Here are the rules for being an accredited investor: http://www.sec.gov/answers/accred.htm http://www.sec.gov/answers/accred.htm "income exceeding $200,000 in

Here are the rules for being an accredited investor: http://www.sec.gov/answers/accred.htm http://www.sec.gov/answers/accred.htm "income exceeding $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with a spouse exceeding $300,000 for those years and a reasonable expectation of the same income level in the current year" And it is not like you have to submit to an audit to the company before sending them a check -- all you have to do is sign something that says you are accredited. That way you will have a harder time suing the company claiming you were mis-led or whatever.