Attracting investors for your small business is no easy task. We all know that. But there are a few things that can aid in your search if examined properly. Most people think that all investors are looking for a good story that will sway their emotions into believing in a business. That, in most cases, in not true. Investors are not all sharks, but they are all usually pretty focused on a couple of majorly important factors of your business, and we will cover those factors with you right now. 1. Are you FULLY committed to your business? Most investors want to know that you are willing to do anything and everything, TWICE, in order to make your business work. It gives them peace of mind. There is no other way to say it aside from the fact that they want to know that you will be working tirelessly to not only gain their investment back, but to get them a big return as well. Everybody who invests, wants to be involved in something successful. The business cannot reach it’s full potential unless the operator is working it day and night. There should be no other focus in any other direction. 2. Do you have sales? The second question most investors will ask you are, “what are your sales?”. This is a valid question. If you have a great pitch, presentation, and personality, they will gladly entertain the thought of investing in you, but if your sales are absolute crap and there is no market for your product then kiss the prospect goodbye. Sales are a sobering factor of a business deal. Sure, you aren’t going to have millions in sales, otherwise why would you need the investor. But at least a show of growth, or even interest in your market, will sweeten the deal and loosen the investors grip on their cash. 3. Your company valuation We get it. They get it. Your company is the most important thing in the world to you. That’s great! But you cannot take a company that makes product X which has $600 in sales over 2 years, and ask an investor to give you $250,000 for 25% stake. Pretending that a company is worth a Million dollars, when it’s not, is a slap in the face to most investors. Properly valuating your company will show not only honesty, but it will aid in your goals of projection. These are not exact sciences, but I do assure you that paying extra attention to these areas will only strengthen your quest for investors.