How to Apply to Shark Tank?

The Shark Tank application uses an online form or open calls; prepare a tight pitch, complete the packet, and track casting updates.

You came here to get on the show, not swim in vague tips. This guide walks you through the full casting path, from the first click to the last prep call. You’ll see how the application works, what producers want in a pitch, and how to set up your numbers so the Sharks take you seriously.

Applying For Shark Tank: Step-By-Step Plan

There are two entry lanes. You can submit online or meet the team at a traveling open call. Both routes feed into the same casting pipeline, so pick the one that fits your timing, travel, and readiness. The steps below show the flow from start to finish.

Path	What You Do	Typical Timing
Online submission	Open the official casting page, create an application, upload media, and send the Short Application packet.	Anytime during the casting window
Open call	Arrive early, hand in the Short Application, and deliver a one-minute pitch to a casting producer.	Single day; lines move fast
Next steps	If advanced, complete longer forms, interviews, and a background check; then wait for decisions.	Weeks to months

Start by reading the latest instructions on the show’s site. Casting windows, open-call cities, and forms can shift. Treat the page as your source of truth for dates, packets, and where to send files. Bookmark it and check often during the season.

Two Ways To Submit: Online Or Open Call

Online submission is simple and lets you apply from anywhere. You’ll enter contact details, basic business facts, and links to media. Open calls add a live one-minute pitch to a casting producer. The team often says they want energy, clarity, and a real grasp of numbers. Bring a sample if it’s a physical product and be ready to demo in seconds.

What To Prepare Before You Click Submit

Producers read a tidal wave of applications. Clear prep moves you to the top of the pile. Gather these items and keep a single folder so updates are painless.

Core Business Snapshot

One-page overview: what you sell, who buys it, price, margin, and how you reach buyers.
Sales history: lifetime revenue, last year’s gross and net, and year-to-date totals.
Unit economics: cost of goods, shipping, return rate, and landing cost by channel.
Proof: reviews, retailer PO’s, or traction from pilots.

Paperwork And Media

Short Application packet filled out cleanly for each founder.
One-minute video pitch with a quick hook and a clear ask.
Photos or a short demo clip that shows the product in real use.

Need a tighter plan before you pitch? The SBA business plan guide gives templates and examples you can tailor to your model.

Craft A 60-Second Pitch That Lands

Your first gate is often a single minute. Think TV pace. The goal is to help a producer “see” the segment right away. Use this simple arc and keep it punchy.

Pitch Arc

Hook: Name the problem in one line and show the fix in your hand.
Proof: Share the best traction stat you have: units sold, repeat rate, or a marquee buyer.
Ask: “I’m asking for $X for Y%.” Then the top two things you’ll do with the funds.

Delivery Tips

Speak to one person across the table, not the crowd.
Hold the sample at chest height and keep hands still.
Cut jargon. Simple words beat buzzwords every time.
End with a clean smile; don’t keep talking once you’ve landed the ask.

A Sample One-Minute Script

“Hi, I’m Taylor, founder of QuickClip. People drop phones while filming. QuickClip snaps on in two seconds and locks the grip. We sold 18,000 units in six months with a 34% repeat rate. I’m asking for $150,000 for 15%. Funds go to a mold upgrade and retail launch. Let me show you how it works.”

Financials And Valuation Basics

The forms ask for last year’s gross and net, lifetime sales, and current year-to-date. Have those ready and match them to bank export rows. If you have debt, list amounts, rates, and covenants. When you state a valuation, anchor it in today’s sales pace, margin, and a realistic path to scale.

Quick Math Founders Use On TV

Multiple of profit: Smaller brands often use a simple profit multiple tied to growth pace.
Revenue multiple: Works better if profits are thin while you ramp.
Comparable deals: Pull ranges from deals in your space and explain your edge.

Whatever method you pick, stay calm when a Shark pushes back. If your math bends under one question, the deal slips away fast.

Who Casting Looks For

Teams that pop on TV, bring proof, and keep the pitch bright tend to advance. Solo founders get through too, but a duo with contrasting skills can read well on camera. The show also books a mix: breakthrough hardware, food, wellness, toys, and quirky inventions. If your product demos in three seconds, you’re already ahead.

Paper Trail: What The Forms Ask

The Short Application requests basics on you, the business, and an initial ask. Later packets go deeper. Expect a longer questionnaire, a business form, an IP form, a background check, and a participant agreement. Each founder completes their own set. Keep copies of everything you send, since the materials become property of the producer.

Video That Sells Your Story

Shoot on a phone in landscape with clean light and steady sound. Start with the product in frame. Talk to the lens as if a Shark is across the table. Keep cuts simple: hook, proof, ask, demo, smile. Trim dead air and upload the final MP4 with a clear file name that matches your brand.

Timeline: What Happens After You Apply

Timelines vary by season and volume. Some founders hear back in days; many wait weeks. If you move forward, you’ll do phone or video interviews, more paperwork, and deeper reviews of sales and media. Only a slice of applicants film, and not every filmed pitch airs. Treat every step as progress, since the prep tightens your pitch for buyers and investors even if you never roll cameras.

Stage	What To Expect	How To Prepare
Producer review	Team scans your packet, video, and media links.	Lead with proof points and clean links.
Interviews	Phone or video calls; deeper questions on sales and margins.	Keep a one-pager with fresh numbers.
Advanced steps	Longer forms, background check, and segment planning.	Share updates fast; keep files in one folder.

Open-Call Day Game Plan

Lines can start early. Bring water, snacks, and an extra charger. Wear what you’d wear on set. Pack two copies of the packet, a pen, and product samples that pass building rules. When it’s your turn, breathe, smile, and give the one-minute version you rehearsed. Then listen. If a producer asks about numbers or margins, answer in a short, direct line.

Demo And Visuals That Stick

TV favors movement. A quick, clean demo beats slides. Build a prop that sets in seconds and stays within your space. If the product is edible, sample bite-size pieces. If it’s software, have a working build that loads offline. Keep packaging on the table so cameras have something to frame while you talk.

Legal And IP Basics In Plain Words

The show asks about rights and ownership. If you filed patents or trademarks, bring the serial or registration numbers. If you licensed tech, have the grant dates and scope. If you share equity with a partner, know the cap table by heart. Don’t make claims you can’t back with real documents. When in doubt, say what you know and promise a quick follow-up with proof.

Media And Social Handles

Producers scan your site and feeds. Clean up broken links, remove old logos, and align the story across channels. Pin a short video that mirrors your one-minute pitch. Update your press page with logos you’re cleared to use. If you sold on live shopping or reached a standout milestone, add a clip.

Packaging, Pricing, And Margin

Sharks love strong unit economics. Show landed cost, wholesale price, and direct-to-consumer price on one line. If shipping swings cost, share that swing. If you run bundles, list the top two with average order value. If a change to sourcing would lift margin, outline the switch and the updated math.

Risk Checks Producers Watch

Unclear ownership or disputes among founders.
Wild claims with no testing or third-party data.
Regulatory flags in food, health, or safety categories.
Off-brand social posts that clash with a family TV slot.

Where To Find Official Instructions

When dates or packets change, updates land on the show’s site first. Use the official casting page to see current forms, open-call details, and the online portal. Treat third-party blogs as background only.

Your One-Page Prep Checklist

Keep this on top of your folder so you can scan it before every call.

Before You Submit

Short video: one minute, bright light, clear sound, direct ask.
Numbers: last year gross and net, lifetime sales, and YTD pulled from your system.
Deck: five slides max; product, traction, margin, plan, and ask.
Media: product photos, demo clip, logo files, and any press logos you can use.

Before An Open Call

Two printed packets and extra pens.
Samples that fit in a tote and set in seconds.
A small sign with the brand name in bold type.
A clear ask you can say without glancing at notes.

If You Advance To Taping

The casting team preps you for set day. You’ll refine the segment, rehearse the walk-in, and tighten the ask. Build inventory so you can ship after the episode airs. Spin up customer service scripts for surge days, and alert your 3PL or warehouse. Align pricing and promo codes so the site can handle traffic spikes.

Mindset That Helps Under Lights

Sharks test for clarity and grit. They push on weak spots. That’s the job. You win by knowing your math, speaking plainly, and keeping your cool. Say “I don’t know yet” when you need to, then share how you’ll get the answer. Calm beats clever in that room.

Final Notes

Apply early in the season, keep files tidy, and answer follow-ups fast. Use the show’s site as your rulebook for forms and dates, and use the SBA guides to sharpen your plan. Whether you tape or not, the process leaves you with a tighter pitch, better unit economics, and a clear ask that works with any investor meeting.