Things to Consider When Investing in a Company

Jonah Engler
2 min readFeb 23, 2015

--

Investing money in any business always carries a certain amount of risk. Risk shouldn’t be the reason to avoid investments. There are several things to consider before investing in a company. These include:

. Financial stability of the company
. Basic products and/or services
. Business longevity in the specific industry
. Formal organizational structure
. Degree of risk
. Potential for long-term success

Financial Stability of the Company

The financial stability of the company plays an important role in whether to invest in the business. Review the financial stability of the company’s in its annual financial report. Most businesses understand the importance of a certified financial report that outlines past, present and future company performance objectives.

Basic Products and/or Services

Products and/or services of a company are determining factors investors consider before activating a financial investment. It’s possible to assess products and services according to industry ranking and number of consumes.

Many investors prefer blue chip investments believing these are the most stable. Yet, among the biggest new IPOs (initial public offerings) today, many are new businesses and business enterprises. Hi-tech investments are among the most popular.

Business Longevity in the Specific Industry

Look for the longevity of the business in the specific industry. Generally, investments in businesses with a proven track record of longevity are the most reliable and stable. Some investors prefer to venture out on their own and put their investments into start-up businesses they feel have the potential for future growth.

Formal organizational structure

The organizational structure of a business is extremely important when investing in a company. Study the bios of executive members, board members (if applicable) and overall competence of each titled member of the executive staff. This often reveals much about the company’s management style and whether company leadership is focused on growth.

Degree of Risk

All investors should understand risk as it applies to investing. This is the singular most important part of identifying the degree of risk before making an investment commitment. If the company’s performance shows a higher degree of risk as a result of mediocre management and business performance, it may not be ideal as an investment.

Potential for Long-term Success

With any investment plan, look for the company’s potential for long-term success as a guide. If you can envision the products and services enjoying continual growth into the future, the company may be a good investment.

Jonah Engler is a successful entrepreneur, investor, franchise owner and coffee lover who hails from New York City.

--

--