Discover how one company—TechGuard Security—succeeded despite the dot-com bubble burst in 2000. The company’s owners found creative ways to fund their business. Read about alternatives to venture capital, such as leveraging resources and government contracts.

Why bootstrap your company? Don’t raise funds from equity sources unless it’s absolutely necessary. Read on for more bootstrapping advice.

Article author Alex Welch founded the successful company Photobucket. He used conventional and unconventional bootstrapping strategies. He raised outside money only after getting his company off the ground.

Peer to peer (P2P) lending used to be a funding alternative only for people unqualified for a traditional bank loan. Today, more qualified entrepreneurial borrowers are exploring P2P loans for start-up or growth. As credit tightens, social lending is becoming a more mainstream alternative.

Raising start-up money from those close to you is governed by many of the same laws applicable to venture capital companies. Even borrowing money from your friends and family might count as a sale of a security. Learn how to proceed with caution.

Debt financing is considered to be an inexpensive source of capital for businesses. Unfortunately, very little debt financing is available to early-stage entrepreneurs. Lean about options like and bank loans for venture-backed companies.

It is essential to understand the many options for financing. In the current climate, seller financing may be the only way to go, and is quite common. A few tips on valuation are also provided.

If every business owner jumped off a cliff, would you? Although many business owners use home equity as a source of financing, you should determine whether this strategy is right for you. Discuss the following with a financial advisor before tapping into your home equity.

Razor Suleman has bootstrapped several companies since his college days. He continues to bootstrap by investing the proceeds from one firm into the next. He shares three strategies that have enabled him to grow his current company to $10 million in sales in 2006.

For small- and mid-size companies, offering stock directly to the public without an underwriter can be a successful way to raise public money. This article provides an introduction to direct public offerings. Read on for a look at the pros and cons of this funding approach.