I am interested in starting a small business in my down town area, which is growing very steadily and is promising. I want to open up a coffee shop/bakery, but have no clue where to start. I don't have a lot of money to invest initialy, so I have lots of questions about investors. Any information would be helpful! [+]

I am starting a small business and I need to be able to accept credit cards. I have heard a lot of bad things about Pay-pal and I would like to avoid using Pay-pal. Besides, I will need to be able to just swipe a card and quickly move on to the next customer. Also, my personal credit rating is not good, and it seems like most of the options I have seen require a credit check. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice about accepting credit card payments for a small business owner without good credit? [+]

My Fiance wants me to take out a business loan of $30,000 to start up his new business. I am afraid that this will later affect my ability to purchase my first home, or I will be held completely liable to pay it back and later affect my credit. Should I take out this loan and if I do how will it affect me in the long run? Or what is the best way to go about it without it affecting me too much? Please help! [+]

We are in a recession and our old fitness business has just closed. What can we do with this unit to help feed our family? [+]

I am brand new! I just started my business 3 days ago, I went down, got my ficticious business name, published it in the paper, got my sellers permit, my tax ID, my business license & my business bank account. I have so many documents from all those places that I need to read. Just in general does anyone have any advice for me? please & thank you! [+]

I am in a bit of an odd situation. I am the owner of a two year old non-profit business. Currently, our annual income covers all expenses with $0 left over at the end of every quarter. The business does not own realestate and I would like to purchase property. I own my own home and have OK (not good, not great) credit and am only 22 years old. My husband has no credit. He has never had a loan or credit card in his name. Is it at all likely that I can get a loan from a bank to purchase property? My business has done very well and only shows signs of growth over the past two years and would grow even more if I had my own property. Any suggestions? [+]

I am overwhelmed with the choices of books available for people who are interested in starting a small business. I am also tired of books containing a lot of motivational fluff. Does anyone have any recommendations for a easy to use book that will give the facts to me straight? I am planning on opening a coffee shop and I am very knowledgeable about the coffee business... but, I need something that will give me a guideline on the start to finish process. [+]

i have never felt so lost..i just graduated college and been in a consistent job search for three months now..and it's not going so well. I have sent 100's of emails and made phone calls to contacts and not getting anywhere...I really want to get out of the city I am living in now for a change and growing experience. Here is my other problem: My mother is my best friend and we are so close and compatible. Now that I have graduated college she is encouraging she and I do a business together. I get excited about it, then start feeling trapped like I need to do my own thing and i constantly crave independence because I can feel that I depend on her too much and feel co-dependent and it makes me feel weak [+]

I'm looking to stat up my own business in the next two to three years. I've already started creating my business plan. The only thing is I have bad credit. Is there a way to get a business loan even thou your credit isn't good? [+]

My husband and I went into business with a guy 3 years ago. He had already had a similar business established and we rubbed off from that and he was the one who put up the money to get us up and running. My husband and I have done most of the work to make our new company what is today, which it is thriving very well. Here's my dilema...The person that we are in business with is very controling and states to us all the time that "he is the boss". He does have controlling shares but we are all in this together. I had a doctors appointment the other day and he was upset that I had to leave the office and told me that I should not feel that I can [+]