The truth is, many successful small businesses start with small amounts of money. It's called "bootstrapping." You literally pull your business up by the bootstraps, with almost no money in the bank.

To finance your company's startup and growth with the assistance of or input from others Anyone who's started a business on a shoestring is adept at bootstrapping, or stretching resources--both ...

But for bootstrapped founders, learning is everything. In fact, I’d say bootstrapping and a growth mindset go hand-in-hand. Here’s how. When I first started my company, Jotform, back in 2006 ...

On the other hand, bootstrapping, or preceding external finance, provides a distinct strategic edge for entrepreneurs that value long-term vision, cultural unity, and the preservation of autonomy.

Brush, Candida G., Nancy M. Carter, Elizabeth J. Gatewood, Patricia G. Greene, and Myra M. Hart. "The Use of Bootstrapping by Women Entrepreneurs in Positioning for ...