Should I Open a Boutique in This Economy? Part II:

[TiaraNY1]

i am making small steps to opening up a boutique but i have problems with my credit score. Does it take a high credit score in order to be qualified for a small business loan? Im aware that a well written and thought out business plan is a great way to increase your chances of being approved for the loan but how does your credit play a part?

[dou9las9]

@TiaraNY1 Yes, especially in the recent couple of years due to the economy and the number of defaults on various forms of credit accounts, getting credit has become increasingly tough, even for people with better than average scores.

Overall, I believe things are improving, and remember that business loans from banks are not the only lending option out there (think microloans, venture capital, "angel investors" you may have access to, etc.)

[dou9las9]

@TiaraNY1

P.S.

My personal favorite: start your business completely online (your own site or ebay) reinvest every penny until you are cash flow positive enough to fund a brick and mortar.

To get a great overview of all the possible options, I highly recommend that you make an appointment with a counselor at your local SBA (Small Business Administration) or SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives) office.