Artful Dodger: The UK figures are a failure rate of about 1/3 regarding new businesses. I cannot be accurate on this due to the variations like we have now where small businesses are not getting the support they use to since the banks screwed up

"You've got to make money at a business and lots of it. You have bills to pay and if you can't meet those bills each month, you're not going to make it."

I know.. that's why before you start a business you need to carefully look at your costings. I learnt that years ago when I managed a shop for someone.. which, I nearly did buy, but backed out of once I looked into some of the shady deals that would have come back onto me via debts I was not willing to pick up... only time I've ever been interested in owning my own shop.

Unlike some banks I look into what I'm thinking of buying.

"You can't compete with a big business like America's Target or Walmart store if you're not already established and well grounded in the community."

As you pointed out... Location, product, cash flow, research, marketing. Many of those I see succeeding are not trying to compete with the big boys, they are not stupid.. Like one part of the one I nearly did own he was beating the big boys on certain crucial goods, but would not keep (despite me constantly telling him) stock levels up... That one item kept people flowing into the shop through that at the time being an essential product to computer users. The humble 3.5" floppy. Branded names cost, unbranded didn't.


.................... "The reason you saw paranoia is because you have your own paranoia about being paranoid."

you need to watch some Kenny Everett as yet again you've missed my point. Gotta love that cold war mentality