Starting a retail business: money

If you're thinking about starting a small business, get ready to hit up those near and dear to you. A worldwide survey of entrepreneurship concluded that self-funding and informal investment fuels development of 99.9% of new businesses. Entrepreneurs provide 65.8% of startup capital, while others -- mostly informal investors, including family and friends -- provide the balance. The survey concluded that individuals seeking to launch a small business are wasting their time by looking for angel investors or seeking to tap venture capital funds.

And remember ... there are no grants.