Unique Ways Entrepreneurs Are Raising Money

Taking unconventional routes to raise cash has become a necessity for many small-business owners as traditional sources of funding (i.e., venture capital and bank loans) have dried up. Here are five businesses that are doing just that.

How to Raise Money to Grow in Current Climate

I own a heating and air-conditioning company that has grown to a roughly $6 million-a-year business in just a few years. I feel there is a real opportunity in today's slow economy to purchase a direct competitor. I would like to raise money through equity or debt to do this. But I understand that most of the private-equity or venture firms are looking mostly to invest in tech or biotech. How can a business like mine raise money?