Hi Joel - Welcome to the Business.gov community and thank you for helping us get discussions started while we continue to expand! Do you have any insight on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that would help influence the concerns of starting a small business? Please post any thoughts to the Economic Stimulus and Recovery Information forum. Your curiosity is certainly warranted during such tough economic times. While it is easy to think that the number of small business startups would have declined over the past few years, the answer to your question might not be so simple. Starting a small business may be appealing to many who have been affected by mass layoffs or the difficulties of getting hired in this economy. A friend of mine that recently started a small clothing boutique in Sarasota, FL was certainly undeterred by current economic instabilities and excited about the prospect of success. So far so good for her business. How does everyone else feel about starting a business under these economic conditions?

Hi Joel - Welcome to the Business.gov community and thank you for helping us get discussions started while we continue to expand! Do you have any insight on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that would help influence the concerns of starting a small business? Please post any thoughts to the Economic Stimulus and Recovery Information forum. Your curiosity is certainly warranted during such tough economic times. While it is easy to think that the number of small business startups would have declined over the past few years, the answer to your question might not be so simple. Starting a small business may be appealing to many who have been affected by mass layoffs or the difficulties of getting hired in this economy. A friend of mine that recently started a small clothing boutique in Sarasota, FL was certainly undeterred by current economic instabilities and excited about the prospect of success. So far so good for her business. How does everyone else feel about starting a business under these economic conditions?

hi im just writting you back because im in the same boat.i just wrote to get info on gov.grants etc i personally think this is the best time with all the free money being given out.so DONT give up. and lots of luck. chevyeddie2002@yahoo.com

hi im just writting you back because im in the same boat.i just wrote to get info on gov.grants etc i personally think this is the best time with all the free money being given out.so DONT give up. and lots of luck. chevyeddie2002@yahoo.com

Thank you TR. No free money. Money is not free. The Franchise King Joel Libava

Hi TR, What you will find about me is that I don't and won't spin. Small businsesses do fail, and they fail a lot. But, big businesses make more of an impact when they fail, or most recently, when they are about to. I wonder if small business owners could do a betterjob with some fed funds handed to them than the big boys and girld seem to be doing? The Franchise King Joel Libava

Hi TR, What you will find about me is that I don't and won't spin. Small businsesses do fail, and they fail a lot. But, big businesses make more of an impact when they fail, or most recently, when they are about to. I wonder if small business owners could do a betterjob with some fed funds handed to them than the big boys and girld seem to be doing? The Franchise King Joel Libava

I hate with every fiber of my being that the government has become so involved in the banking industry and has started lending money to the 'giants', but if they are going to do it I have an idea....   They should lend the materials costs of government contracts to small businesses- giving them a chance to win large government contracts, hire skilled American workers, and complete the contracts.   All of the new spending is going to go to the large contractors in each local area because they are the only ones that have the working capital to carry the materials and labor until they are paid by the government (not a quick process).   Not to mention they will be borrowing from their banks to carry these costs- so who gets rich in the end?  The banks do, again!   If the 'problem' is going to be fixed, the cycle must be broken.   Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

Let me know when you find that free money. Stop watching infomercials people.

Thank you TR. No free money. Money is not free. The Franchise King Joel Libava