What can I spend the investment on?
📘 Overview
To qualify under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) or Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), your company must follow strict rules on how investment funds are used.
💡 Key Conditions
- Use in a Qualifying Trade
- The funds must be used for a qualifying trade or in preparation to carry out one.
This can include research and development (R&D), or early activities directly linked to starting the business.
Spend Within 3 Years
- All money raised under SEIS or EIS must be fully spent within three years of receiving it.
- The spending must directly support your growth and development, not general operational or financial activities (for example, repaying loans or paying dividends).
🔍 Examples of Qualifying Use
✅ Product development and testing
✅ Hiring staff to grow operations
✅ Expanding into new markets
✅ Developing technology or IP
🚫 Not qualifying: repaying existing debts, paying dividends, or acquiring another company.