Most founders try to raise money by pitching people who don’t understand their market, don’t share their mission, and still want control. We sit down with Read Ezell from WeFunder to explain a different option: a community round, where your customers and supporters can invest alongside bigger checks and help you build momentum you can’t buy with ads.

We get practical about how Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) actually works, why the JOBS Act matters, and how WeFunder uses an SPV structure so you don’t end up with hundreds of names cluttering your cap table. Reed shares real examples, from neighborhood hospitality to mission-driven companies, and why early-stage capital is often emotional and relationship-based even when people pretend it’s purely rational.

We also dig into the nuts and bolts founders worry about: how often you can raise, what financial disclosures are required at different tiers, and why entity choice (C-corp vs LLC vs S-corp) can make or break the admin burden. Then we tackle deal terms like SAFEs, valuation caps, preferred equity, convertible notes, and when revenue share can fit. Finally, we address the big truth of private investing: liquidity is limited, so expectations and communication matter as much as the raise itself.

If you’re thinking about fundraising for your small business, listen, take notes, and share this with a founder who needs more options. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what kind of business you’d actually invest in.

Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business!

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Community Rounds: Beyond Traditional Crowdfunding