Why Your Startup Company Needs to Keep the Number of its Investors Low

September 5, 2007 - Startup Issues

If you can’t self-fund your startup company and must take on investors, keep the number of your investors as low as possible. A low number of investors will reduce your startup company’s transaction costs and headaches associated with raising funds.

I’d rather my client raise $90k from one investor than $100k collectively from ten based upon the transaction costs my client would suffer both during the fundraising process and in the future. My client might have to cut back on Aerons, but it’s much easier to keep one person happy than ten.

If you have no choice but to take on a large number of investors, request that your investors form their own LLC. Have the LLC be your startup company’s investor and therefore you only have to deal directly with one investor.

Popularity: 19% [?]

About the Author: Ryan Roberts is a corporate lawyer and advises clients in a wide variety of transactional matters, with an emphasis on startup companies, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. His clients have included companies in the technology, energy, real estate, health care, construction, and retail sectors. Visit his law firm's website.

Comments

One Response to “Why Your Startup Company Needs to Keep the Number of its Investors Low”

  1. 6 Traps To Avoid When Raising Capital | The Startup Lawyer on September 28th, 2007 7:20 am

    […] far on The Startup Lawyer, I’ve talked to you about the benefits of keeping the number of your investors low (#4 above). And for the most part, this blog is dedicated to ensuring you conduct your startup […]

Got something to say?