The amount of equity that angels receive in return for their initial investment varies widely. It's typically between around 10% and 25% but it can be as much as 40% or more. Angel investment is most suitable if your business has growth potential, and you're willing to give up part ownership in return for investment.
Angel investors typically take a 10% to 25% share of your business, which leaves you firmly in control. Some venture capital schemes (see below) also stipulate that an investor cannot take larger than a 30% stake in a business, ensuring founders retain control of their business.
To be an angel, you need to qualify as an accredited investor, defined by the SEC as $1 million of net worth or annual income over $200,000. (I'm simplifying – the real definition is a bit more complex – but it gives you the idea.) You don't have to own a professional sports team, or pass an exam.
Several variables, including the type of investment, the level of risk, and the expected return, will affect what constitutes a fair percentage for an investor. For angel investors, the typical standard is to provide between 20-25% of your company's profits.
However, successful investments in early-stage companies can provide substantial returns. On average, angel investors and venture capitalists aim for ROI in the range of 20% to 30% or higher. But remember, these figures can vary greatly depending on the specific investment, industry, and market conditions.
Angel investors look for companies that have already built a product and are beyond the earliest formation stages, and they typically invest between $100,000 and $2 million in such a company.
Angel investors typically invest between $25,000 and $100,000 in a project. On the other hand, seed firms usually invest a larger amount, typically between $250,000 and $1 million.
The amount invested during an angel round typically ranges from $25,000 to $1 million. This funding is crucial for startups as it helps them move from the idea phase to a stage where they can develop their products or services, build a team, and start generating revenue.
Money you invest as an angel investor is not tax deductible like a charitable gift. It's more complicated. However, since we wrote this piece in late 2021, there have been several states that have come out with “angel tax credits” - which means that there may be state level tax opportunities.
The program provides a taxpayer investor a credit of 20% of the qualifying investment, or 30% if the business is located in a gateway municipality, in a business that has no more than $500,000 in gross revenues in the year prior to eligibility.