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Most people want to invest in the business for the sole purpose of getting dividends. The better investors, though, see business investments through their success potential. This means that for investors, the business isn’t the investment itself; it’s the potential it has to make them more money for the rest of their lives.
So when you’re an investor starting out, making a business investment can be a daunting experience. Sure, you have money to burn, but a boatload of cash isn’t a great fallback to when investments come crashing down. Be smart, and cunning, as investing in businesses is always a 50-50 endeavor – one-half success, the other side a failure.
Look for businesses that already have competitive advantages.
Every businessman knows the value of competitive advantages. By definition, competitive advantage means anything that a business has over its competitor – name brand, brand recognition, logistical advantage, price points, etc. When you’re scouting for a business to invest in, look for clues that the business already has competitive advantages.
For example, if you’re looking to invest in a restaurant, make sure that you don’t just study their financial statements, experience the restaurant itself. What does it have that its competitors don’t? Is it the experience? The food? The people? Or all of it? Even suppliers that cost lower than the others are competitive.
When you spot a competitive advantage, please take note of it. It’s the easiest way to ensure dividends for dummies. A potential business to invest in should have several of these, so that when you do invest in it, your money won’t go to waste. A successful investment should give you dividends each year. And it is increasing, at that.
Know that the bigger your investment is, the bigger your loss will be as well.
The first rule of investing is investing only the money that you can afford to lose. While this is a conservative way of going about investments, it’s a surefire way of keeping your portfolio in tip-top shape. Conservative investing is smart investing. Don’t make the mistake of going at it full force without leaving something for yourself.
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For most investors, though, this advice is only applicable when you’re starting out. Some of the best investors in the world know the importance of calculated risk-taking, as well as the rewards of uncalculated ones. But if you want to make sure that you have your best foot forward, start investing small.
Invest in a business that speaks in financial terms.
Most investors will tell you that you should invest in a business that you truly care about. That way, you’ll be more passionate about it. While this is good advice, it does not present the whole truth of how investing in your passion can make you financially stupid. When emotions are involved, your decisions become muddy. In the long run, that’s not good for business.
Always invest in a liquid business. The only language that you need to know in investing is the language of financial statements. Know how to assess a potential investment through this criterion and this criterion alone. Don’t fool yourself that a business should be judged otherwise.
Invest in a business that you can ultimately be part of.
This is one of the most difficult things for investors to understand. When you invest in a business, it automatically means that you become a part of it. While the part of investors in the greater scheme of things is to fund the business from afar, when a business is in trouble, investors are also the first ones to rescue it.
So don’t invest in a business that you don’t ultimately see yourself in. You won’t get rich by doing that – investing passively. Invest in business because you want to see yourself on the board one day. Whether it’s a hole-in-the-wall, a small town business, or a family-owned one, make sure that when you invest in it, you have plans to be with it for quite some time.
Look for small businesses.
Small businesses always need investors. From gyms to real estate to start-ups, look out for these types of businesses. Small business owners may not be as liquid as some other big businesses out there, but the potential that these have is enough for any starting investor to take a gamble in.
Takeaway
The truly rich do not rely on a few investments alone. They rely on multiple sure cash cows. So when you want to get rich in investing in businesses, heed the advice above. Always bear in mind that there’s no cut-out way to be successful in any of the things you do. Investing is one of them. Learn as you go, and become a better investor with experience.
