COSTA MESA, CALIF. (Jan. 07 2007) -

www.iBank.com, Is your business bursting at the seams? Are your customers anxiously waiting for new products to arrive, but not enough workers to accommodate the work load? If this sounds familiar, than you might be one of the many profitable and growing small businesses in the United States during 2006. Looking to expand the business, owners must find financing or funding outside of the usual relatives landscape. The answer could lie with Angel Investors.

Angel Investors range from individuals with spare cash, relatives that believe in your business, or groups of individuals with a common goal of helping the small business community. A common thread among Angel Investors is the need for privacy. Finding Angel Investors used to be difficult, but with the help of organizations such as the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Angel Investors can be found right around the corner or across town. The foundation assists individuals into forming groups of investors within communities and helps them realize the advantages of working together instead of alone.

According to a report by the Kauffman Foundation, groups of Angel Investors went from 10 to over 200 from 1996 to 2003. This increase shows the need for funding for small businesses throughout the country. Angel Investors use their own money for
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investments, which are usually, start ups; compared to Venture Capitalist who invest other people’s money and usually invest in late stage companies.

To make sure you get the Angel funding needed there are a few necessary steps to insure your small business gets a piece of the Angel pie. Angel Investors are investing in approximately 12% of the proposals and business plans that are presented to them, according to the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire. To increase the chances of receiving funding, small business owners must prepare a fool proof business proposal to attract and secure an investor who believes in their future.

Before even contacting an Angel Investor or group, the small business owner should research investors, their targeted market, the competition, and the businesses that are most likely receiving funding. Once the business owner has done his homework, the next step is to write a professional business proposal. Know your audience. Include all company and personnel information that is needed by the investor in the proposal. Things to include in your business proposal, according to the Kauffman Foundation:

1. Detailed slides, about 15, that are a part of a digital presentation about you the owner and your proposed business plan. Keep it to about 15 minutes and include a presentation of entire management team and the product.
2. Write up the proposal using an outline
3. Include research information about competition, demographics, surrounding businesses and any other pertinent information.
4. If the investor wants details, give it to them. If they don’t want to spend time reading through many pages, keep it short.
5. Only give references when asked otherwise don’t include them in your proposal.
6. Let the investor know the approximate price unless asked for specifics.
7. Give the investor a list of employees if possible, or at least the amount of people you plan to hire
8. Present the proposal the way the investor expects, chronologically or functionally.
9. If you don’t know the answers to their questions, state that fact and tell them you will find answers to all their questions.

Preparing a business proposal for an investor might seem overwhelming at first, but there are many sites and organizations that are dedicated to helping the small business owner succeed. As mentioned earlier the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, S.C.O.R.E. (Senior Core of Retired Engineers), N.A.S.E. (National Association of the Self Employed) and many other organizations are waiting to help. Another suggestion for help would be online companies that are dedicated to helping small business owners find the funding, investments and help they need to start or grow their business. Companies such as iBank.com can help match small business owners with lenders, brokers, banks, insurance agents and all types of investors. iBank.com is not a funding source but a great resource tool that can help small business owners put together a digital online business proposal and application which is then stored in an online secured Vault which can be accessed anytime and anywhere.

Remember the chances of an Angel investor being interested in your idea or company is getting better every year, but you must come prepared and enthusiastic. Angel investors invest in people, so show them you are capable, prepared, and most importantly ready to increase his cash flow. Angel Investors is one of the best ways to finance a start up business and having access to these individuals or groups is the best investment a small business owner can make in his future.

About iBank.com
iBank enables corporations to sell more products and services to their customers by providing their customers with seamless connectivity to credit and capital. The financial information bank for small business,iBank provides an online commercial lending marketplace for business loans, commercial mortgage loans and equipment lease financing. iBank's FinanceSuite solution offers businesses a simple, streamlined and smart way to create a professional digital loan package on the Web, then connect it to hundreds of lenders.