Compare three top cannabis crowdfunding sites

One of the few permitted ways to finance your cannabis startup — for now.

Fundanna Cannabis Business Equity Crowdfunding

Offers people with marijuana startups a platform to raise up to $1,070,000 each year.

• Maximum Annual Funding Amount: $1,070,000
• Minimum Annual Funding Amount: $10,000
• Secure website for safe bank deposits and withdrawals
• Integrated with social media for easy sharing

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Why should I consider crowdfunding for my cannabis business?

Crowdfunding is a way for businesses to raise funds from a large group of people, usually in exchange for rewards or a share of business ownership. It’s also one of the few options that cannabis businesses have to fund their ventures.

Why’s that? The US federal government still considers marijuana a Schedule I drug, meaning that any bank that works with cannabis-related businesses are at risk for prosecution.

It is legal, however, to invest up to $2,000 in small cannabis businesses in exchange for a portion of ownership. Cannabis companies can raise up to $1 million in this way. Crowdfunding essentially facilitates the process — though it’s not without its challenges.

Three cannabis crowdfunding platforms to consider

Interested in crowdfunding? Take a look at these three platforms that can help you raise funds for your pot-related shop.

Fundanna

This equity platform specializes in connecting startup cannabis businesses with investors around the world. It’s relatively free of risk and easy to use for businesses that deal with recreational and medical marijuana.

However, it only came to the market in 2017, so it doesn’t yet have a proven track record. And it isn’t free to use.

Set up a business profile on Fundanna today

CannaFundr

Launched in 2014, CannaFundr is practically a grandfather in this young industry. Like Fundanna, it’s an equity crowdfunding platform, connecting any cannabis-related business with anonymous investors.

You won’t pay a fee to use the site, but it’s difficult to navigate. And getting approved can take a while. Its security features also make it impossible to get feedback from investors or even browse other projects.

420fundme

The crowdfunding platform 420fundme is rewards-based, meaning you give donors gifts rather than ownership of your business. But while the site is easy to navigate for both investors and companies, it’s already run into some roadblocks during its recent launch.

It’s also connected to the peer-to-peer investor platform Cannavstr and 420shindig, which helps businesses throw cannabis fundraising parties.

Top three challenges you could face when crowdfunding

The legal gray area in which the cannabis industry works means that things are never simple. Here are some of the most common problems cannabis businesses run into with crowdfunding:

• You might need a bank account. It seems simple enough, but banks don’t like to work with cannabis businesses. This means that accessing funds is a lot more difficult that some lenders make it out to be.
• It’s hard for ordinary people to invest. Many cannabis crowdfunding sites aren’t open to the public — you have to sign up as an investor. This provides businesses with some legal cover, but it also means that ordinary people could have trouble contributing to — or even hearing about — your business.
• Platforms can have bank problems too. Crowdfunding platform 420fundme was shut down for 30 days after its bank decided not to work with them — even after it was preapproved for business. While you don’t necessarily stand to lose any money, it can make working with these platforms frustrating.

Five tips for a successful cannabis crowdfunding campaign

1. Pay attention to your business plan. A business plan is the backbone of any crowdfunding campaign. Make sure it’s easy to understand, persuasive and — most important — sounds exciting.
2. Invest in marketing. Investors might not be able to (or want to) get in touch with you, so your profile is all you have to work with. Many businesses hire marketing consultants to help with their cannabis crowdfunding campaigns.
3. Read your crowdfunding site’s rules. Make sure you understand what you’re getting into — you don’t want to fail to raise the funds you need due to a technicality.
4. Stay on top of regulations. Especially Securities and Exchange Commission rulings. The last thing you want is to be shut down for raising too much money. Consider hiring an SEC lawyer if keeping up is too much for you.
5. Prepare for some slip-ups. Cannabis is a new industry, and its murky legality means that roadblocks are likely. Be prepared by exercising all of your financing options.

Explore more financing options for cannabis businesses

Is marijuana legal in my state?

Bottom line

Working in the cannabis industry is risky: You’re working in a legal gray area where nothing’s guaranteed. While crowdfunding can be difficult for cannabis businesses, it’s still one of the easiest over-the-table ways to get funding.

Frequently asked questions

• Can someone living in a state where marijuana is illegal invest in a cannabis crowdfunding campaign?

  Not always. Different states enforce different cannabis crowdfunding laws, though you’re generally safe getting money from investors based in states where marijuana is legal. If you’re using a crowdfunding site that doesn’t come with a rigorous registration process for investors, consider putting up a warning asking potential donors to check their state’s laws. And note that laws can frequently change.

• Can I use crowdfunding to finance my grow house or dispensary?

  You can, but you might have a hard time getting investors to bite. Businesses that deal directly with the cultivation and sale of marijuana are usually considered a risk. You might find more luck the traditional way of raising money for cannabis businesses — networking at conferences.

• I miss the community of mainstream crowdfunding websites. Can I find that anywhere?

  Yes, try using social media sites for people interest in marijuana as a way to find and share ideas with other cannabis business owners.