People keep typing the same phrase and hoping for a different outcome. Investment bank with no upfront fees. The idea is simple. An investment bank works for months, builds materials, runs diligence, organizes investor meetings, coordinates law firms, and waits patiently to be paid later. That product is not on offer. Bankers run full pipelines and pick files that fund the work that must happen before a closing is possible.
The inquiry arrived with confidence and no support. The sender wanted a capital raise, buy-side scouting, and a debt solution. He asked for a success-only engagement and promised to settle everyone from proceeds. We asked for the basics. Signed engagement terms with a retainer. A data room with audited financials, management discussion, KPIs, customer cohorts, and legal docs. A quality-of-earnings plan. Counsel engagement. Timelines tied to filings and investor calendars.
He declined all of it. He said real investment banks work for free and “believe in the client.” At that point the file was closed. Not out of ego. Out of arithmetic. Without a retainer, there is no budget for analysts, no QofE, no legal drafting, no distribution effort, and no way to hold third parties to a schedule. The calendar belongs to clients who fund real work and present real data.
| Claim | Market Reality |
|---|---|
| “Work three months on success only.” | Mandates include a retainer plus success fee. Retainer funds analysts, materials, diligence, and investor work. Success fee pays on closing. |
| “Fees can all come from proceeds.” | Some items can be netted at close. Core workstreams require funding to start: legal, accounting, QofE, data room, industry research, ratings where relevant. |
| “No audited financials required if the story is strong.” | Institutional investors and credit committees expect audits or equivalent comfort. Story does not replace verification. |
| “Run investor meetings first, sign terms later.” | Banks do not solicit without a signed mandate. Compliance and liability sit on engagement terms, not hope. |
| “Fairness opinions and legal drafting can wait until a buyer appears.” | Processes are sequenced. Opinions and drafting must be scoped and funded on a schedule, not improvised at the end. |
| Screen | Pass | Fail |
|---|---|---|
| Signed mandate with retainer and success fee | Yes, scope and caps agreed | Refuses any retainer, wants work first |
| Data room readiness | Audits, MD&A, contracts, KPIs, legal | Pitch deck only, no source documents |
| Third-party plan | QofE provider, legal, tax counsel lined up | No vendors named, no budget |
| Compliance | KYC/AML and conflicts checks at intake | Suggests compliance later |
| Timeline discipline | Milestones linked to filings and diligence | Dates set by wish list only |
Desks allocate time by expected value. A funded mandate with data, vendors, and a clear path to market has a chance to close. A success-only request with no budget and no documents has none. When deal teams are fully loaded, there is no reason to trade hours for a promise.
An investment bank with no upfront fees is a search term, not a service. Retainers exist because the work begins long before money moves. Teams with full pipelines pick files that respect that reality. If you want a real process, fund it and supply the data. If you want free labor, expect silence.
Provide audits, MD&A, contracts, cap table, and management availability. You will receive scope, fee terms, a diligence calendar, and a route to market.
Request a Term SheetFinancely is an advisory and placement firm. We are not a bank. All engagements require KYC/AML and conflicts checks. Closings depend on diligence and investor or lender approval. Any securities-related activities are conducted through a licensed chaperone, Member FINRA/SIPC.
Submit your deal using our secure intake form, and receive a quote within 1-3 business days. Existing clients can connect with their relationship manager through our secure web portal.
All submissions are
promptly reviewed, and all communications are conducted through the intake form or the client portal for a seamless and secure process.
Thank you for considering working with us. A nominal fee of US$500 is required upon completion of each form. This fee covers the time and effort we invest in reviewing your submission and crafting a thorough proposal. We receive numerous inquiries and prioritize those that carry this fee, ensuring serious applicants receive prompt attention.
Tap into solutions like letters of credit, bank guarantees, and payment facilitation. We address the challenge of global transaction risk through structured strategies that foster cross-border growth. Complete the form to unlock streamlined funding aligned with your commercial objectives.
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Submit a RequestOnce we receive your submission, our team will review your information to determine feasibility. If eligible, you will receive a proposal or term sheet within 1–3 business days. Visit our FAQ and Procedure pages for more information.
Disclaimer: Financely provides financing based on due diligence and feasibility. Approval is not guaranteed, and past performance does not predict future outcomes. All terms are subject to review. Financely primarily assists with structuring and distribution. Qualified parties carry out the project if the client approves the proposal.
Financely advises growth-focused businesses on accessing capital by introducing their opportunities to professional investors. Financely is not a securities broker or dealer. Where appropriate, engagements are coordinated with regulated broker-dealers, investment banks, legal counsel, and other specialists.
Financely does not solicit, offer, or accept orders to buy or sell securities and makes no assurance regarding capital-raising outcomes.
Services are strictly business-to-business. Financely does not provide personal finance, consumer credit, or retail advisory services.
Advisory services are reserved for post-revenue companies that recognize the time and resources required for professional underwriting.
All mandates start with an RFQ. We review submissions, issue a brief Go/No-Go memo, and where bankable, release a Term Sheet that leads to funding. We arrange capital across Senior Secured, Unitranche, Second Lien/Mezzanine, Preferred Equity, and Gap Solutions. We do not process deals by email or chat.
Letters of Credit, Standby LCs, Confirmations, Receivables Finance, and Inventory Lines with control.
Funding arranged for trade flows with instruments sized to your cycle and aligned to delivery and settlement.
Move forward to secure working capital and keep goods moving. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting for funding.
Limited or non-recourse structures for energy and infrastructure with lender-ready materials.
Funding solutions aligned to project cash flows with credible covenants and conditions to reach notice to proceed.
Advance the file to termable status. Submit the RFQ so we can underwrite and secure funding.
Debt and Preferred solutions anchored on cash flow, Quality of Earnings, and clear closing mechanics.
Funding across senior, unitranche, and preferred to match stable cash flows and acquisition timelines.
Get financed on workable terms for closing. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting.
Acquisition, development, bridge, and refinance with lender-ready packs and third-party reports managed.
Funding calibrated to DSCR, leverage, and tenancy with terms designed to close.
Move to a financeable package. Submit the RFQ to initiate underwriting for funding.
KYC and Source of Funds required. Engagements are best-efforts and subject to underwriting. Preference for operating companies with meaningful revenue. See our FAQ and Procedure.
Financely Inc. (“Financely”) provides corporate-finance advice and is wholly owned by Aurora Bay Trust, a trust formed under Bahamian law, together with its authorized affiliates. Depending on deal structure, jurisdiction, and local rules, engagement may be carried out through Financely Group LLC, a non-deposit-taking non-banking financial company; Ashford Capital Advisory LLC; or another related entity. Financely and its affiliates are not registered as securities broker-dealers. When a mandate involves the purchase or sale of securities and a registered intermediary is required, all orders are introduced to and executed by a U.S. broker-dealer registered with the SEC and FINRA, acting as “chaperone” under SEC Rule 15a-6 (17 C.F.R. § 240.15a-6). Nothing here constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security. Before proceeding, read our Terms of Service to confirm that engaging Financely Group LLC, Ashford Capital Advisory LLC, or any affiliate aligns with your legal and regulatory requirements.In the United States, we operate as an
exempt foreign private adviser pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, subject to applicable exemptions from certain regulatory requirements. Our services and regulatory status may vary based on the location and nature of the transaction. Click
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