Pitching Your Small Business Idea

Image consultants say that you have three to 10 seconds to make a good impression. Potential investors will give your business proposal about 20 minutes. If you are prepared and confident, the initial business pitch is a good place to start winning over investors. As a small business owner myself, I have depended on investors to help me "put legs" on my good ideas. Your small business pitch needs to excite, inform and interest investors.

Your small business pitch needs to have five layers of information. Each layer should provide intelligent, thorough points without being repetitive. Use strong but positive language in your presentation. The goal is to gain partnerships, not sell your idea. People can like an idea, even love it, without making an investment. Include these five aspects of your presentation for getting the investors your small business needs. Each segment should take three to five minutes each.

The Business
This initial layer tells about the business. Be as specific as possible. You can build on this first layer with humor and anecdotes if you like, but always lay out the basics first. This is the place the "what, when, where, how and why" should be explained.

The Plan
During this portion share how your business will operate. Will it be a brick and mortar operation, or will you also sell on the Internet? Who will you hire? How will you define success?

The Investment
Next, tell potential investors how you intend to spend their money. What are your specific needs? What will the investment entail? What kind of partnership are you seeking? Answer these questions at this point.

The Return
Here's where the rubber meets the road. Savvy investors want a return on their investment. Explain what your plan is for rewarding investors. Prepare to negotiate some points like interest percentages or special investor benefits.

Time Frames
From the outset, investors should know how long they will wait for their return. Give specific deadlines for delivering investment reports. Talk about what kind of success you expect, but be realistic and honest. Financial backers don't need to be surprised when they open their return envelopes.

For the best results, combine your presentation with different media. A visual presentation with bulleted text, graphics and reliable figures is best. Give a strong oral demonstration along with printed material. Put your contact information on everything you give potential benefactors. When they decide to invest, they shouldn't have to search to find your name and number.