There is real stress when you first start up, when you start to think about cash and cashflow, these things are never for from a founders daily tasks, how is my cash postion, what can I do save cash, how am I going to pay the bills, what does that leave me to eat this week, I was talking to Bill Payne, who is a seasoned entreprenure and this was the output of that chat.Bootstrapping enables entrepreneurs to operate their startup companies with minimal infusions of cash from others, postpone raising capital from outsides sources, and maintain 100 percent ownership of their companies.
After capital has been raised from friends, family, angels, or VCs, bootstrapping is the technique entrepreneurs use to "extend the runway." That is, to postpone raising additional capital until key milestones can be met. Meeting milestones demonstrates the viability of the company, increases the valuation of the company when raising money, and allows the entrepreneur to maximize personal ownership in the company.
Bootstrapping can take many forms, but can be divided into personal or business sources of cash and/or reduction in expenses, as is shown in the chart below:
Sometimes it becomes necessary to provide incentives to assist the entrepreneur in bootstrapping the company. Options (or warrants) to purchase stock in the company can be offered to employees, vendors (including landlords), customers, and partners. Permanent or temporary exclusive relationships can be used to motivate vendors, customers, and partners.
Why bootstrap your company? Why not simply raise money from angels or VCs? Equity investment is the most expensive source of capital for starting companies. Why? Debt (if available) may cost 5 to 20 percent annually.
For highly successful companies, equity costs over 100 percent per year. Don't raise the funds needed to start your company from equity sources unless you absolutely must do so. And there are additional reasons to bootstrap rather than raise money now:
Fundraising takes much more time than most entrepreneurs anticipate. The time dedicated to raising money could be more effectively used to develop and commercialize your first product. Generate revenues (and profits) early-by bootstrapping the company.
Raising money too early, before meeting substantial milestones for success, decreases the valuation at which money can be raised thereby increasing the percentage of ownership new investors will require to complete the transaction. Bootstrap the company-keep 100 percent ownership.
Entrepreneurs always have been bootstrapping startup ventures. It is a time-proven method for extending the funds available to start a company until the cash generated from earnings is available to fund the growth of the business.
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