The easy way to get started in crowdfund investing Crowdfund investing (CFI) is going to be the next big thing on Wall Street. U.S. investment banks, brokerage houses, and law firms are gearing up for the creation and regulation of new financial products that will be available to the general public starting in early 2013. The introduction of these products will revolutionize the financing of small businesses and startups for these key reasons: Entrepreneurs and small business owners, who have had difficulty obtaining capital through traditional means (such as bank loans and angel investors) in recent years, will have access to investors around the world through social media. For the first time, investors (so-called unqualified investors) will be able to purchase an equity stake in a business or new investment vehicle. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is overseeing the creation of online portals that will allow entrepreneurs and small investors to connect. When these portals go live in 2013, Crowdfund Investing For Dummies will be on the front line to educate business owners, other entrepreneurs, and investors alike. Crowdfund Investing For Dummies will walk entrepreneurs and investors, like yourself, through this new investing experience, beginning with explaining how and why CFI developed and what the 2012 JOBS says about CFI. Entrepreneurs will find out how much funding they can realistically raise through CFI; how to plan and launch a CFI campaign; how to manage the crowd after a campaign is successful; and how to work within the SEC’s regulations at every stage. Investors will discover: the benefits and risks of CFI ;how much they can invest; how a CFI investment may fit into a broader investment portfolio; how to provide value to the business or project being funded; and how to bow out of an investment when the time is right. Crowdfund Investing For Dummies is an indispensable resource for long time investors and novice investors alike.

Secure venture capital? Easy. Getting a business up and running or pushing a brilliant product to the marketplace requires capital. For many entrepreneurs, a lack of start-up capital can be the single biggest roadblock to their dreams of success and fortune. Venture Capital For Dummies takes entrepreneurs step by step through the process of finding and securing venture capital for their own projects. Find and secure venture capital for your business Get your business up and running Push a product to the marketplace If you're an entrepreneur looking for hands-on guidance on how to secure capital for your business, the information in Venture Capital For Dummies gives you the edge you need to succeed.

Get the business funding you need to secure your success The issue of funding is one of the biggest pain points for small- and medium-sized businesses—and one that comes up on a daily basis. Whether you're unsure about how to go about getting a loan, unfamiliar with the different options available to you or confused as to which would be the right solution for your particular business, Business Funding For Dummies provides plain-English, down-to-earth guidance on everything you need to successfully fund your business venture. Friendly, authoritative, and with a dash of humor thrown in for fun, this hands-on guide takes the fear out of funding and walks you step-by-step through the process of ensuring your business is financially viable. From crowd funding and angels to grants and friends, families, and fools, it covers every form of funding available—and helps you hone in on and secure the ones that are right for your unique needs. Includes mini case studies, quotes, and plenty of examples Offers excerpts from interviews with financiers and entrepreneurs Topics covered include all forms of funding Covers angels in the UK and abroad If you're the owner or director of a small-to-medium-sized business looking to start an SME, but have been barking up the wrong tree, Business Funding For Dummies is the fast and easy way to get the funds you need.

A groundbreaking book on the growing trend of crowdfunding Crowdfunding has gained considerable traction over the last few years. By combining the Internet/social media with equity-based financing, it is poised to usher in a new asset class that will change how early stage and small business financing transactions are consummated. Author Steven Dresner, Founder and CEO of Dealflow.com, understands the nuances of how crowdfunding can help companies gain much needed access to capital, and now he shares those insights with you. Engaging and informative, this book will serve the needs of a global audience comprising entrepreneurs, financiers, and other professionals. It skillfully addresses the market dynamics that are catapulting crowdfunding into the mainstream and explores essential issues ranging from planning an online campaign, post-transaction management, and business planning to securities law and tax issues. Puts the business of crowdfunding in perspective with a look at the current marketplace, overview of important data, and legitimate concerns Examines effective techniques for communicating with the crowd Details equity-based financing and other sources such as debt instruments Contains contributions from a wide array of individuals involved in the worlds of finance, law and accounting, social media, marketing, as well as DealFlow Media's own staff Crowdfunding affords-start ups and other smaller businesses better access to capital via the Internet/social media. It also allows an investor of any size to back a business of their choosing. This new book will show you what this process entails and how it can benefit everyone involved.

IPSs are expensive, and venture capital nearly impossible to attract. Crowdfunding is changing the game for private companies. Are you taking full advantage? Think Kickstarter® is just for artists and people who don’t really want to work for their success? Think again! In 2012 President Obama signed the JOBS act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups), empowering privately owned companies to raise capital from investors without going through the rigorous IPO and private placement processes. Your private company can now crowdfund your way to success! Now that the SEC has handed down the last regulations, the floodgates will open and companies will be free to compete for funding. Thankfully for you, small business and legal expert Cliff Ennico has followed the equity crowdfunding story since its inception and has translated the regulations into a clear set of dos and don’ts for entrepreneurs and small business others looking to get in early. In The Crowdfunding Handbook, burgeoning crowdfunders can learn how to: Decipher whether crowdfunding is their best bet Choose between funding platforms Pitch a project to the public Reach the most promising investors Figure out disclosure documents and report requirements The Crowdfunding Handbook reveals the tips and tools to helo you raise money for your small business or startup with equity funding portals.

Find out how to cultivate donors and solicit donations online Covers new changes in tax and philanthropy law Whether you're a small outfit or a big organization, you're competing for donors' dollars and time. This hands-on, vital guide shows you how to take full advantage of the strategies and resources available and advises you how to promote your cause, research potential donors, organize events, write winning grant proposals, and utilize the latest technology. Discover how to * Define your group?s focus * Create a viable plan * Organize your board of directors * Find and train volunteers * Market via print and online * Promote yourself with the media

Achieve annual returns of 25% or more with a well-designed angel portfolio Written by David S. Rose, the founder of Gust—the global platform that powers the world of organized professional angel investing—Angel Investing is a comprehensive, entertaining guide that walks readers through every step of the way to becoming a successful angel investor. It is illustrated with stories from among the 90+ companies in which David has invested during a 25 year career as one of the world’s most active business angels and includes instructions on how to get started, how to find and evaluate opportunities, and how to pursue and structure investments to maximize your returns. From building your reputation as a smart investor, to negotiating fair deals, adding value to your portfolio companies and helping them implement smart exit strategies, David provides both the fundamental strategies and the specific tools you need to take full advantage of this rapidly growing asset class. He details the advantages of joining an angel group, explains how seed and venture funds can help leverage an investor’s resources, and reveals how recent regulatory changes and new online platforms are making startup investing accessible to millions of Americans. Making money is no longer about sitting back and reading stock listings, David says. It is now about being part owner of an exciting startup that can be fun and financially rewarding. Angel Investing teaches investors how to carefully select and manage investments, establish a long term view, and approach angel investing as a serious part of an alternative asset portfolio while also enjoying being an integral part of an exciting new venture.

Make your money work for you with sound commercial real estate investment strategies If you're looking for more detailed advice on the commercial real estate market than, "Buy low, sell high," you've come to the right place. Commercial Real Estate Investing For Dummies is where you can find the smart, straightforward, and accurate info you need to get your start—or grow your portfolio—in commercial real estate. You'll learn foundational strategies, tips, and tricks for investing in all sorts of commercial properties, from apartments to shopping malls. You'll also get rock-solid advice on: How to get started in commercial real estate investing, even if you've never tried it before How to work with business and investment partners and protect your own interests with contracts Financing your investments with a variety of instruments and taking advantage of legal tax opportunities Growing wealth by investing in real estate is a strategy as old as money itself. Do yourself a favor and get in on the action with this straightforward and up-to-date guide!

More Than Money Jamey Stegmaier knows crowdfunding. He's a veteran of seven successful Kickstarter campaigns (and counting) that have raised over $3.2 million, and he's the proprietor of the widely read Kickstarter Lessons blog. In this book he offers a comprehensive guide to crowdfunding, demonstrating that it can be a powerful way for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by building community and putting their customers first. This book includes over forty stories of inspiring successes and sobering disasters. Stegmaier uses these examples to demonstrate how to (and how not to) prepare for a campaign, grow a fan base, structure a pitch, find new backers, and execute many other crucially important “nuts and bolts” elements of a successful crowdfunding project. But Stegmaier emphasizes that the benefits of crowdfunding are much more about the “crowd” than the “funding.” He shows that if you treat your backers as people, not pocketbooks—communicate regularly and transparently with them, ask their opinions, attend to their needs—they'll become advocates as well as funders, exponentially increasing your project's chances of succeeding.

Looking for help making smarter, more profitable high-end investment decisions? Why buy ten books that cover each of the major topics you need to understand, when High-Powered Investing All-In-One For Dummies gives you ten expert guide for the price of one? This hands-on resource arms you with an arsenal of advanced investing techniques for everything from stocks and futures to options and exchange-traded funds. You’ll find out how to trade on the FOREX market, evaluate annuities, choose the right commodities, and buy into hedge funds. And, you’ll get up to speed on using business fundamentals and technical analysis to help you make smarter decisions and maximize your returns. You’ll also find ways to be as aggressive as your personality and bank account allow, without taking foolish or excessive risks. Discover how to: Conduct preliminary research Evaluate businesses Invest for growth and income Minimize your investing risk Read financial statements Understand your tax obligations Trade foreign currencies, futures, and options Get a feel for markets and react quickly to fluctuations Spot and forecast pricing trends Take advantage of online trading innovations The key to expanding your investment opportunities successfully is information. Whether you’re just beginning to explore more advanced investing or have been dabbling in it for a while, High-Powered Investing All-In-One For Dummies gives you the information, strategies, and techniques you need to make your financial dreams come true.