Top Mistakes Startups Make Without an SME IPO Consultant — And How to Avoid Them

Back when I worked with a tech startup trying to raise funds through an SME IPO, I noticed something strange. The founder - smart, driven, passionate - had everything done by the book: hired a CA, roped in a merchant banker, even attended a few workshops.

But they skipped one major step — bringing in an SME IPO Consultant .

Fast forward three months: the DRHP had to be redrafted twice, investor interest was low, and the merchant banker lost patience. The startup finally got listed, but only after unnecessary delays and a few burnt bridges.

What happened? They learned the hard way what many startups do - that going public isn't just a formality. It's a full-blown operation. And without steering someone that ship, it's easy to crash into avoidable mistakes.

Let's break down some of the most common blunders startups make without a consultant — and what you can do differently.

1. Jumping In Without Checking Eligibility

This sounds obvious, but a lot of founders assume they're good to go just because their revenue or profit looks decent. But the SME IPO platform (like BSE SME or NSE Emerge) has its own rules:

• Net tangible assets of at least ₹1.5 crore
• Net worth minimums
• Tracking record of profits
• Minimum number of shareholders pre-IPO

Consultants know these details inside out. Without one, you might spend 2–3 months preparing — only to realize you were never eligible to begin with.

2. DIY Approach to DRHP (Draft Red Herring Prospectus)

Let’s be honest — the DRHP is no cakewalk.

It’s a massive legal + financial document that investors, regulators, and merchant bankers use to understand your business. And it’s full of landmines if not done right:

• Financials not presented per SEBI guidelines
• Risk factors that sound too vague or too aggressive
• Missing disclosures about litigation, ownership, etc.

Without a consultant, startups often rely too heavily on their CAs or try patchworking it themselves — which only leads to rejections or redrafts.

3. Overlooking Financial Grooming

SME IPO consultants don’t just help you list — they help you look investable.

They’ll help you:

• Restructure equity or promoter holdings
• Adjust how revenue or debt is shown on paper
• Fix internal accounting practices
• Clean up messy shareholder agreements

Startups that skip this step usually face trouble with due diligence. It’s like showing up at an investor pitch in pajamas — no matter how good your idea is, no one’s going to fund you.

4. Miscalculating Timelines and Costs

A lot of founders get caught up in the dream of “getting listed fast” and severely underestimate the time it takes.

Without a consultant:

• You might not factor in SEBI review delays
• You might misjudge how long legal vetting takes
• You’ll likely underestimate total costs — from banker fees to registrar charges to marketing

This can lead to cash crunches mid-process. Not ideal when you're courting investors.

5. Trusting the Wrong Advisors

A painful truth: not every merchant banker or legal advisor is right for your startup.

Some work well with large cap IPOs but don’t understand SME dynamics. Others are slow, overbooked, or lack the patience to work with first-timers.

An experienced consultant has already worked with trusted professionals and can help you avoid wasting time with the wrong team.

So, How Do You Avoid These Mistakes?

Simple: bring in someone who’s done it before.

Even if you’re bootstrapped or cautious about expenses, a consultant saves you money in the long run by avoiding delays, rework, and legal risks. You don’t want to be the startup that made it halfway and had to turn back.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Consult early — before you start filings
• Ask for examples of past successful listings
• Choose someone who knows the SME IPO platform in India specifically (not just general IPO knowledge)
• Treat them as a partner, not just a vendor

Final Word

I’ve seen both ends — companies that glide through the IPO process with a calm, capable consultant at the helm… and companies that fumble through, hoping Google searches will be enough.

Guess which ones actually attract investor interest, build credibility, and hit the ground running post-listing?

The difference is almost always in the preparation — and the person guiding it.

Avoid the rookie mistakes. You don’t have to figure it out alone. You can explore the kind of services that help startups navigate this journey the smart way.