How to Prepare Your SME for Investment in Nigeria

Investors need to see clear, accurate financial records. This includes audited financial statements, detailed revenue and profit margins, and realistic financial projections. Clean books demonstrate professionalism and transparency.

Your business plan is your roadmap. It should clearly outline your mission, market analysis, competitive landscape, operational plan, marketing strategy, and how you plan to use the investment to achieve specific milestones.

Be prepared to discuss your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) inside and out. This includes Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Lifetime Value (LTV), churn rate, and monthly recurring revenue (MRR). This shows you have a deep understanding of your business.

Investors often bet on the team as much as the idea. Highlight the experience, expertise, and commitment of your key team members. Show that you have the right people in place to execute your vision.

Your pitch deck is your first impression. It should be a concise, compelling, and visual summary of your business plan. It needs to tell a story and clearly articulate the problem you solve, your solution, your market size, and your "ask" (how much you're raising).

Have a realistic understanding of what your company is worth. Be able to justify your valuation with data, such as revenue multiples, discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, or comparable company analysis. An unrealistic valuation can be a deal-breaker.