SITUATION
David Bernstein needs help financing his Lodi, New Jersey-based Access Direct Inc., a six-year-old $3.5 million company. "We're ready to get to the next level," says Bernstein, "but we're not sure which way to go." Access Direct spruces up and then sells used computer equipment for corporations; it is looking for up to $2 million in order to expand. "Venture capitalists, individual investors, or banks," says Bernstein, who owns the company with four partners, "we've thought about them all."
Question 1 What is your impression of Bernstein's perspective on raising capital to "get to the next level"?
Question 2 What advice would you offer Bernstein as to both appropriate and inappropriate sources of financing in his situation?