Cool capital

Successful entrepreneurs often reach a point when they have to consider outside capital if they're going to continue grow their companies.

It's never easy to give up some ownership and control in return for capital, especially if the business has been successful under the same ownership for years.

Take Conditioned Air. For more than 20 years, Theo Etzel has built the air-conditioning contractor into one of the largest companies on the Gulf Coast. With nearly $41 million in revenues last year and 330 employees, the company ranked No. 168 in the Gulf Coast 500, the Business Observer's ranking of the top 500 companies from Tampa to Naples.