25 KiB
11. FUNDING STRATEGY
Document: Business Plan GBCM LLC 2025 Section: 11 - Funding Strategy Version: 2.0 Date: October 2025 Pages: 12
📋 TABLE DES MATIÈRES
- Vue d'Ensemble
- Capital Requirements
- Funding Sources & Strategy
- Use of Funds
- Investor Value Proposition
- Exit Strategies
- Funding Timeline
🎯 VUE D'ENSEMBLE
Funding Philosophy: Bootstrap First, Scale Smart
GBCM LLC adopte une approche capital-efficient pour maximiser le contrôle du fondateur et la rentabilité long-terme.
Core Principle: "Every dollar raised dilutes ownership - only raise when ROI is clear"
Strategy:
- Year 1: Bootstrap (Founder capital $75K + Revenue reinvestment)
- Year 2: Cashflow-positive (No external funding needed)
- Year 3+: Optional growth capital (if pursuing aggressive expansion)
Why Bootstrap vs Raise?
Advantages of Bootstrapping: ✅ Full ownership: Founder retains 100% equity (no dilution) ✅ Control: All strategic decisions founder-driven (no investor board seats) ✅ Focus: Build great product, not pitch decks (time spent on clients, not fundraising) ✅ Profitability focus: Forced discipline (can't burn cash recklessly) ✅ Exit flexibility: No investor pressure to exit prematurely
When Raising Makes Sense:
- 💰 Aggressive growth: Want to capture market faster (hire 20 people Year 2 vs 3)
- 🚀 Tech investment: Build proprietary AI platform ($500K+ investment)
- 🌍 Geographic expansion: Open offices in 5 cities simultaneously
- 🛡️ Competitive defense: Well-funded competitor enters market, need war chest
GBCM Decision: Bootstrap Year 1-2, evaluate raising in Year 3 if opportunity warrants
💰 CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
Year 1 Funding Need: $75,000
Source: Founder personal investment
Allocation (Detailed in Section 10 - Financial Projections):
| Category | Amount | % of Total | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing & Sales | $60,000 | 80% | Client acquisition (CAC $2,000 × 30 clients) |
| Technology | $45,000 | 60% | Platform development, AI infrastructure, tools |
| Operations | $15,000 | 20% | Legal, accounting, insurance, office setup |
| Working Capital | $20,000 | 27% | Cash buffer (1-2 months expenses) |
| TOTAL | $75,000 | - | Initial capital injection |
Note: Percentages exceed 100% because categories overlap with revenue reinvestment
Cash Flow Projections (3-Year Overview)
| Metric | Year 1 (2026) | Year 2 (2027) | Year 3 (2028) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning Cash | $75,000 | $2,800 | $122,800 |
| Revenue | $180,000 | $420,000 | $850,000 |
| Operating Expenses | $237,200 | $405,000 | $670,000 |
| EBITDA | ($72,200) | -$20,000 | $110,000 |
| Cash from Operations | ($72,200) | $15,000 | $180,000 |
| Ending Cash | $2,800 | $122,800 | $412,800 |
| Runway (Months) | 0.1 ⚠️ | 3.6 | 7.4 |
Key Insights:
- ⚠️ Year 1 Cash Crunch: Ending cash $2,800 = Razor-thin margin (reliant on revenue coming in monthly)
- ✅ Year 2 Inflection: Positive cash flow ($15K) + accumulated $122K = Breathing room
- 🚀 Year 3 Strength: $180K cash generation = Can self-fund growth OR return profits to founder
Burn Rate Analysis
Monthly Burn Rate:
| Period | Revenue/Mo | Expenses/Mo | Net Burn | Runway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | $8,000 | $18,000 | -$10,000 | 7.5 months |
| Q4 2026 | $18,000 | $20,000 | -$2,000 | 1.4 months ⚠️ |
| Q2 2027 | $35,000 | $34,000 | +$1,000 | ∞ (cashflow+) |
| Q4 2028 | $80,000 | $65,000 | +$15,000 | ∞ |
Risk Mitigation:
- Front-load revenue (annual prepay discounts - 5% off if pay upfront)
- Delay hires (Senior Coach from Q2 → Q3 2027 if revenue lags)
- Founder can inject additional $25K if emergency (backup plan)
🏦 FUNDING SOURCES & STRATEGY
Primary Strategy: Founder Self-Funding + Revenue
Year 1 (2026): Founder Investment
Amount: $75,000
Source Options:
- Personal Savings: Liquid cash
- Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC): If available (typically 3-6% interest)
- Retirement Account (401k Loan): Borrow up to $50K, repay over 5 years
- Personal Loan: Bank or credit union (6-10% APR, if credit score 700+)
Recommended: Personal savings (no debt, no interest payments)
Alternative if Insufficient Savings:
- Start with $40K (bare minimum)
- Reduce Year 1 target: 30 → 20 clients (lower marketing spend)
- Slower growth, but less risk
Alternative Strategy: External Funding (If Needed)
Option A: Friends & Family Round
Amount: $50,000 - $150,000 When: If founder can't self-fund full $75K OR wants to accelerate growth
Structure:
- Convertible Note (debt that converts to equity later)
- Interest rate: 5% annually
- Conversion trigger: When raise institutional round (Series A)
- Discount: 20% (F&F investors get equity at 20% discount vs Series A price)
- Valuation cap: $2M (protects F&F if company valuates high)
Example:
Aunt Jane invests $25,000 via convertible note
- Earns 5% interest annually ($1,250/year)
- If GBCM raises Series A at $5M valuation in Year 3:
- Her $25K converts at $2M valuation cap (20% discount)
- She gets: $25K ÷ ($2M × 0.8) = 1.56% equity
- Worth: $5M × 1.56% = $78,000 (3.1x return in 3 years)
Pros:
- ✅ Quick (no due diligence, pitch decks, negotiations)
- ✅ Supportive (they want you to succeed, not just maximize return)
- ✅ Flexible terms (can be informal)
Cons:
- ⚠️ Relationship risk (if business fails, Thanksgiving dinners awkward)
- ⚠️ Dilution (give up equity eventually)
- ⚠️ Messiness (mixing personal relationships with business)
GBCM Recommendation: Avoid unless absolutely necessary
Option B: Small Business Loan (SBA 7(a) or Bank Term Loan)
Amount: $50,000 - $250,000 When: Year 2+ (need 1 year financials + revenue to qualify)
SBA 7(a) Loan Details:
- Interest Rate: Prime + 2.75% (currently ~9-10%)
- Term: Up to 10 years
- Collateral: Often requires personal guarantee (founder's assets)
- Approval Time: 60-90 days
- Use: Working capital, equipment, marketing
Example:
$100K SBA loan at 10% interest, 7-year term
- Monthly payment: $1,661
- Total repayment: $139,929 (cost of capital: $39,929)
Pros:
- ✅ No dilution (debt, not equity)
- ✅ Tax-deductible interest
- ✅ Build business credit
Cons:
- ⚠️ Personal guarantee (founder liable if business fails)
- ⚠️ Fixed payments (even if revenue dips)
- ⚠️ Time-consuming (lots of paperwork, slow approval)
GBCM Recommendation: Consider Year 2 if want to accelerate hiring (e.g., hire 2 coaches instead of 1)
Option C: Angel Investment
Amount: $250,000 - $500,000 When: Year 2-3 if pursuing aggressive growth (10× revenue in 3 years)
Typical Terms:
- Equity: 15-25% of company
- Valuation: $1-2M pre-money (early-stage coaching/consulting firms)
- Board Seat: 1 investor seat (observe or participate in decisions)
- Preferences: 1x liquidation preference (get money back first if exit)
Angel Investor Profile:
- Successful entrepreneur (exited own company for $10M+)
- Passionate about coaching/education
- Strategic value-add (not just money - opens doors, advises)
Example:
Angel invests $300K at $1.5M pre-money valuation
- Post-money valuation: $1.8M
- Angel equity: $300K ÷ $1.8M = 16.7%
- Founder dilution: 100% → 83.3%
If GBCM exits at $15M in 5 years:
- Founder keeps: $15M × 83.3% = $12.5M
- Angel returns: $15M × 16.7% = $2.5M (8.3x return)
Pros:
- ✅ Significant capital (hire team, build tech, expand fast)
- ✅ Mentorship (experienced operator guides founder)
- ✅ Network (angel opens doors to clients, partners, next investors)
Cons:
- ⚠️ Dilution (give up 15-25% forever)
- ⚠️ Loss of control (investor has board seat, veto power on big decisions)
- ⚠️ Pressure to grow (angel expects 10x return, not lifestyle business)
- ⚠️ Time-consuming (3-6 months to raise, lots of pitching)
GBCM Recommendation: Only pursue if:
- Want to build $50M+ company (not lifestyle $2-5M business)
- Found perfect angel (adds massive strategic value, not just $$$)
- Ready to give up some control for acceleration
Option D: Venture Capital (VC)
Amount: $1M - $5M When: Year 3+ if becoming tech platform (not pure services)
Reality Check:
- VCs DON'T fund services businesses (coaching, consulting)
- VCs want: Software, scalable tech, 100x potential, $100M+ exit
- GBCM as pure coaching firm = NOT VC-backable
GBCM Could Become VC-Backable IF:
- Pivot to platform play (license AI Coach™ to other coaching firms for $10K/year)
- 1,000 coaches × $10K = $10M ARR (THAT interests VCs)
- But that's a different business (SaaS, not services)
GBCM Recommendation: Ignore VC unless we pivot to tech/SaaS model (unlikely Year 1-3)
Strategic Partnerships (Non-Dilutive Funding)
Revenue-Share Partnerships:
Concept: Partner with established player (corporate training company, consultancy, tech platform) who pays GBCM for content/delivery
Example Partnership:
Partner: Large corporate training company (10,000 clients)
Deal: They white-label GBCM content for their clients
Terms:
- Upfront: $100K (content licensing)
- Recurring: $50/client/year (if they sell to 500 clients = $25K/year)
- Duration: 3-year contract
Value to GBCM:
- $100K immediate cash (solves Year 1 cash crunch)
- $75K over 3 years ($25K × 3)
- Total: $175K
- Dilution: 0% (no equity given)
Where to Find Partners:
- Corporate training: Dale Carnegie, FranklinCovey, AchieveGlobal
- Coaching associations: ICF chapters, regional coach networks
- Tech platforms: BetterUp (enterprise), CoachHub (offer SMB version via GBCM)
GBCM Recommendation: Pursue actively Year 2 (once proven model with 30+ clients)
💸 USE OF FUNDS
Year 1 Capital Deployment ($75,000)
Detailed Allocation:
1. Marketing & Client Acquisition ($30,000 - 40%)
| Item | Cost | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Website Design & Development | $3,000 | Professional Webflow site, 10 pages |
| LinkedIn Ads | $12,000 | Lead generation ($1,000/month) |
| Content Marketing | $5,000 | AI tools (Jasper, Surfer SEO), design (Canva Pro) |
| Events & Webinars | $6,000 | Webinar software, in-person event costs |
| Email Marketing | $2,000 | ConvertKit ($500/year), lead magnets, templates |
| Partnerships | $2,000 | Co-marketing materials, referral program setup |
ROI: 30 clients × $12,000 avg ACV = $360,000 revenue from $30K investment = 12:1 ROI
2. Technology & Platform ($25,000 - 33%)
| Item | Cost | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Development | $10,000 | Quarkus backend, Flutter mobile app enhancements |
| AI Infrastructure (OpenAI API) | $2,000 | AI Coach™ GPT-4 usage (Year 1 est.) |
| Cloud Hosting (AWS) | $6,000 | Servers, database, storage ($500/month) |
| Software Tools | $5,000 | Zoom, HubSpot, Notion, analytics, etc. |
| Security & Compliance | $2,000 | SSL, backups, penetration testing |
ROI: Platform enables 4x capacity (60 vs 15 clients) = $480K incremental revenue potential
3. Operations & Admin ($10,000 - 13%)
| Item | Cost | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Legal (Formation, Contracts) | $3,000 | LLC setup, client agreements, IP protection |
| Accounting & Bookkeeping | $3,900 | CPA services ($325/month) |
| Insurance | $2,500 | Liability, E&O, cyber insurance |
| Office Setup | $600 | Home office (desk, chair, webcam, lighting) |
ROI: Protects business from legal/financial risks (avoid $50K+ lawsuit)
4. Working Capital & Buffer ($10,000 - 13%)
- Purpose: Cover cash flow gaps (expenses due before revenue arrives)
- Usage: Pay January expenses before first client pays in February
- Buffer: 1-2 months of operating expenses (~$15-20K/month)
Critical: Without this buffer, business could fail despite having clients (cash timing mismatch)
Year 2 Use of Funds (Self-Funded from Revenue)
Available Capital: $15,000 (cash from operations) + $122,800 (accumulated cash) = $137,800
Deployment:
| Category | Amount | Key Investments |
|---|---|---|
| Team Expansion | $85,000 | Senior Coach ($100K prorated), Sales Mgr ($45K), Ops Mgr raise |
| Marketing Scale | $40,000 | 2x ad spend, podcast launch, 4 in-person events |
| Technology | $20,000 | AI v2.0, mobile app features, analytics dashboard |
| Professional Development | $5,000 | Training for new hires, founder executive coaching |
| Reserve | $10,000 | Emergency fund (maintain 0.5-1 month expenses) |
Note: Revenue ($420K) covers all expenses ($405K) + these investments
Year 3 Use of Funds (Profitable, Optionality)
Available Capital: $180,000 (cash from operations) + $412,800 (accumulated)
Options:
Option A: Reinvest for Growth
- Hire 2 additional coaches ($220K)
- Open regional office ($30K setup)
- Build enterprise sales team ($100K)
- Target: $2M revenue Year 4
Option B: Profit Distribution (Lifestyle Business)
- Founder takes $110,000 EBITDA as distribution
- Retain $70,000 for working capital
- Maintain steady 100-client base
Option C: Prepare for Exit
- Hire COO ($150K) to run day-to-day (founder steps back)
- Increase EBITDA to 20% ($170K on $850K revenue)
- Position for acquisition (3-5x EBITDA = $500K-$850K exit value)
GBCM Likely Path: Option A (reinvest for 2-3 more years, then exit or stabilize)
🎯 INVESTOR VALUE PROPOSITION
For Friends & Family (If Raising $50-150K)
Investment Thesis: "Back a proven operator building a capital-efficient, profitable coaching business"
Key Selling Points:
- Market Opportunity: $20B US business coaching market, growing 17% annually
- Competitive Advantage: AI-powered platform (first-mover in SMB space)
- Experienced Founder: 20+ years, 100+ clients coached, proven track record
- Capital Efficiency: $75K → $180K revenue Year 1 (2.4x capital efficiency)
- Path to Profitability: Cashflow-positive Month 18, profitable Year 3
- Exit Potential: $500K-$5M acquisition (Year 4-5) = 3-10x return
Risk Factors (Be transparent):
- ⚠️ Founder dependency (if Gregory leaves/incapacitated, business suffers)
- ⚠️ Competitive market (145,000 coaches, need strong differentiation)
- ⚠️ Execution risk (scaling from 1 to 100 clients is hard)
- ⚠️ Cash flow timing (tight margins Year 1-2, could need more capital)
Investment Terms (Suggested):
- Amount: $50K-$150K total (max $25K per investor to diversify)
- Structure: Convertible note (5% interest, $2M cap, 20% discount)
- Use of Funds: Marketing (60%), Technology (30%), Working capital (10%)
- Reporting: Quarterly emails (financials, progress, challenges)
- Exit Timeline: 4-6 years (acquisition or buyback)
For Angel Investors (If Raising $250-500K Year 2-3)
Investment Thesis: "Scale the #1 AI-powered coaching platform for growth-stage SMBs"
Traction to Show (Year 2 metrics):
- 💰 Revenue: $420K ARR (growing 133% YoY)
- 👥 Clients: 63 (30% are $20K+ ADVISORY clients)
- 📊 Unit Economics: LTV $36K, CAC $3K (12:1 ratio), 92% gross margin
- ⭐ Satisfaction: NPS 60, 4.6 average session rating, 85% renewal rate
- 🤖 Technology: AI Coach™ handling 65% of client questions, 2,000+ active users
- 📈 Growth: MQL pipeline 200/month, sales cycle 90 days, 67% close rate
Why Invest Now:
- ✅ Proven Model: Not just an idea - validated with 60+ paying clients
- ✅ Scalable: Tech platform enables 10x growth without 10x team
- ✅ Defensible: Proprietary AI dataset (5,000 hours coaching data), trademarked methodologies
- ✅ Large TAM: Can reach $10M revenue (1,000 clients × $10K avg) in 5 years
- ✅ Exit Path: Strategic buyers (BetterUp, LinkedIn Learning, Vistage) actively acquiring
Use of Funds ($300K example):
- 🧑💼 Team ($150K): Hire 2 senior coaches + marketing lead
- 🤖 Technology ($75K): AI v3.0 (multi-language, voice), enterprise features
- 📈 Marketing ($50K): Paid ads, SEO, partnerships, events
- 💰 Working Capital ($25K): Buffer for 3-6 months expenses
Projected Returns:
| Scenario | Exit Value | Investor Return (16.7% equity) | Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | $5M (Year 5) | $835K | 2.8x |
| Base Case | $12M (Year 5) | $2M | 6.7x |
| Optimistic | $25M (Year 6) | $4.2M | 14x |
Comparable Exits (Validate valuation):
- BetterUp: Raised $300M, valued at $1.73B (enterprise coaching platform)
- CoachHub: Raised $110M, valued at $1B+ (global coaching platform)
- Torch.io: Acquired by Torch | ~$50M (leadership development platform, 500 clients)
🚪 EXIT STRATEGIES
Founder Goals (Clarify Intent)
Key Questions:
- Build to sell? OR Build to hold?
- Lifestyle business ($500K-$2M/year profit)? OR Growth venture ($50M+ exit)?
- Exit in 5 years? OR run for 20 years?
Gregory's Goals (Placeholder - Customize):
- Primary: Build $10-20M profitable business, exit in 5-7 years
- Secondary: If no exit, become dividend-generating asset ($500K-$1M/year profit to founder)
Exit Option 1: Strategic Acquisition
Likely Acquirers:
A. Enterprise Coaching Platforms (Want SMB Offering)
- BetterUp: Focused on Fortune 500, could buy GBCM for SMB market
- CoachHub: European leader, wants US expansion
- Sounding Board: Tech-enabled coaching, aligned model
B. Corporate Training Companies (Add Coaching)
- LinkedIn Learning: Want live coaching to complement courses
- Udemy for Business: Same rationale
- Skillsoft: Corporate training giant, acquiring coaching firms
C. Membership/Community Platforms (Add Content)
- Vistage: Largest CEO peer group, could integrate GBCM methodology
- EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization): 18,000 members, want structured programs
- Chief: Women executive network, expanding to all founders
D. Private Equity Firms (Roll-Up Strategy)
- PE firms buy 5-10 coaching firms, merge into $50M+ platform
- GBCM's tech differentiation makes us attractive anchor asset
Acquisition Valuation (Industry Multiples):
- Services businesses: 0.5-1.5x revenue OR 3-5x EBITDA
- Tech-enabled services: 1-3x revenue OR 4-8x EBITDA
- SaaS platforms: 5-10x revenue OR 10-20x EBITDA
GBCM Valuation (Year 5 Projection):
Scenario: Year 5 (2030)
- Revenue: $2M
- EBITDA: $400K (20% margin)
- Category: Tech-enabled services
Valuation Range:
- Conservative: $2M × 1.5 = $3M OR $400K × 4 = $1.6M → $1.6-3M
- Base Case: $2M × 2 = $4M OR $400K × 6 = $2.4M → $2.4-4M
- Optimistic: $2M × 3 = $6M OR $400K × 8 = $3.2M → $3.2-6M
Likely Exit: $3-5M (founder nets $2.5-4.2M after taxes if 100% owner)
How to Position for Acquisition:
- Build relationships (start conversations early, years before selling)
- Profitability (buyers want EBITDA, not just revenue growth)
- Founder independence (reduce founder dependency - hire COO/CEO to run day-to-day)
- Clean books (3 years audited financials, no red flags)
- Unique IP (trademarked methodologies, proprietary tech = premium valuation)
Exit Option 2: Founder Buyout (Private Equity Recapitalization)
Structure:
- PE firm buys 60-80% of company
- Founder keeps 20-40%, stays on as CEO for 3-5 years
- PE invests in growth, professionalizes operations
- Second exit ("second bite of the apple") when PE sells
Example:
Year 5: GBCM valued at $5M (based on $1M revenue, $200K EBITDA)
- PE buys 70% for $3.5M cash to founder
- Founder keeps 30% equity ($1.5M value)
- PE invests $2M to grow to $10M revenue over 3 years
- Year 8: PE sells GBCM for $20M
- Founder's 30% = $6M
- Total founder proceeds: $3.5M (first exit) + $6M (second) = $9.5M
When This Makes Sense:
- Founder wants liquidity now (take $3.5M off the table)
- But believes in long-term upside (keep 30% for second exit)
- PE brings expertise (operations, M&A, tech) to accelerate growth
Exit Option 3: Employee Ownership (ESOP)
Structure:
- Founder sells company to employees over 5-10 years
- Employees buy via profit-sharing (no upfront cash)
- Founder gets steady income stream
Pros:
- ✅ Reward team (they built this with you)
- ✅ Preserve culture (no outside owner changes everything)
- ✅ Tax benefits (ESOP has tax advantages)
Cons:
- ⚠️ Slow (10 years to full payout vs instant acquisition)
- ⚠️ Lower value (employees can't pay premium like strategic buyer)
- ⚠️ Complexity (ESOP setup costs $50K-100K)
GBCM Fit: Possible if team grows to 20+ people and founder values culture preservation over maximizing exit value
Exit Option 4: Lifestyle Business (No Exit)
Strategy: Don't sell, run forever, take profits
Example Scenario (Year 10):
- Revenue: $3M
- EBITDA: $900K (30% margin - mature, efficient business)
- Founder role: 20 hours/week (CEO, strategic clients only)
- Team: 10 people (runs itself, founder is chairman)
- Founder comp: $200K salary + $700K distribution = $900K/year
Total 10-Year Value:
- Cumulative distributions: $5M+ (after Year 3, take $500K-$1M/year)
- Business value (if sell Year 10): $3-5M
- Total: $8-10M over 10 years (comparable to acquisition, but more control)
GBCM Fit: If founder loves coaching and doesn't want to work for acquirer (most acquisitions require 2-3 year earnout)
📅 FUNDING TIMELINE
Year-by-Year Funding Roadmap
2026 (Year 1): Bootstrap Phase
Q1 (Jan-Mar):
- ✅ Founder invests $75,000 (personal savings)
- ✅ Open business bank account (separate from personal)
- ✅ Set up accounting (QuickBooks + CPA)
- ✅ Begin revenue generation (first 10 clients by Mar 31)
Q2-Q4:
- 🔄 Monitor cash flow weekly (ensure no surprises)
- 🔄 Adjust expenses if revenue lags (delay hires, reduce ad spend)
- 🔄 Build cash reserves (any excess revenue → savings, not spending)
Target: End year with $2,800 cash (thin but viable)
2027 (Year 2): Self-Sustaining Phase
Q1:
- ✅ Achieve cash-flow positive (Jan-Mar generate $10K+ net cash)
- ✅ Secure business line of credit ($25K, for emergencies only)
Q2-Q3:
- 💰 Invest in growth (hire Senior Coach, Sales Mgr - funded by revenue)
- 💰 Optional: Pursue strategic partnership (if opportunity arises - $100K upfront)
Q4:
- 💰 Evaluate: Do we need external capital to accelerate Year 3?
- 💰 If yes: Begin conversations with angels (3-month fundraising process)
Target: End year with $122,800 cash, no external funding needed
2028 (Year 3): Optionality Phase
Scenario A: Continue Bootstrapping (Most Likely)
- Revenue $850K covers all expenses + investments
- No external funding needed
- Founder retains 100% ownership
- Focus on profitability + sustainable growth
Scenario B: Raise Angel Round (If Pursuing Aggressive Growth)
- Timeline: Q1-Q2 (6 months to raise $300-500K)
- Milestones: Use Year 2 traction (63 clients, $420K revenue) to attract investors
- Process:
- Jan-Feb: Update pitch deck, financial model, target 20-30 angels
- Mar-Apr: Pitch meetings (expect 50 pitches → 5 term sheets)
- May: Negotiate terms, close round
- Jun: Deploy capital (hire team, scale marketing)
Scenario C: Strategic Partnership (Hybrid)
- Partner with corporate training firm ($250K licensing deal)
- Non-dilutive capital (no equity given)
- Use proceeds to fund growth (same outcome as Scenario B, no dilution)
GBCM Likely Path: Scenario A (bootstrap) unless exceptional opportunity in Scenario B or C
📊 FUNDING SUCCESS METRICS
Key Metrics to Track (Investor Readiness)
Financial Health:
| Metric | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Investor Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth | N/A | 133% | 102% | >100% (early stage) |
| Gross Margin | 91.7% | 91.7% | 91.8% | >70% (services) |
| EBITDA Margin | -40% | -5% | 13% | >0% by Year 3 (breakeven) |
| Cash Runway | 1.4 mo | 3.6 mo | 7.4 mo | >6 months |
| Customer CAC | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | <$5,000 (SMB B2B) |
| LTV:CAC Ratio | 6:1 | 12:1 | 9:1 | >3:1 (healthy) |
Operational Excellence:
| Metric | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Investor Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPS | 50 | 60 | 70 | >50 (promoters) |
| Renewal Rate | 80% | 85% | 90% | >70% (B2B SaaS) |
| Session Rating | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | >4.5 (excellence) |
📌 CONCLUSION
La stratégie de financement de GBCM LLC privilégie capital efficiency et founder control:
✅ Year 1: Bootstrap with $75K founder investment (validate model) ✅ Year 2: Self-funding from revenue (cashflow-positive) ✅ Year 3: Profitable, optionality to raise or continue bootstrapping
Funding Philosophy: "Only raise capital when ROI is clear and dilution is worth it"
Exit Strategy: Build $10-20M business, exit in 5-7 years for $3-6M (or run as lifestyle business generating $500K-$1M/year profit)
Next: Section 12 - Risk Analysis & Mitigation
© 2025 GBCM LLC - Business Plan v2.0 | Funding Strategy