What Is Equity Financing?
Equity financing is the process of raising capital through the sale of shares. Companies raise money because they might have a short-term need to pay bills or need funds for a long-term project that promotes growth. By selling shares, a business effectively sells ownership of its company in return for cash.
Equity financing comes from a variety of sources. For example, an entrepreneur's friends and family, professional investors, or an initial public offering (IPO) may provide needed capital.
An IPO is a process that private companies undergo to offer shares of their businessto the public in a new stock issuance. Public share issuance allows a company to raise capital from public investors.Industry giants, such as Google and Meta (formerly Facebook), raised billions in capital through IPOs.
While the term equity financing refers to the financingof public companies listed on an exchange, the term also applies to private company financing.
Key Takeaways
- Equity financing is used when companies need cash.
- It is typical for businesses to use equity financing several times as they become mature companies.
- There are two methods of equity financing: the private placement of stock with investors and public stock offerings.
- Equity financing differs from debt financing: the first involves selling a portion of equity in a company, while the latter involves borrowing money.
- National and local governments closely monitor equity financing to ensure it's done according to regulations.
How Equity Financing Works
Equity financing involves the sale of common stock and other equity or quasi-equity instruments such as preferred stock, convertible preferred stock, and equity units that include common shares and warrants. This action can affect existing shareholders and impact the ability to reach new shareholders.
A startup that grows into a successful company will have several rounds of equity financing as it evolves. Since a startup typically attracts different types of investors at various stages of its evolution, it may use other equity instruments for its financing needs.
For example, angel investors and venture capitalists—generally the first investors in a startup—favor convertible preferred shares rather than common stock in exchange for funding new companies because the former have more significant upside potential and some downside protection.
Once a company has grown large enough to consider going public, it may consider selling common stock to institutional and retail investors.
Later, if the company needs additional capital, it may choose secondary equity financing options,such as a rights offering or an offering of equity units that includes warrants as a sweetener.
Equity financing is distinct from debt financing. With debt financing, a company assumes a loan and pays back the loan over time with interest. Equity financing involves selling ownership shares in return for funds.
Types of Equity Financing
Individual Investors
These are often friends, family members, and colleagues of business owners. Individual investors usually have less money to invest, so more are needed to reach financing goals. These investors may have no relevant industry experience, business skills, or guidance to contribute to a business.
Angel Investors
Often, these are wealthy individuals or groups interested in funding businesses they believe will provide attractive returns. Angel investors can invest substantial amounts and provide needed insight, connections, and advice due to their industry experience. Typically, angels invest in the early stage of a business's development.
Venture Capitalists
Venture capitalists are individuals or firms capable of making substantial investments in businesses that they view as having very high and rapid growth potential, competitive advantages, and solid prospects for success. They usually demand a noteworthy share of ownership in a business for their financial investment, resources, and connections. In fact, they may insist on significant involvement in managing a company's planning, operations, and daily activities to protect their investment. Venture capitalists typically get involved early and exit at the IPO stage, where they can reap enormous profits.
Initial Public Offerings
A more well-established business can raise funds through IPOs, selling company stock shares to the public. Due to the expense, time, and effort that IPOs require, this type of equity financing occurs in a later stage of development after the company has grown. Investors in IPOs expect less control than venture capitalists and angel investors.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding involves individual investors investing small amounts via an online platform (such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Crowdfundr) to help a company reach particular financial goals. Such investors often share a common belief in the company's mission and goals.
Equity Financing vs. Debt Financing
Businesses typically have two options for financing when they want to raise capital for business needs: equity financing and debt financing. Debt financing involves borrowing money. Equity financing involves selling a portion of equity in the company. While there are distinct advantages to both types of financing, most companies use a combination of equity and debt financing.
No Ownership Issues With Debt
The most common form of debt financing is a loan. Unlike equity financing, which carries no repayment obligation, debt financing requires a company to pay back the money it receives, plus interest. However, an advantage of a loan (and debt financing, in general) is that it does not require a company to give up a portion of its ownership to shareholders.
With debt financing, the lender has no control over the business's operations. Once you pay back the loan, your relationship with the lender ends. Companies that elect to raise capital by selling stock to investors must share their profits and consult with these investors when they make decisions that impact the entire company.
Operational and Expense Differences
Debt financing can also restrict a company's operations, limiting its ability to take advantage of opportunities outside of its core business. In general, companies want a relatively low debt-to-equity ratio. Creditors look more favorably on such a metric and may allow additional debt financing in the future if a pressing need arises.
Finally, interest paid on loans is tax deductible as a business expense. Loan payments make forecasting for future expenses easy because the amount does not fluctuate.
Factors to Consider
When deciding whether to seek debt or equity financing, companies usually consider these three factors:
- What source of funding is most easily accessible for the company?
- What is the company's cash flow?
- How important is it for principal owners to maintain complete control of the company?
If a company has given investors apercentage of their company through the sale of equity, the only way to remove them (and their stake in the business) is to repurchase their shares, a process called a buy-out. However, repurchasing the shares will likely cost more than you received when you issued them.
Reasons to Choose Equity Financing
You're a Startup
Businesses in their early stages can be of particular interest to angel investors and venture capitalists. That's because of the high return potential they may see due to their experience and skills.
Established Lending Sources Ignore You
Equity financing is a solution when established financing methods aren't available due to the nature of the business. For example, traditional lenders such as banks often won't extend loans to companies they consider too significant a risk because of an owner's lack of business experience or an unproven business concept.
You Don't Want to Incur Debt
With equity financing, you don't add to your existing debt load and don't have a payment obligation. Investors assume the risk of investment loss.
You Get Guidance From Experts
Equity financing delivers more than money. Depending on the source of the funds, you may also receive and benefit from the valuable resources, guidance, skills, and experience of investors who want you to succeed.
Your Goal Is the Sale of Your Company
Equity financing can raise the substantial capital you may need to promote rapid and greater growth, making your company attractive to buyers and a sale possible.
Pros and Cons of Equity Financing
While equity financing has benefits, there are some disadvantages to being funded this way.
Pros of Equity Financing
No obligation to repay the money
No additional financial burden on the company
Large investors can provide a wealth of business expertise, resources, guidance, and contacts
Cons of Equity Financing
You have to give investors an ownershippercentage of your company
You have to share your profits with investors
You give up some control over your company
It may be more expensive than borrowing
Pros Explained
Equity financing results in no debt that must be repaid. It's also an option if your business can't obtain a loan. It's seen as a lower risk financing option because investors seek a return on their investment rather than the repayment of a loan. Plus, investors typically are more interested in helping you succeed than lenders are because the rewards can be substantial.
Equity financing offered by angel investors and venture capitalists can provide access to outstanding business expertise, insight, and advice. It can also provide you with new and vital business contacts and networks that may lead to additional funding.
Cons Explained
The stakes taken by investors providing equity financing can be significant, and thus, profits going to the business owners are reduced. Even small common stock investors get a share of the profits. Moreover, investors may want to be consulted whenever you plan to make decisions that will impact the company.
In exchange for the large amounts that angel investors and venture capitalists may invest, business owners must give over some percentage of ownership. That can translate to having less control over your own company.
The typically higher rate of return demanded by large investors can easily exceed that lenders charge. Also, shareholder dividends aren't tax deductible. Interest payments on loans are, with some exceptions.
Example of Equity Financing
Say that you've started a small tech company with your own capital of $1.5 million. At this stage, you have 100% ownership and control. Due to the industry that you're in and a fresh social media concept, your company attracts the interest of various investors, including angel investors and venture capitalists.
You're aware that you'll need additional funds to keep up a rapid pace of growth, so you decide to consider an outside investor. After meeting with a few and discussing your company's plans, goals, and financial needs with each, you decide to accept the $500,000 offered by an angel investor who you feel brings enough expertise to the table in addition to the funding. The amount is enough for this round of funding. Plus, you don't wish to relinquish a greater percentage of your company ownership by taking a larger amount.
Thus, the total invested in your company is now $2 million ($1.5 million + $500,000). The angel investor owns a 25% stake ($500,000/$2 million), and you maintain a 75% stake.
Special Considerations
The equity-financing process is governed by rules imposed by a local or national securities authority in most jurisdictions. Such regulation is primarily designed to protect the investing public from unscrupulous operators who may raise funds from unsuspecting investors and disappear with the financing proceeds.
Equity financing is thus often accompanied by an offering memorandum or prospectus, which contains extensive information that should help the investor make an informed decision on the merits of the financing. The memorandum or prospectus will state the company's activities, give information on its officers and directors, discuss how the financing proceeds will be used, outline the risk factors, and have financial statements.
Investor appetite for equity financingdepends significantly on the state of the financial markets in general and equity markets in particular. While a steady pace of equity financingindicates investor confidence, a torrent of financingmay indicate excessive optimism and a looming market top.
For example, IPOs by dot-coms and technology companies reached record levels in the late 1990s, before the "tech wreck" that engulfed the Nasdaq from 2000 to 2002.
The pace of equity financingtypically drops off sharply after a sustained market correction due to investor risk aversion during such periods.
How Does Equity Financing Work?
Equity financing involves selling a portion of a company'sequityin return forcapital.By selling shares, owners effectively sell ownership of their company in return for cash.
What Are the Different Types of Equity Financing?
Companies use two primary methods to obtainequity financing: the private placement of stock with investors or venture capital firms and public stock offerings. It is more common for young companies and startups to choose private placement because it is more straightforward.
Is Equity Financing Better Than Debt?
The most important benefit ofequity financingis that the money does not need to be repaid. However, the cost of equity is often higher than thecost of debt.
The Bottom Line
Companies often require outside investment to maintain their operationsand invest in future growth.Any smart business strategy will include a consideration of the balance of debt and equity financing that is the most cost-effective.
Equity financing can come from various sources. Regardless of the source, the greatest advantage of equity financing is that it carries no repayment obligation and provides extracapitalthat a company can use to expand its operations.
