Bootstrapping / Self-financing

Bootstrapping / Self-Financing Support

Some founders don’t want to jump into fundraising right away. They want control, flexibility, and the freedom to build at their own pace. That’s where bootstrapping or self-financing comes in. It’s the cleanest, leanest way to start a business — as long as you have the right strategy, financial discipline, and compliance in place.

We help early-stage founders structure their bootstrapped journey so the company stays compliant, investment-ready, and financially healthy from day one.

What is Bootstrapping?

Bootstrapping means building and growing your business with your own funds, revenue, and internal resources — without outside investors. You keep full ownership but you also carry full responsibility.

It works best for founders who want control, privacy, and a long-term vision without dilution.

Why founders choose to self-fund

• Full control over decisions and direction

• No dilution of equity or pressure from investors

• Faster decision-making and simple governance

• Ability to experiment, pivot, and iterate

• Builds strong financial discipline from the start

• Keeps the business clean for future investment if needed

Challenges of Bootstrapping

• Limited capital runway

• Need for strong budgeting and cash-flow management

• Slower scaling compared to funded competitors

• Compliance and documentation often ignored early on

• Difficulty attracting talent without ESOP or funding visibility

That’s where structured guidance makes a difference.

What we assist with

1. Business & Financial Setup

• Choosing the right business structure (LLP, Pvt Ltd, OPC etc.)

• Founders’ capital introduction and documentation

• Bank accounts, PAN, GST, MSME registration

2. Compliance & Governance

• ROC, GST, Income Tax and regulatory filings

• Books of accounts, audit, agreements, and policies

• Payroll, vendor contracts, and statutory registrations

3. Financial Planning & Cash-Flow Management

• Budgeting, forecasting, burn-rate analysis

• Profitability planning and internal financial controls

• Revenue modelling and unit economics

4. Founder Capital Strategy

• Capital introduction vs loan from director

• Structuring reimbursements and business expenses

• Ensuring future fund-raise readiness

5. Future Investment Readiness

• Clean cap table and shareholding structuring

• Building compliance trails for due diligence

• ESOP planning for early team members

• Converting from bootstrapped to funded smoothly

Documents usually required

• Founders’ KYC and business incorporation documents

• Bank statements, initial capital proof

• GST and ROC filings, accounting records

• Agreements, invoices, payroll records (as applicable)

Our Process

1. Understand the founder’s business model, capital plan, and runway

2. Create a customised compliance, finance, and governance roadmap

3. Set up registration, documentation, and financial systems

4. Provide ongoing support for filings, accounts, and cash-flow

5. Keep the company investment-ready for future funding options