A reader asks:

Can you tell me how to go about finding business angels to invest in my business?

Your first option is to search Google for business angels and then to work your way through the results. Most of the results you’ll find will be for sites that will allow you to submit a summary of your business to a panel of business angels. If any of the angels are interested you’ll then typically have to pay a small fee for access to their contact details.

Alternatively if you are looking for business angels in the UK then the British Business Angel Association would be a good place to start, in particular their members directory. Again most of the listings are for business angel investment networks, i.e. groups of business angels or introducers who will charge you a fee to introduce you to their investors.

Finally why not speak to your accountant / solicitor or all of the accountants and solicitors in your local area, many of them will have clients that are potential business angels and they may be happy to pass on a summary of your business (keep it to one side of A4) to possible angels, as it allows them to add value to the services they offer their clients – this will work especially well if an investment in your business could be made to qualify under the enterprise investment scheme and therefore liable for tax relief.

If all else fails you could always apply to be on Dragons’ Den.

Asking John:
Do you have a business question you would like me to answer? If so you can Ask John or you can ask on the forums where you’ll get both my input and that of your fellow entrepreneurs.

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