Most great businesspeople I’ve met would correctly advise an entrepreneur to avoid raising money if possible. Easy for them to say, right? But there are good reasons to bootstrap. First, you maintain control of the company. Second, maintaining control allows you to experiment and learn where the business is “naturally” going. Third, if you own the company, you can have a great exit at a low price. Fourth, if you’re able to build the company without significant outside capital that may mean your business has even more “real” legs.