So you have the idea. Next, you need the money.
That’s about as far as some would-be-entrepreneurs make it.
Starting a business is rough, especially if you’re not swimming in a Scrooge McDuck-style pile of money.
I was reminded of just how tough it can be when talking with Karin Resing a few weeks ago. Resing, the owner of the Village Bean in Bothell’s Country Village, financed her start-up from savings.
Karin Resing (L), owner of the Village Bean. (Michael O’Leary/Herald photo)
I asked her: “Did you take out a loan from a bank to help with start-up costs?”
She looked shocked.
“I did not borrow a dime from them,” she said. “I saved money.”
An earlier business venture left a sour taste in Resing’s mouth when it comes to banks. She remembers a loan officer laughed at her when she inquired about a loan to help out with a gift shop she used to own with her sister.
Since that experience, she advocates a slow, practical approach to business ownership. She says to do your homework, be patient, and make sure you can afford the financial risk that comes with owning a business.
“I saved money, and I did a lot of planning,” Resing said. “I did a lot of saving and was just very careful.”
Read more about Resing’s business here.
Have you financed a company without a traditional loan? Send me the details; you could be featured in a story.
Know a small business we should write about? Contact Herald writer Amy Rolph at arolph@heraldnet.com.
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