The phrase Starting Strength" (SS) has two distinct meanings. This will gain you lifetime customers and loyal employees, as well as partners, vendors and service providers who are more willing to go the extra mile for you when you need them to. Being a good person matters , and gratitude is one of the best ways to do so.

Kiva, PayPal Working Capital, Square Capital, Stripe Capital, and Forward Financing (all reviewed above) offer funding to business owners starting a business with bad credit and no money with a 500 credit score'"assuming, of course, that you meet other loan application criteria, like minimum revenue or time in business.

A surprising percentage of business owners, who are some of the hardest-working people on Earth, tend to get a little lazy or sloppy with their personal finances: they spend too much, they don't save enough for retirement, they make excessively risky investments (or make the mistake of parking their money in the bank and earning 0% interest).

Especially if you're a solo business owner, you can lose touch with other business owners," says Kelly, who 15 years ago started The Handwork Studio, a Narberth, Pennsylvania-based company that runs needlework camps and classes for kids in 10 states along the East Coast.

Studies conducted by the Small Firms Economic Development Initiative found that 70 percent of small businesses that receive mentorship from experienced business owners survive their first five years, compared to 35 percent of small businesses that aren't advised by an industry mentor.