Bootstrapping or raising: how to decide
A simple way to decide whether outside money is right for your company now.
Bootstrapping keeps your options open
Every month you grow on revenue, you keep ownership and you learn what customers will pay for. If you raise later, you do it from a position of strength.
When raising makes sense
Raise when speed decides the market, when you need to build a lot before anyone can pay, or when a competitor with funding could take the space while you grow slowly.
Three questions
Can customers fund the next 12 months? Would twice the speed change the outcome? Would you be happy building this company for ten years with investors who expect a large exit? If the answers are yes, no and no, keep bootstrapping.
You can do both
Many companies bootstrap to real revenue, then raise a small round on good terms to speed up what's already working. Grants, revenue-based finance and SEIS angels sit in between.
The UK Bootstrapped 100
Every year we name 100 UK companies built on customers rather than capital. Entering is free, and every eligible company gets a free investor report, whether or not they plan to raise.
See which UK investors fit you
Give us your website and raise. We rank UK investors against your company and explain each fit. Your top 10 are free.
Find my investors