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Investment proposal template

What is an investment proposal?

An investment proposal is a document presented to potential investors that describes your business purpose and goals. This template is used as a tool to help potential investors see the financial aspect of your proposal and the expected return if they choose to invest.

An investment proposal focuses on showcasing the profitability, growth prospects, market potential, and risk mitigation strategies.

Business proposal vs. investment proposal

The difference between a business proposal and investment proposal lies in each of their purposes. A business plan is a document that outlines a specific business idea, project, or venture to persuade potential clients, partners, or stakeholders to engage in a business relationship.

On the other hand, an investment proposal is a document prepared to attract potential investors who are interested in providing financial resources to support a business that will yield returns on their funds.

Who can use the investment proposal template?

An investment proposal template can be used by various individuals and entities involved in seeking investment for a business venture. Those who can benefit from using an investment proposal template include: startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, project managers, nonprofit organizations, business advisors, and more.

Investment proposal for startups

Investment proposal templates would be particularly helpful for entrepreneurs and startups looking for a starting point in creating a compelling document to present to investors in raising capital for their business ventures.

Why should businesses use an investment proposal template?

Creating a compelling investment proposal may increase your chances of securing investment. Some advantages to using an investment proposal template include:

  • Time-saving: Investment proposal templates provide a pre-designed structure, allowing you to avoid starting from scratch.
  • Flexibility: Investment proposal templates provide a framework that can be customized to suit your specific investment opportunity.
  • Professional formatting: Templates help create a positive impression on potential investors with a polished and well-designed layout.
  • Improved clarity: Templates help you present information in a clear and logical manner, enhancing readability and ensures that your investment proposal is easy to understand for potential investors.

How do you write an investment proposal?

Our investment proposal template will help you generate data and charts for the financial portion of your investment proposal. Here’s how to do an investment proposal in Excel:

Step 1: Download investment proposal Excel template.

Step 2: Enter all estimated revenues and expenses for the project/company/investment for the next 10 years.

Step 3: Enter the capital investment needed over the next 10 years.

Step 4: Enter the rate of return expected by the investor. 

  • Industry standards suggest 10% to 20% for most investors.
  • All remaining data and charts will automatically populate based on the revenue, expenses, capital investment, and rate of return that were input in previous steps.

Step 5: Export "Investment Proposal" tab as a PDF and include the financial data in your investment proposal document to investors.

You can find more detailed instructions on how to use our investment proposal template upon download.

What is the format of an investment proposal?

The format of a investment proposal may vary slightly from one startup to another, however, we encourage outlining your proposal as follow:

  • Investment title
  • Executive summary of your business
  • Project/investment details
  • Company performance for the past 3-5 years
  • Planned marketing and sales methods
  • Team structure and logistics
  • Project/investment financials (Information from this template)
  • The investment ask
  • Detailing the use of funds
  • Conclusion

FAQ

What is the purpose of an investment proposal?

The purpose of an investment proposal is to present a business opportunity in a clear and compelling manner to convince investors that their funds will yield returns.

What information is included in an investment proposal?

An investment proposal varies from one startup to another, but typically includes the following information:

  • Executive summary
  • Business description
  • Market analysis
  • Investment opportunity
  • Financial projections
  • Management team
  • Risk assessment
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