Got a little extra cash in hand? Invest! We know it can be quite risky; there are just so many things to consider! And not all investment stories are success stories. I’m sure we all know someone who blew off a large chunk of money trying to make a clever investment; which brings us to our first tip for investing in a business:

Perform a Thorough Background Check

Ask around about the company; make sure there is a positive feedback. Check what organization or big-name is backing the company up as well; a renowned group backing the company you want to invest in is great news. But even if it is a few small-time brokers, its fine as long as you know they have a reputation of being trustworthy. Just make sure the business seems credible and legitimate.

Talk to the owners about their work and make sure they know their way about the business. Do not invest in the business where the owners do not seem too sure of themselves or if you think anything is amiss.

Do not Expect Instant Returns

Most new businesses normally take a couple of years to give significant return to the investors. It may take up to seven or eight years too! What you need to do till then is see how the company is doing in that duration. As long as the company performs well, there is the prospect of good returns coming your way and you can stay relaxed.

There is a very minute fraction of companies that hit it big in the first one or two years. Even if you know someone who got instant returns from such a company, it is foolish to expect the same for yourself.

Talk to a Financial Advisor

If you are unsure about your own business instincts, talk to your financial advisor. Since they give sound financial advice for a living, they would probably give you an investing strategy that you cannot think up yourself.

Plan on How to Get Your Money Out

This is not just in case the business ends up failing. You need to plan an exit strategy to get your money out the minute you need it. As soon as you see the business start to falter, you should take your money out. It is possible that the business comes back on track later, but unless you are truly loaded, chances are that you don’t just have that kind of money lying around.

Weigh out the Pros and Cons

Make a list of the pros and cons of investing in the company you have in mind. This is a really simple strategy; see if the pros outweigh the cons or the cons outweigh the pros.

You know whether to go ahead with the investment or not under the circumstances. If there isn’t a clear distinction between the pros and the cons and you want to give the company a chance, you should proceed but with caution.…