Never go Public. If you are anywhere near successful the Wall Street investment houses will snap up huge chunks of your stock and then dictate the operations of your business.
Those Wall Street millionaires and billionaires have no idea how to run a company. They only know how to milk near-term profits to benefit themselves then declare bankruptcy and walk away with even more money while they company folds.
No matter what folks say that is part of the reason Sears folded as they were bought out. Also, you can see Toys R Us and other major companies who were totally trashed by the Harvard MBAs putting instant cash in their pockets while gutting the business. Cabela's almost went that way but Bass Pro actually saved them.
Or, do as many, perhaps most, do. Take the money and start a new business.