nly gradually began to offer completed products made by a local
artist's cooperative in her community, which remains a primary source of her products. A positive cash flow resulted within three months of operation; Allison was and is the sole individual involved in all aspects of her business except for occasional technical assistance from her husband and the services of an accountant.
. David and his partner repaid their loans within a year, during which time they divided business responsibilities to permit David to focus on supplier relationships and his partner on marketing and sales. They hired three additional staff in the first year, and eventually increased staffing to include 16 people, some working on commission and others on salary.
. David and his partner, unlike Allison, created a startup
business plan that they used to obtain financing, projecting for a five-year period their revenue forecasts and operating costs; they sought but did not receive a Small Business Association (SBA) loan.
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