How do people do it?

Depends on the business you're in

Being in the service industry, I slowly clawed my way up, reinvesting all profit back into the business

>>2684489
google dan pena

>>2684513
I work in a Tattoo shop, they are EVERYWHERE, but around me there is only 2, I have NO DOUBT IN MY MIND, that I would be more successful than they are. the whole problem is not having enough money to actually get doors open. I need to find about $50,000 to get the shop open successfully where i have no doubts in my mind. Even if i wanted to SCRAPE by, i would need to find a way to get $20,000 and if anything thats just the security of being able to pay rent for a year. I have no problem working 7 days a week, i already work a second job so i can pay my rent on top of reinvesting in myself. I just need that buffer.

>>2684526
Hard work
Work with what you have and make a name for yourself. A garage, spare bedroom, whatever space you have. Bust your ass and word of mouth will get you more work, especially if you're good at what you do.

Networking
Ask around, friends, friends of friends, even customers. especially small business owners - maybe they have a room you can use for your startup or rent a small space on the cheap. Get yourself some business cards to pass out (I use 123print for ours)

Obviously generic and cliché advice but that's how I did it. I started with $200 and a spare table in my basement as my office, turned it into one of the biggest companies in my industry. It can be done if you're dedicated enough

>>2684600
>>2684600
thats not as easy in my industry, I pride myself on being as clean and high quality as possible. im not a tattoo artist im a body piercer, What I do, to do it successfully, requires a VERY specific amount of Asepsis. Its unfortunately not something im able to do out of my home, its also not something i can do out of someone else's hole in the wall shop. its a pain in the ass, i know everything it takes to run this business successfully other than, HOW DO I OPEN MY OWN. Ive been more or less laughed out of banks. but its something i believe in. Id give someone 20% of my money for the rest of my life if theyd believe in me enough to give me the small amount of money im asking for.

>>2684617
>its a pain in the ass
And that's why most people work for someone else

>laughed out of banks
I never tried but I probably would have been too. Besides, taking out a loan to start a small business is stupid imo. I've always been a firm believer in a business paying for itself with whatever the initial investment is.

To open your own shop it seems to me you only have two options: Reinvesting profits into the business or an outside investor/partnership

You're going to have to make one of those two work. Either through dealing with hole in the wall conditions or finding someone to go into business with. Which brings me back to what I already said; hard work and networking. There's no other way.

>>2684705
>Reinvesting profits into the business or an outside investor/partnership

Thats been my main goal. I have contstantly put my money back into my own business. However thats the roadblock im in at the moment. I have inventory but no capital. I have been looking for an investor or a partner, ive tried Angel networks, crowd funding and recently ive even been posting into Venture Capitalist forums. I dont care what it takes to get this money. Id knock on 10,000 doors if thats what it took. but i just want someone to believe in me.

>>2684740
That's the roadblock most people come to when trying to do their own thing. You either make it happen or you work for someone else that made it happen. Which is essentially the difference between someone with a business mindset and an employee.