When a business is new, its owners may not know where to turn
for help raising capital. Is funding from a bank a better
option, or is private equity a better fit? And how do you
decide?  Your banking partner can help you evaluate your needs
and options, then steer you in the right direction, even if the
bank isn’t the best solution, says Michael Field, executive vice
president, technology banking division, Bridge Bank.  “Your
banker can look at all the factors and determine whether it can
put together funding to meet your needs,” says Field. “But even
if the bank isn’t comfortable, your banker may be able to
provide a solution to enhance the debt side of things or the
equity.”  Smart Business spoke with Field about what to consider
when looking for funding and common mistakes to avoid when doing
so.  What should start-ups consider when looking for access to
growth capital?  The first thing is debt versus equity. If you
have no product, just an idea and a business plan, debt is
probably not the right solution.