Bootstrapping Your Startup No, you don't need investors to start your dream business. Here's how to make it happen with your own money.
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Some businesses are built by venture capitalists. Dearly departed Pets.com comes to mind. Other businesses are built by entrepreneurs--Dell Computers and Microsoft are a couple of good examples.
Despite the dream of some entrepreneurs to meet a VC with deep pockets, the fact is that 99.9 percent of business owners will struggle alone, pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. With a little luck and a lot of pluck, bootstrapping a business can be both financially and emotionally rewarding.
There are no guarantees of success when self-financing a business, of course, but there are some guidelines that will make the game go smoothly.
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