Starting and owning a business is a dream and a risk. Most ventures don’t succeed beyond five years. And the individual cost of starting a business, both in time and money, can be enormous. But the reward can be enormous as well. Many of the flagship companies in the United States started in a home office, garage or kitchen. However, in today’s economy—with tight credit, diminished savings, and skittish investors—starting a business has become more difficult.
