Private Investor(s) needed!

[NIckJW]

Hi, I am based in Devon and have a business plan complete for a cold-start funeral home. I have no free money but a certain amount as equity in a mortgage. Ideally, we need 45K to start up. The banks state only 50/50 deal on raising this sum but this is not viable.

I have 10 years experience as funeral manager and my partner has run her own floristry for eight years. We have the model, the contacts, the enthusiasm and the knowledge. We only need the money!

Can anyone help or suggest an avenue to progress?

Many thanks.

NJW :|

 

[british steve]

www.crowdcube.com.

(I have no idea if they are any good as I have not used them - this is NOT a recommendation)

 

[Montaigne]

cold-start funeral home.

LOL, that's funny!

 

[AdamH_LWG]

What the.... is a cold start funeral home?? I just Googled it and this thread was the first result hahaha

 

[NIckJW]

I'd missed that pun, that is quite funny!

Cold-start as in: find an empty premises and create a funeral home from scratch. Any ideas?

 

[AdamH_LWG]

You could try a few investment sites, but you will need a good business plan.

 

[NIckJW]

Hi Adam, Thanks for the advice. I think the plan is water-tight; just the financing and we're up and running.

 

[KateCB]

This may sound trite, but aren't the larger funeral homes part of franchises, i.e. Co-Operative funeral homes are franchised throughout the country, and your equity in the mortgage could buy a franchise - they fit everything out, advertise etc, and you sort of pay as you go?

 

[NIckJW]

Hi Kate, the Co-op's MO is to either create new Co-op branches OR buy-out a previously independent funeral home, allowing the owner to carry on working but as a Co-op employee. In doing so, the 'owner' can retain some of their community contacts. To this end, there'd be no scope to suggest being a franchisee, nor would I want that because even if it is fully funded surely we'd simply be employees of the Co-op or Dignity. It did occur to me a while ago to try this angle but no luck. Thank you for your suggestion though. The advice is very useful, at least to even consider.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

www.crowdcube.com.

(I have no idea if they are any good as I have not used them - this is NOT a recommendation)

Look very carefully at their T's & C's, I think they charge quite a high % if you get the funding and they charge you a fee if you DON'T get the funding too !

As they stand, I'd think they are getting most of their profits from people NOT getting the full funding (which I belive they put a time limit on raising too).

 

[NIckJW]

Thanks Homer. Useful advice.

NJW