Sympul.

§  The deck standard

What a complete deal document shows.

When you ask people for money, they will check for the same things — whoever they are. These are the thirteen, in plain words, with the question an investor will ask when one is missing. Cover them and the conversation gets shorter.

Not every document needs all thirteen. A pitch deck is a story, not a filing cabinet — the marked items are what a deck is fairly expected to show. The rest belong in the numbers and the paperwork that follow, before any money moves.

  1. 01

    The basic terms, on one page

    In your deck

    If it's missing, expect the question:“Can you put the whole deal on one page — how much you need, what it's for, how long, what I get back, when, and what happens if it goes wrong?”

  2. 02

    Proof people already buy

    In your deck

    If it's missing, expect the question:“Can I see your actual monthly sales for the last two years, from your POS or bank account — not a forecast?”

  3. 03

    A month-by-month money plan

    If it's missing, expect the question:“Can I see this month by month for two years, instead of one number per year — and what the assumptions behind it are?”

  4. 04

    What it costs to run

    In your deck

    If it's missing, expect the question:“What are the real running costs — stock, staff, rent, electricity, tax? I want to see what's left after all of it, not just revenue.”

  5. 05

    Where my money actually goes

    In your deck

    If it's missing, expect the question:“Can you break down exactly what my money buys, with quotes from suppliers, and pay them directly rather than through the operating account?”

  6. 06

    How I get paid back

    In your deck

    If it's missing, expect the question:“Which specific money pays me back, when does it arrive, and what else gets paid out of it before it reaches me?”

  7. 07

    What protects my money if it goes wrong

    If it's missing, expect the question:“Is anything held as security? Who can move money out of the project account, and can I see the statements?”

  8. 08

    Who gets paid first

    If it's missing, expect the question:“If there isn't enough cash one month, who gets paid before me — a bank, you, other investors? And what's my share after I've got my capital back?”

  9. 09

    What happens if it goes badly

    If it's missing, expect the question:“What do these numbers look like if you open six months late, or revenue comes in 30% under? Do I still get paid?”

  10. 10

    Proof they've done this before

    In your deck

    If it's missing, expect the question:“How did your previous projects actually turn out financially? Can I speak to someone who invested in one of them?”

  11. 11

    Everything in writing

    If it's missing, expect the question:“Can I see the draft agreement — what you have to report to me, what happens if you miss a payment, and how I get out?”

  12. 12

    Who else is in, and on what terms

    In your deck

    If it's missing, expect the question:“Who else is putting money in, how much of the round is already committed, and is everyone on identical terms — or are there side letters? If the round doesn't fill, is my money held or already spent? And once we're all in, who decides things?”

  13. 13

    The assumptions written down

    If it's missing, expect the question:“What are the assumptions behind these numbers — how full do you expect to be, at what price, how quickly do you get there after opening, and where did each of those come from? I'd rather see them written down than work them out from the totals.”

The template

A Google Slides deck laid out to cover the standard. Free — open it, make a copy, and replace the placeholders with your business.

Get the templateFree · Google Slides · make a copy and startRequest early access to Sympul →

Questions about the standard or the template? info@sympul.app

The deck standard — Sympul