Not every company qualifies for private equity since there are certain things they look for in a company to determine if it's worth investing in. Private equity firms must research since they invest between $50 million and $1 billion in a business. If you need assistance for your small business, you can opt for a private equity investment. Make sure you tailor your business to meet the needs of private equity firms. Here are things private equity firms look for in startups.
What is a private equity firm?
A private equity (PE) firm is an investment company that uses its funds or funds from other investors to invest in startup operations. PE firms invest in companies that are not listed publicly. Private equity firms have a mission of investing in companies, creating value, and selling their shares to get the greatest gain.
As such, PE firms are always on the lookout for business with growth potential. They buy the majority position in an organization and make it successful by leveraging the resources.
What PE firms look for
1. Strong management team
One of the things that private equity firms look for is a good management team. Top-quality managers are a factor PE firms consider unless they want to change the management. Private equity firms must invest in companies with top quality management teams since they will not run the day-to-day activities of the company. Private equity firms look for a management team that can do the following:
- Growth through sales motion including customers, new joint ventures, and alliances
- Changing the structure of the company to cut down on costs
- Know how to transform the business model to reflect customer needs
2. Steady cash flows
Private equity firms use leveraged buy-out on a company. They'll, therefore, need a company with steady cash flows to help them meet the interest payments. Missing the interest payments would mean losing ownership of the company. PE firms will also have a view of sales, operating costs, assets, inventory, overhead, and liabilities.
3. Favorable industry trends
PE firms also look at the disruptive technology within an industry when deciding on the company to invest in. The organization's mission and vision must align to the potential for transforming the industry.
4. Potential for growth
Growth potential is also another factor that PE firms look for when choosing an investment. Private equity firms need high rates of growth to get a bigger market share. It's, therefore, crucial for the company to be well-positioned in the market. Here are a few factors that indicate potential growth:
- State of the market landscape for the industry
- Past successes
- Sufficient market size
- Stable customer base
- A positive state of the industry
5. Security
Private equity firms, unlike banks, don't have an idea of the return on investment. They stand to lose everything if things don't go as planned and the company goes into bankruptcy. PE firms look for things that will bring security, such as:
- Financial visibility
- Sound contingency plan
6. Low capital requirements
PE firms look for a business that can sustain themselves with only one investment. If a business needs multiple rounds of investment, then it will not be an ideal target for PE firms.
Private equity firms invest in businesses to create value in a few years. Therefore, they look for companies with growth potential. If your business is growing but you don't qualify for bank loans, you should consider private equity firms. Once you understand what private equity firms look for, you'll be better placed to get a good deal. If a PE firm is not an ideal option for you, you can get in touch with us to get advice on the best investment option for your business.
