Lost on how to seek venture capital or express clear partnership boundaries? Start with these caveats.
A. Only Take It if You Absolutely Need It
It can be enticing to be lured in by the big fundraising numbers that many companies tout. I've been told from early on to be very weary of taking in more money than you actually need. When money gets loose, you lose your scrappy mindset. You also then have stakeholders in your business with real expectations of you. - Darrah Brustein, Network Under 40 / Finance Whiz Kids
A. Don't Just Focus on Equity -- Consider Debt
For companies that are generating cash flow and see an opportunity to grow faster, but capital is a limiting factor, there are some great debt options available. We considered going back to our equity investors for more money, but one of our investors introduced us to her banker, and with interest rates so low, we ended up getting a great deal. - Fan Bi, Blank Label
A. Treat It Like a Marriage
I think of the analogy that the funding process is marriage, not dating -- which means the investor has to be willing to fund your project without needing fierce convincing. It is a mutual agreement in which both sides should be happy to work together. If one is more dependent on the other, it may lead to uncomfortable zones in future. So it's important to be straightforward from the beginning. - Kevin Xu, Mebo International
A. Only Accept Venture Capital if You Need to Be "First to Market"
The only reason why you need venture capital is if you need the "first mover advantage" to penetrate a market with an easily duplicatable business model. If you feel as if a more capitalized company could take your model and capture market share with funding, then raise capital and let the arms race begin. If not, build your business based on real revenues and scale organically. - Matt Wilson, Under30Experiences
A. Vet the People Vetting You
The world of venture capitalists is no less filled with toxic people than the general population. Some people, even frequent investors, can be an absolute pain to work with at best and toxic to your entire business at worst. For example, if I get an offer, look them up, and find that they are constantly in-and-out of civil court, I know I don't want what they're offering. - Adam Steele, The Magistrate
A. Get That First Check
It's easy to get disappointed dealing with multiple rejections during the fundraising process. A friend of ours advised us to focus on getting the first check. Getting the perspective that you only need one "yes" among several "no's" helps you deal with the multiple rejections. Then, after your first check, the number of rejections go down significantly. - Ashu Dubey, 12 Labs
A. It's Not an ATM Machine
Funding is there to build a business, not support me personally. I had to make sure I had my own way to cover my living expenses until the business could become self-sufficient and turn a profit. Only then could I start drawing a paycheck. Any funding I got, I knew I had to connect the spending to something that would be necessary to develop the business. - Zach Binder, Ranklab
A. Maintain Control
By avoiding outside investors, you may sacrifice the immediate gratification of quick growth for a more strategic, controlled pace. However, in the long run, you will maintain full ownership and control of your company. Building a sustainable company is a marathon, not a sprint. - Matt Telmanik, CCS Construction Staffing
A. Cash Is King
"More cash is better than less cash. Cash now is better than cash later. Never run out of cash." A startup's most precious resource is cash in the bank, and a founder's first priority is to always make sure you have enough to keep going. - Joe Landon, Space Angels Network
A. Stretch the Funding as Far as You Can Before Asking for More
Investors want to know that you did as much as you could with the funds provided. Plus, you never know when or if you will get any more money. It's also a good way to become as efficient -- and lean -- as possible from the beginning of your operations to instill good processes and habits within the organization. I learned so much from trying to spend as little as possible. - Drew Hendricks, Buttercup
A. Not All Dollars Are Created Equal
Investors are not just capital sources; they are also your partners in business. You need to look beyond the economics of the deal to understand the people behind the money. How will they treat you if you hit a rough patch? Do they share your values? Is their investment period long enough to be consistent with your timing and vision for the business? - Christopher Kelly, Convene
A. It's OK to Ask for Less
It's tempting to jump on a generous offer, especially when you're strapped for cash, but it's poor judgment to ever take more than you need. Not every investor is interested in a smaller slice than they're aiming for, but many are still very receptive to making a smaller offer if you insist that's the only amount you're comfortable with. - Matt Doyle, Excel Builders
A. There's No Such Thing as Free Money
There are both pros and cons of seeking funding for your business startup. However, every dollar you acquire from an investor comes with expectations: how your business will perform, what goals you'll meet, and projections for your growth potential. When you accept funding, you also accept the weighty responsibility of meeting those expectations. - Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now
A. They Need You More Than You Need Them
Never allow the investor to feel you're desperate to have them on board. Remember, they need you. Without you, their cash flow remains stagnant, collecting interest that leads to marginal gains. Investors want to see their pockets swell. Never be pompous or dismissive of their importance, but show an investor that they're missing an opportunity if they don't invest in your business. - Nathan Hale, First American Merchant
These answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world's most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.