Angel investors

While the money helps, angels also offer valuable mentoring, support and knowledge, and access to contacts.

An angel investor is someone who invests their own money in a small business in exchange for a minority stake (usually between 10% and 25%).

Angel investors tend to be entrepreneurs or people with extensive experience in the business world.

However, angel investment is about more than just money.

Angels offer mentoring and support, and businesses that receive investment will generally benefit from the investor’s time, skills, contacts and business knowledge.

Angel investors take a hands-on approach.

They will spend lots of time with the entrepreneur and help to push the business forward.

It’s crucial that the angel and the entrepreneur have a strong relationship, as they’ll typically spend at least five years working together closely.

Who’s involved?

Syndicate

Angel investors can invest alone, but usually they invest together as a syndicate.

This is when a number of angel investors work together to pool their money and experience.

Lead angel

When a syndicate invests in a business, the lead angel is the person who co-ordinates the investment deal.

The lead angel will also have the most contact with the business after the deal.

They can act as an adviser or even as a non-executive director.

The Angel CoFundLink opens in a new window, a delivery partner of the British Business Bank, provides larger sums of money than syndicates can usually afford.

Expert mentoring

An angel investor offers strategic, financial and sector-related advice to help achieve growth.

Retain control

Angel investors typically take a 10% to 25% share of your business, which leaves you firmly in control.

Validation

Angel investment can give your business credibility for later rounds of investment (from venture capitalists, for example).

No promise of growth

There is no guarantee that your business will achieve growth as a result of the investment and the angel’s involvement.

Angel investment regulations control the way businesses seek investment and make sure the angel investors are genuine and certified.

Here are the two main regulations you should be aware of:

Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)

EISLink opens in a new window and SEISLink opens in a new window give angels generous tax breaks.

By making investing less risky for investors, the schemes help businesses grow.

Under EIS, angel investors cannot take more than a 30% share of a business, which makes sure that entrepreneurs stay in control and incentivised.

Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates angel investment.

FSMA states that angel investors should self-certify as a high net worth or sophisticated investor.

This means they are suitable to receive business plans and invest in businesses.

About your business

  • Business stage: Generally early stage, pre-revenue or pre-profit
  • Annual turnover:  Less than £5 million
  • Sectors:  All sectors, but especially suitable for companies with a scalable business proposition
  • Regions:  All

 

About the finance

  • Purpose of finance: Working capital, product development, entry into new markets, build teams, increase sales
  • Amount available:  Usually £15,000 to £500,000, but large syndicates may offer up to £2m
  • Duration of finance:  Typically 3–8 years
  • Cost of finance:  None
  • Time it can take to get finance: 2–6 months

Ask an expert: Jenny Tooth, angel investor and CEO of UK Business Angels Association

Personal connection

Unlike venture capitalists, angel investors don’t go into weeks of research and analysis.

I’ll decide quite quickly whether or not to invest in a business, based on the following:

  • Do we get on?
  • Are we going to be able to spend the next eight years together?
  • Do you have a story I can engage with?
  • Can you accept my guidance?

Passion

Do you have the drive to see your plans through? Are you committed to your business?

Honesty

Are you being transparent with me about your story and your numbers?

Understanding

Do you know how much money you need and when you’re going to need it? Do you know what’s involved in the journey to grow your business?

Proof

Can you provide evidence of your financials, patents, customer loyalty, incorporation and market research?

Getting an Angel on board doesn’t happen overnight, so prepare to network and do your research.

Take time to prepare your pitch.

It usually takes about six months from your first approach to the angel to get finance.

This infographic shows you the typical journey to securing angel investment.

To learn what steps you need to take to prepare your business, use this checklist.

Finance Hub guidance and information

“Anything can happen to a business along its journey. So, making money isn’t the primary motivation for angels – or they just wouldn’t do it. It’s as much about being a part of the entrepreneurial journey and seeing the success of a business that you backed.”

Jenny Tooth CEO, UK Business Angels Association

Other finance options

Click here to visit Grant
Other
A Grant is a non-repayable type of funding, usually awarded by governments, organisations or companies to invest in certain assets or activities, or to help a business achieve a particular goal.

Grant

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Businesses and products that meet the eligibility criteria for their Grants, whether that’s region, sector or focus based.

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Benefit from finance without giving up a stake in your company or repaying the support you are provided.

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Grant
Equity
A Grant is a non-repayable type of funding, usually awarded by governments, organisations or companies to invest in certain assets or activities, or to help a business achieve a particular goal.
About your business
Business stage Any
Annual turnover Any
Sectors Any
Regions Any
Click here to visit Overdraft
Debt
Businesses can borrow money on demand up to the limit of their overdraft. Overdrafts can be expensive, but a business will only pay interest on the amount they actually borrow.

Overdraft

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Established businesses with assets and a trading history.

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Short-term working capital, quickly.

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Overdraft
Equity
Private Equity firms invest in established businesses in return for a large or controlling stake, to help them grow to the next level.
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Business stage Established with assets and a trading history
Annual turnover Any
Sectors Any
Regions Any
Click here to visit Peer-to-Peer Lending
Debt
A business borrows money through an online platform and pays it back with interest over an agreed period.

Peer-to-Peer Lending

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Businesses with a trading history that meet the eligibility criteria of the platform you choose.

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Get a loan quickly and maintain full control of your business.

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Peer-to-Peer Lending
Equity
Private Equity firms invest in established businesses in return for a large or controlling stake, to help them grow to the next level.
About your business
Business stage Established with a trading history
Annual turnover Any
Sectors Any
Regions Any

Regional support

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Reference to any organisation, business and event on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation from the British Business Bank or the UK Government. Whilst we make reasonable efforts to keep the information on this page up to date, we do not guarantee or warrant (implied or otherwise) that it is current, accurate or complete. The information is intended for general information purposes only and does not take into account your personal situation, nor does it constitute legal, financial, tax or other professional advice. You should always consider whether the information is applicable to your particular circumstances and, where appropriate, seek professional or specialist advice or support.

Making business finance work for you

Making business finance work for you

Starting a business doesn’t come with a set of instructions.

We know that understanding the many different types of financial product in the marketplace can be difficult.

Our Making business finance work for you guide is designed to help you make an informed choice about accessing the right type of finance for you and your business.