Unless Your Daddy Warbucks Kid.

Where did you get your seed money to get started?

[King_Fisher]

Every one needs some capital to get started in business. whether its a small amount, mid size or large.

I am always fascinated by the stories on how people leveraged themselve into the game.

Some work 2 or three jobs. Others borrow off of relatives or friends. People
sell off their prize possessions, an vintage auto, their motorcycle, their prize guitar, etc.

I personally got my stake by robbing the neighborhood 7/11. JUST KIDDING! :o)

About four years ago I was involved in an auto accident. A guy ran a stop sign
and plowed into my drivers side. I didn't get hurt but it messed up the side
of the car pretty badly.

The insurance company gave me a check for $3,300.00. As the car was drivable
I decided to use the money to launch my first commercial site.

Unfortunately the site bombed, but it gave me the experience and the knowledge to
continue on and become moderately successful.

The downside to this story is I drove a semi wrecked car around for a couple of years. I had to duck tape the drivers side door shut and get in through the passenger side. Needless to say my wife was completely humiliated.

Well that's my story, whats yours? Only In America!...KF

PS>>>Only in America<<<,I am sure there are other stories like this from all around the globe!

[edited by: King_Fisher at 7:55 am (utc) on Nov. 9, 2007]

[vincevincevince]

Started by doing minor freelance coding work of the 'reverse auction' type which required nothing but the PC I already had for being a student. Out of the proceeds paid webhosting. On the webhosting built a site. On the site built a business, etc...

[ronin]

Moved from:

• temping full time and working on my site in my free time; to
• checking train tickets in Waterloo station part time and working on my site part time; to
  
• doing freelance transcription at home 40% of the time and working on my site 60% of the time; to
  
• doing very occasional freelance work (English teaching, proofreading, markup) about 5% of the time and working on my site the rest of the time; to
  
• working on my site full time.

No seed money involved.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I used a severance payment from my last employer to get started.

I didn't need any significant capital but I did need money to live on. I took £12K from the severance money and allowed myself £1K per month for a year. At the end of the first year I had about £6K left, second year about £14K, third year I started saving again.

It came to a halt there and there has been no more growth but I am happy to be my own boss, working from home and making a reasonable living. I celebrated by 6th anniversary of doing this on 2 November.

[wyweb]

I didn't have any seed money. I worked a full time job and drank a lot of beer and taught myself HTML from online tutorials in the evenings. My first website was on a free server using a free domain name. I didn't plan to make any money. I just wanted the largest platform I could find so I could yell as loudly as I could about things I considered extremely important. The internet won hands down.

Then somebody told me about affiliate marketing...

[Essex_boy]

I work so anymoney I require comes from a savings account, its amazing how cautious I am with my own money.

best not to borrow to start a business IMO

[Compworld]

Got the money from my cousin Veto. Only 2 pt VIG. No, not really... Just took it step by step and built it while working my main job. Thus, now, eight years later ( or so), this is my main job.

Also, its Duct tape, not duck tape. It is not derived from ducks. :)

[lawman]

There is a brand of duct tape called "Duck Tape". :)

[King_Fisher]

Compworld, Now you tell me, you know how many ducks I used up getting that much tape?

Lawman, Thanks for the save!...KF

[lynder]

Started with selling various stuff. Saved up since I was ten.