[OldSchool]

If you're young with low overhead, have a tangible product or service and have some kind of revenue coming in already, say at least $3000+/mo the debt route is what I would've done under those circumstances. Your slide into debt would presumably be slow (since you're young and have low overhead) and debt is cheap if you keep your credit score tight. Timing and luck play a big part but IMHO the road from 0-$3K/mo is harder than the road from $3-10K/mo for instance. If yours is a product, you might have to work more like a service at first: "yes we'll add that for you," make the sale and add the feature hoping to be able to say "yes we have that" next time. That's following the money.

[ben-lee]

I've been thinking about starting more as a service, I have no problem with this. Also, it helps build community.

[ben-lee]

Also, what age is considered young? I'm not relatively young but not old.

[OldSchool]

Bad choice of words on my part - youth itself is barely relevant; your overhead and how many people you're responsible for or answer to is. Those things tend to increase as you age.

In my opinion, a spouse and especially children would be indicators against taking bigger risks in the form of debt. I also recommend against relying on a working spouse to support your effort for more than about a month - too much at risk.

Ask yourself how far have you come and where is the business headed? If it's consistent month-by-month and headed in the right direction that's certainly a big plus.

[ben-lee]

Ok thanks for clarifying. I'm 33, no spouse or kids.