CHAPTER 13

Don’t Spend a Dime (Until You Exhaust Your Imagination)

T aking an idea and turning it into a successful business takes time, sweat, and money. To find funding, it’s only natural to look to banks, angel investors, and venture capitalists. But you need one of two things to land money from these sources: A proven track record as an entrepreneur, or a persuasive proof of concept that shows that your company has traction, customers, and revenue.

This means that in the early days of your start-up, you’re going to have to serve as your own lead investor. If you’re lucky, you may be able to call on friends and family to put in some additional cash. Either way, resources will most likely be severely limited. And when resources are tight, ...

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