[wpietri]

I get your feelings here, and I think they say good things about you. But until you take money, you aren't running a business. What with business cards, a nice website, and an office, it might look like a business, but it's just an expensive fantasy.

Money is proof that your customers find you valuable. If you are really worried that the money is more an expression of faith and that you might not earn it, then don't recognize the revenue. Keep the money separate so you can give it back if things don't work out. But take the money. And then ask other people for money.

Avoiding taking money is basically avoiding finding out whether or not you've got something good. Your answer to that question is almost irrelevant. It's your potential customers that you should be listening to. One of the truest answers they will give you is their first check. (Still truer ones are regular checks and referrals to friends.) So take the money.