>Hello all.......
>
>I have been racking my brain to come up with a business that I
>believe will work in a small area. I have finally come up
>with a service business that incorporates my previous
>clerical, management, and organization skills. I plan on
>offering a broad variety of services to start in order to
>determine where my largest niche market is, and then I will
>focus in on that. Because of living in a small rural
>community I believe that is my best option. I felt starting a
>service business would elimate having to have a large amount
>of start up investment.
>
>Here is the problem...........I am currently working in a job
>that offers me absolutely NO potential to even fathom setting
>a side a little cash each week for a start up investment. So
>basically at this point in time I have no start up money to
>invest into my business. I know that continuing where I am at
>currently will only dig me in a deeper hole finacially, so
>realistically I have to get out. I have searched high and low
>for a job that would spring me forward but to no avail. I
>feel that starting my own business is my only REAL chance of
>making it finacially, and it has long been my passion to do
>so.
>
>My credit history is far from favorable due to previous
>illness, and job changes. I need about $5000.00-$10,000.00
>for start up for my business in order to purchase equipment,
>software, advertising, and start up expenses, in addition to
>allowing me a small cushion to get off and running. I want to
>pursue this full force once I am ready to move forward, but I
>lack the funds to do so and I am very limited on ideas for
>sources willing to finance a new business, especially when you
>consider my personal credit is rather lackluster. I am hoping
>someone can offer me some suggestions regarding this matter.
>
>I am passionate about running my own business. Ideally, I
>would eventually like to own a larger scale business once this
>takes off and I can show a favorable business credit history
>and successful business history. I want to be able to offer
>employment opportunities to others and expand growth in my
>community. I have decided to start on a small scale to start
>in order to establish myself as a successful business owner
>and entrepreneur. Please offer me some advice or suggestion.
>
>Thank you very much,
>
>Tam

If you are looking for grant funding then it will probably make you happy to know that your credit doesn't factor into getting a grant. What DOES factor into getting a grant is showing how serious you are?

Have you taken a lot at the grant program offered by this (Business Owner's Cafe) website? They are very proud of their grant program and they mention it often.

There are more and more grant programs opening up to help people start their own business. The last one I found for a client was from a state program that just started that is going to offer a grant program for those that want to start their own business - Why was this program put in place? Because the state wants to help their residents get out of poverty and into more productive lives.

Are you a woman or a minority? There are many grant programs for starting a business that you should be checking on.

I also do know that there is a government grant program that is related to building up business in the rural areas so you should go to the government's website to find out more about that program.

You sound very passionate and dedicated to what it is you want to do however you have to convince the people that have the money that you want to apply for that you are serious. Most of the grant programs that I mentioned above require - at least - that you submit a business plan. The government grant program that I mentioned will require a bit more and will be a bit more complicated as far as applying for but if you do manage to be eligible the government grants usually award the most in money.