of these experienced professionals. Additionally, the investors may grant the companies access to their professional and financial networks, which can be a tremendous benefit.
A downside to equity financing is that the company must share a percentage of its profits with investors. This makes equity financing more expensive than debt financing in most cases.
Along with shares goes an ownership interest in the company. As a result, company management has to consult with the company’s investors on major decisions. This is particularly true when professional investors take on a large percentage of company ownership.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the sale of equity is regulated under securities laws. These laws protect investors from dishonest companies and individuals and maintain fairness in the market.
Because of regulatory disclosure requirements, you will need to offer potential investors a memorandum or prospectus so that they can make informed decisions. The memorandum or prospectus will:
It’s always best to consult with an attorney before offering any form of security.
One of the most well-known examples of equity financing is the television show Shark Tank in which entrepreneurs seek equity financing from wealthy investors.
Many people also try to buy stock during highly anticipated IPOs such as the ones for Facebook, Uber, and Rivian.
Equity financing is a way to raise capital by selling equity in a company to investors. It can be a great way to get more cash flow, but you may also have to give up some control of your business.
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If you need cash, but you don’t have all your records in order, check out our accounting basics guide. When you use us to form your limited liability company or corporation, you receive a free accounting consultation with one of our experts. This can help you get all your finances organized and taxes figured out before seeking equity financing from investors.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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