Tilly and Cooper Corporate Accountants

Tilly and Cooper Corporate Accountants Your Accounting Partner Based in Leeds, UK

The funding number isn’t the whole deal. Your ownership is. 👀Raising investment can bring capital into the business, but...
07/10/2026

The funding number isn’t the whole deal. Your ownership is. 👀

Raising investment can bring capital into the business, but it can also change who owns what, who has voting power, and what future dilution could look like.

That’s why the cap table should be modelled before you agree to the investment, not after the paperwork is signed.

Model the pre-money and post-money position.
See the impact before you commit.

Build the cap table first. 📊

Would an investor see your business as investment-ready?Before you spend more time preparing for funding, you need to kn...
06/10/2026

Would an investor see your business as investment-ready?

Before you spend more time preparing for funding, you need to know where the opportunity actually stands.

The Investor Readiness Scorecard reviews the areas investors are likely to scrutinise:

• Commercial: problem, customers, competition and route to market
• Financial: revenue model, margins, cash, runway and use of funds
• Deal: ownership, dilution, rights, documents and investor fit
• Readiness: team, compliance, evidence and due diligence

The aim is simple: identify the gaps before they become questions in the room.

Request the Investor Readiness Scorecard and get a clearer view of what needs attention before you approach investors.

Request the scorecard.

£12.3 billion was invested in UK smaller businesses through equity investment in 2025. 📊But the headline figure only tel...
02/10/2026

£12.3 billion was invested in UK smaller businesses through equity investment in 2025. 📊

But the headline figure only tells part of the story.

Investment became more concentrated in **fewer, larger deals**, while
seed-stage companies still accounted for around **one-fifth of investment value**.

For founders seeking investment, that makes preparation especially important.

🔹 Competition: Your business is competing for limited investor attention.
🔹 Concentration: Larger deals can account for a significant share of total investment.
🔹 Readiness: Clear evidence, ownership records, and realistic financial assumptions can make investor conversations more focused.

The key question for founders is:

**Does your pitch show where the money goes, what it should achieve and what evidence supports the opportunity?**

Review the numbers behind your pitch before your next funding conversation.

#

What will an investor test first? 👀Different investors look at different risks, but a funding conversation can quickly s...
02/10/2026

What will an investor test first? 👀

Different investors look at different risks, but a funding conversation can quickly slow down when the numbers are weak, ownership is unclear or the use of funds isn’t properly explained.

So, where would you focus first?

🔹 Market evidence
🔹 Founder team
🔹 Financial model
🔹 Ownership and terms

Vote for one, then ask yourself:
What is the weakest section in your business right now?

The useful answer isn’t just identifying the gap. It’s knowing **what action will strengthen it before your next investor conversation.**

Bootstrapped, pre-seed, and seed funding are not the same thing. 📊Each stage should answer a different business risk and...
01/10/2026

Bootstrapped, pre-seed, and seed funding are not the same thing. 📊

Each stage should answer a different business risk and provide stronger evidence for the next step.

The important question isn’t simply “How much funding do we need?”

It’s:

“What evidence do we need to reach the next stage?”

Use the carousel to understand how your funding stage should connect with your business evidence, risk, and next milestone.

Then map the evidence you still need to build before your next funding stage.

Investors don’t just buy an idea. They need to see a credible route to future value. 📈A strong funding pitch should answ...
30/09/2026

Investors don’t just buy an idea. They need to see a credible route to future value. 📈

A strong funding pitch should answer five practical questions:

🔹 What problem are you solving?
🔹 What evidence shows customers actually want it?
🔹 How does the business make money?
🔹 What will the investment fund?
🔹 What milestone will the funding help you achieve?

That means showing more than ambition.

Show: customers, usage, pipeline, or demand signals.
Explain your: revenue model, gross margin, acquisition costs, and cash needs. Then connect the funding amount to a specific milestone that could change the company’s value or reduce a key business risk.

The real management question is:

**What should be different in the business after this round?**

Use the **investor-readiness checklist** to work through the numbers, evidence, and milestones before approaching investors.


[UKBusiness, BusinessFinance, GrowthFunding, EntrepreneurshipUK, TillyAndCooper]

What should finance actually achieve for your business? 💷Finance should have a clear purpose, a measurable outcome, and ...
28/09/2026

What should finance actually achieve for your business? 💷

Finance should have a clear purpose, a measurable outcome, and a reason that makes commercial sense.

Whether you need to **bridge collections, buy equipment, fund growth, or refinance pressure**, the right funding decision starts with understanding what the money needs to achieve.

Borrowing to delay a structural cash-flow problem can increase pressure rather than solve it.

So, what would you use finance for?

🔹 Bridge collections
🔹 Buy equipment
🔹 Fund growth
🔹 Refinance pressure

Vote and tell us in the comments:
What return or cash benefit would you expect from the funding?

For UK business owners, the strongest funding decisions connect **finance, cash flow, and measurable business outcomes.

Around half of smaller businesses used external finance in 2025.But taking finance isn’t the hard part.Choosing the righ...
26/09/2026

Around half of smaller businesses used external finance in 2025.

But taking finance isn’t the hard part.

Choosing the right type of finance for the actual problem is.

An overdraft might help manage a short-term cashflow gap. A loan may make more sense for a planned investment. The wrong facility can leave a business paying for money it didn’t really need.

Before applying, ask three simple questions:

**What is the money for?**
Be specific about the problem or investment the funding will cover.

**How will it be repaid?**
Your forecast should make the repayment source and timing clear.

**What will it really cost?**
Look beyond the interest rate. Check fees, security, personal guarantees and charges on unused facilities.

Good funding decisions start with clarity, not urgency.

Write down the purpose and repayment source before you apply.

Not every cash-flow gap needs the same type of finance.An overdraft, term loan, and invoice finance can each serve a dif...
23/09/2026

Not every cash-flow gap needs the same type of finance.

An overdraft, term loan, and invoice finance can each serve a different business need, but the right starting point is understanding **why you need the money, how long you need it, and what your records can support.**

Before applying, compare: cost, repayment structure, timing, and evidence required.

Don’t choose funding based on the headline amount alone.

📊 Use the Finance Comparison Sheet to work through your options before making the next move.

Growth can put pressure on your cash before it puts more money in the bank. 💷More sales can mean more cash tied up in cu...
18/09/2026

Growth can put pressure on your cash before it puts more money in the bank. 💷

More sales can mean more cash tied up in customer invoices, stock, work in progress, and supplier commitments.

That’s where a Working Capital Review can help you understand the gap.

The review looks at three key areas:

📊 Measure: How much cash is tied up, and for how long?

🔧 Improve: Which collection, billing, stock, or supplier actions could release pressure?

💡 Fund: Is the remaining cash gap temporary, seasonal, or structural?

The aim is to connect the numbers with practical decisions, so you can understand what your growth is actually costing in working capital.

Want a clearer view of your cash position?

Book the Working Capital Review.

Address

Cowper Terrace, Leeds
Kent
LS97BA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447585219944

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tilly and Cooper Corporate Accountants posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Tilly and Cooper Corporate Accountants:

Shortcuts

Share

Category