How to find sponsors for business development and holding an event: 5 options + 3 steps to fundraising!

Coming up with an idea for a business is one thing. But putting it into practice is a completely different thing. Many business ideas remain unrealized for one simple reason - lack of money. One category of people, we will call them failed businessmen, leave their idea until better times or completely forget about it. The other is looking for all sorts of ways to bring the project to life. They gut the "stash", take loans or think about how to find sponsors.

How to find sponsors for your business: 5 search options + 3 steps to fundraising

Before asking yourself the question of how to find sponsors for a business, you need to understand for yourself how we imagine these same sponsors, what you yourself can offer them. Just because no one will give money. The sponsor must always be confident in the profitability of the project, so it is necessary to provide him with full information about the business idea.

Therefore, we will divide our story into two blocks: the first - we will find out where to find sponsors, as well as who can become them. Second, we will define the main steps of how to find sponsors for the project.

Where to find sponsors: 5 ways to raise money for business development

So, who can act as a sponsor? Who can you ask for money? As they say, where to start, where to run? And let's start with the simplest - with our relatives and friends.

Relatives and friends

You need to contact friends or relatives - entrepreneurs, and those involved in a business close to your idea. Sponsors give money for a reason, firstly, they must be sure that your project will be profitable. And secondly, you will need to advertise the sponsor's services. This can be done both at the presentation of your project and after it.

For example, you are going to open a beauty salon, and your relative is engaged in the production of cosmetics. Consider that you have found each other - he gives you money for promotion, and you not only advertise his products, but also use them in your activities, i.e. here the sponsor also acts as a supplier.

Big businessmen

If among relatives or acquaintances there was no one suitable, contact the entrepreneurs of your city. Gather the necessary information about the companies you are interested in and come up with a proposal to their leader. In our example, we are looking for organizations related to cosmetology: cosmetic products, specialized equipment, and so on.

By the way, entrepreneurs themselves are often not averse to sponsoring profitable projects. If they have free funds, then they would rather invest them in a profitable business than keep them just like that. The main thing is to prove to them that "the game is worth the candle." For more information on how to convince sponsors that the project will be successful, read the chapter "how to find sponsors for a project".

Regional state structures

If you think that your innovation will help for the development of the region, or maybe it is connected with some scientific discoveries, then feel free to contact the city administration with a request for a grant.

A grant is a kind of gratuitous amount for starting a business. It is clear that many start-up entrepreneurs apply for a grant, but not everyone who wants it receives this grant. The main thing here is to prove that your project will not only bring you profit, but, first of all, it will be useful to society.

For example, if you want to open a car rental company, then you don’t even have to think about a grant. But the idea of ​​opening a mini-bakery specializing in the so-called "healthy" bread: dietary, whole grain, BIO or "live" may well qualify for the help of the region.

Technopark and business incubator

Structures such as business incubators and technology parks that help young entrepreneurs have become widespread. Sponsorship here is to create favorable conditions for the start of business development.

New businessmen are offered training services in the basics of entrepreneurship, accounting and other important sciences. A fully equipped office with furniture, office equipment, etc. is also provided on favorable terms. Assistance is provided both in writing business plans and in finding sponsors.

Banks and credit organizations

If you don’t seriously think about the question “how to find sponsors” at all and you are confident in your creditworthiness, then you can simply contact the bank for a loan. But then you will need to find guarantors, you must have a good credit history, you will need to find property secured. As a rule, the amount for business development is not small, and whether this business will be profitable is still unknown.

The pitfall when contacting the bank is the high interest on the loan. Therefore, this option of obtaining funds for business development is very risky.

How to find sponsors for a project: 3 main steps to sponsor money

So, we have decided where to look for sponsors, now we will write down the steps that will help us “reach out” to them.

Step 1. Decide on the amount, develop a business plan

Before we ask ourselves how to find sponsors, we ourselves must have a clear idea about our future project. It is necessary to clearly know how much we will need, to put all the costs on the shelves, to plan the profit. Of course, for the sponsor, the project that involves a larger amount of planned profit will be more attractive. Equally important is the payback period of the project.

The inclusion of a section on possible risks and their assessment in the business plan, as well as a development plan for this type of activity with all calculations, can increase the attractiveness of the project to the sponsor. Do not be too lazy to draw up a business plan in a beautiful and high-quality way - you have yet to submit it. The printed paper must be of high quality. Accompany the material with graphic data.

A well-designed business development strategy is the first step for a successful search for sponsors!

Step 2. We attract sponsors

Where can I get money to start my own business? This is the problem faced by 95% of new entrepreneurs! In the article, we have revealed the most relevant ways of obtaining start-up capital for an entrepreneur. We also recommend that you carefully study the results of our experiment in exchange earnings:

Sponsors will not know about you until you declare yourself. How? Now we'll find out.

1. Post information

Business associations or business associations have been set up in almost every city. Apply there. Maybe that's where there is a person who wants to invest their money.

Stopped at borrowed funds? Apply to banks and credit organizations. You can place ads looking for sponsors through some business publications. Moreover, it can be both electronic and printed sources.

1. Visit the "right" places

What shall we include here? Business forums, meetings aimed at helping new entrepreneurs. You can find out about such events through the Internet or online forums.

Step 3. Project presentation

So, the sponsor is found, the stage of persuasion begins. The business plan has been drawn up, now it is necessary to present it correctly. That's right, it means not to leave any doubts with the sponsor about the profitability of your proposal. It is necessary to inform him both about your goals and plans for the future, and about the benefits that the sponsor will receive by investing in your project.

Plan your presentation to fit within 5-7 minutes. Don't forget visuals. Slides are the best. Prepare answers to possible questions that you will no doubt be asked. For your part, also prepare a number of questions that interest you. Any person likes to be asked about him. By asking questions, you will make it clear that you have inquired about the sponsor and its activities and are interested in mutually beneficial cooperation.

How to find sponsors for an event: 3 steps to what you want

Another issue that I would like to highlight in this article is how to find sponsors for the event. Let's say you open the same beauty salon and in honor of its opening you decide to hold a local beauty contest. A competition is a competition, but money is also needed for it. How to find them?

Again, we are looking for sponsors, especially with an event interconnected with the main activity, you can kill two birds with one stone: find sponsors both for the planned event and for further cooperation.

Preparatory work

First, before looking for sponsors, you need to provide all the information about the event. Describe both the purpose and duration of the event, describe in detail the program and participants of the event.

Do not forget to mention sponsors in advertising. For example, place advertisements for sponsored products on invitation flyers. You can also use their products as prizes in the competition. Even if other prizes are used, they can be placed in bags with the sponsor's logo.

Working with sponsors

The next step in how to find sponsors for the event will be direct phone calls to potential patrons. Feel free to both write them letters and make calls. And do it regularly. Keep up to date with how the preparations for the event are going on, which of the authorities supported your event, where the advertisement was given.

Do not forget also about direct meetings with sponsors. Show them promotional products with their logo, listen to both comments and wishes. Show a sincere interest in their activities, make inquiries about them, follow their achievements.

Many sponsors are not satisfied with only advertising about them during the event. They need direct access to customers. Try to make this way out! And the first step will be, of course, the distribution of prizes from sponsors. If people are satisfied with the products or services, then in the future they themselves will turn to the right address.

After the event

At the end of the event, do not forget to thank the sponsors in writing, as well as give some statistical data characterizing the event. For example, tell how many people were present, reflect the number of both donated and purchased products, give them a copy of the promotional product. By the way, don't forget to include your contact details.

If the sponsor is satisfied with the advertising campaign carried out as part of your event, then the next time he will contact you.

Afterword

So, if you decide on your own project, but do not have finances at all, do not hesitate to turn to third-party resources. We hope you find our tips on how to find sponsors helpful.