Earth AngelsDidn't get that VC funding you were looking for? What you need is an angel.

A growing in popularity source of private capital is aninvestment angel. Originally a term used to describe investors inBroadway shows, "angel" now refers to anyone who investshis or her money in an entrepreneurial company (unlikeinstitutional venture capitalists, who invest other people'smoney). Angel investing has soared in recent years a growing numberof individuals seek better returns on their money than they can getfrom traditional investment vehicles. Contrary to popular belief,most angels are not millionaires. Typically , they earn between$60,000 and $100,000 a year. Which means there are likely to beplenty of them right in your backyard.

Excerpted fromStart Your Own Business: The Only Start-Up GuideYou'll Ever Need