A Basic Guide to Investing in Small Businesses (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to invest in a small business? ›

Two primary methods of investing in a small business are equity investments and debt investment (i.e., loans).

One of the best ways for beginners to learn how to invest in stocks is to put money in an online investment account and purchase stocks from there. You don't have to have a lot of money to start investing. Many brokerages allow you to open an account with $0, and then you just have to purchase stock.

How much startup funding you need depends on many factors, such as your industry, the products or services or the store location. The cheapest businesses to start may cost as little as $12,000 initially, but other businesses like restaurants can run from $400,000 or more.

For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must equal at least 1% of the purchase price. If you want to buy an investment property, the 1% rule can be a helpful tool for finding the right property to achieve your investment goals.

According to this rule, stocks can potentially return 10% annually, bonds 5%, and cash 3%. While these figures are not guarantees, they serve as a guideline for investors to forecast potential returns and adjust their portfolio accordingly.

The Rule of 72 is a simple way to determine how long an investment will take to double given a fixed annual rate of interest. Dividing 72 by the annual rate of return gives investors a rough estimate of how many years it will take for the initial investment to duplicate itself.

To make $1,000 per month on T-bills, you would need to invest $240,000 at a 5% rate. This is a solid return — and probably one of the safest investments available today. But do you have $240,000 sitting around? That's the hard part.

What is the safest investment right now? ›

Day Trade. If you're a nimble and proficient trader, probably the “easiest” way to make fast money in the stock market is to become a day trader. A day trader moves in and out of a stock rapidly within a single day, sometimes making multiple transactions in the same security on the same day.

Mutual funds are the way to go. They cast a wide net across many companies, helping you avoid the risks that come with the trendy stuff, like crypto. Just remember, match beats Roth beats traditional on figuring out where to invest for retirement first.

Average Time it Takes to Learn Investing

Several experts agree that in the first six to twelve months, one learns the basics and masters those concepts, after which one learns advanced concepts and invests.

The 4% rule entails withdrawing up to 4% of your retirement in the first year, and subsequently withdrawing based on inflation. Some risks of the 4% rule include whims of the market, life expectancy, and changing tax rates. The rule may not hold up today, and other withdrawal strategies may work better for your needs.

Investing in small businesses offers potential returns, diversification, and an opportunity to participate in the success of the American economy.

In general, investors want to see ROI of 5% or higher before investing in a small business. That means if your company earns $250,000 in profits, it should have less than $50,000 in expenses to attract attention.