So you have a clear detail on how much finance is required, and a clear document setting out all of the items of information you would want to know if investing in someone else.

Now to get this in front of people – admittedly difficult during a lockdown – but start talking to friends and family. Get them to offer critique on your document by asking them for feedback on how you can improve it. This may spark a conversation and it may lead you to finding someone who is interested in investing. This is a shortcut to finding a private investor who you would already know through proxy – thus creating trust.

You can also break your amount needed down into smaller chunks and invite more investors – which would be better for both parties. Risk is less for the investor having invested less capital – but also for you – since you have a diversified pool of investors and not subject to the risk of one investor pulling funds out due to any number of reasons.

The other, more formal method, is to use LinkedIn to network with others and arrange meetings. This requires you to get your profile in order – display your key skills, your working history and bring forward and recommendations you may have. Use this platform to show your professionalism and career history to build rapport and post information about what your business is doing. You can create a more approachable brand by creating a blog or videos – then monitor those who are taking an interest.

If you’re not generating the interest, then change approach – look at doing something for the community to raise the profile of your company and maybe this will bring about the result you want in the end.

The ideal is that you do all of the above – maybe you will create a better business than you started with and find customers easier to come by.