????本文為與《創業者》雜志的合作內容。下文最初發表于Entrepreneur.com網站。

????人們經常認為，創業必須有大筆資金才行，但這不一定全對。

????許多成功的公司在成立之初確實投入了大量資金，但創業者需要清楚，公司成功與否與創業時所投入的資金多少，并沒有直接關系，這一點非常重要。你所需要的資金，事實上并沒有你想象的那么多。

????不要因為資金不足而感到灰心。這雖然聽起來有違常理，但在許多情況下，以少量資金創業，反而比投入大筆資金更有好處。

????在創業期，如果資源有限，你將不得不在用錢上更加精明。我創立第一家公司時只用了3,000美元——這筆錢還是老爸提供的貸款，我用它去學習房地產課程。對我而言，這是一個關鍵的起點，讓我最終有能力創建物業管理公司Renters Warehouse。這筆錢不多，但卻是我所需要的，而且用在了刀刃上。

????如果你正在考慮創業，一小筆資金可以讓你在走向成功的道路上堅持很久。那些有好想法但資金短缺的創業者應該如何開始？下面是我的一些建議：

????1.自力更生，不要太早尋找投資

????自力更生可以讓你避免放棄寶貴的公司股份。如果你不需要外部資金扶持，那就不要接受它。

????許多初創公司在某一個時點，都必須尋求外部資金，但太快尋求資金支持是錯誤的。過早尋找投資會導致股份被稀釋，未來你在公司中持有的股份會隨之變少。

????將自力更生的時間盡可能延長，可以讓你的產品或服務有時間去獲得市場的認可與追捧。除非你可以向投資者證明，一筆新的資金能幫助公司實現明確的目標，否則就不要太早地尋找投資。

????2. 小心舉債

????能有一套新的辦公家具自然很好，但在公司初創階段這是必需的嗎？還有，此時此刻，你真的需要2萬美元的營銷預算嗎？

????當然，如果你要創建的是一家工廠或要進入零售業，那就另當別論了。不過，大多數初創公司需要的資金，實際上遠遠低于他們所想。風風火火地刷信用卡來采購物資，確實很有誘惑力，但大多數情況下，這并非好主意。

????一家成功的公司，應該是充分利用現有機會的結果。成功的創業者會利用自己手頭的資源來取得成功，保證自己能夠在不同的階段做出合適的決策。

????3. 做好準備，全力投入

????努力工作是所有小公司的先決條件，尤其是你目前并沒有額外購買資源或聘請人手的資本。在資本方面所欠缺的，你應該用汗水來彌補。

????創建小公司時，要做好長時間工作甚至沒有時間睡覺的準備。而且在最開始的時候，不要擔心身兼數職。創業之初，你必須自己做前臺、出納、營銷總監和財務總監。

????4. 當機會來臨時，抓住它

????公司成功的關鍵之一在于學會如何發現機會。不論你創業時投入的資金有多少，這一點都非常重要。發現市場中的空白，如果你能找到一種需求，并且知道如何去滿足這種需求，你離成功也就不遠了。

????位于鳳凰城的Renters Warehouse特許經營公司，就是預測市場并抓住機遇的一個極好例子。這家特許經營公司已有三年歷史，今年的收入將達到250萬美元。

????這家公司的老板和我一樣，最初創業只用了3,000美元，現在他有四家物業管理公司。最初，他花錢買下了一家物業管理公司，他熱愛并擅長這門生意，公司發展的很好，于是抓住機會又買下了三家公司，之后，他開始多樣化經營，進軍主流市場。

????5. 行動起來

????高層管理者流行一句話：“不要光說不做?！焙玫南敕ㄒ晃牟恢?。但你執行這些想法的能力將帶來價值。這一點毋庸置疑，不論你在公司中投入多少資金。

????只有行動起來，才能將你的想法變成現實。制定目標，列出行動綱領，然后行動起來。放手去做！你能做到完美嗎？不會，但沒有什么事情是完美的。記住，行動起來比完美更好，所以安排滿自己的日程，為了創業成功而努力吧。

????6. 保持激情

????再多的資金也彌補不了激情的缺失。如果你真正相信自己的創意，那就要勇擔風險，投身到創業當中。記住自己為什么創業，不要讓其他任何事情阻礙你去實現目標。你需要這種推動力和激情來提醒自己，你所做的犧牲都是值得的，并幫你堅持到底。

????如果你有一個非常好的創業點子，不要讓缺乏資金成為攔路虎。相比前幾年，以極少的資源創業變得越來越容易。許多公司成立的時候，可能只有一臺筆記本電腦，一個簡單的網站，一個注冊的域名。

????相反，許多得到大量風投的公司最后卻淪落到失敗和破產的境地。關鍵在于，再多的資金也拯救不了一個糟糕的想法或者一個執行不力的好點子。

????未來屬于那些能夠迅速抓住時機的人。成功只青睞那些為了目標愿意犧牲和努力工作的人。（財富中文網）

????本文作者為Renters Warehouse創始人。

????譯者：劉進龍/汪皓

????審校：任文科

????This post is in partnership with Entrepreneur. This article below was originally published at Entrepreneur.com

????While it’s often thought that you need a significant amount of capital to start a business, this isn’t always the case.

????Yes, many successful companies were launched with a significant amount of funding, but it’s important to realize that the chances of a business’ success are not directly related to the amount of capital that the company was started with. You really need less money than you think.

????If you’re discouraged by lack of funding, don’t be. While it may sound counterintuitive, in many cases, starting with a small amount of capital is preferable to launching with a large chunk of cash.

????When starting out with limited resources, you’re forced to use this money wisely. I started my first company with just $3,000 — a loan from my dad that I used to take a real estate course. This was a pivotal starting point for me, and what enabled me to go on to found my company, Renters Warehouse. It wasn’t a huge amount of money, but it was what just I needed, and it was well spent.

????If you’re considering starting a business, a small amount of money can go a long way towards building your future success. Here’s how entrepreneurs who are big on ideas, but short on cash can get started:

????1. Bootstrap for as long as possible

????Bootstrapping prevents you from having to give up valuable equity in your company. If you don’t need outside funding to start, don’t take it.

????Many startups will reach a point where it becomes necessary to seek outside funding, but securing backing too soon is a mistake. Seeking funding too early results in dilution, and the sooner you become subject to this, the less equity you will have in your company in the future.

????Bootstrapping for as long as possible gives your product or service time to gain traction and catch on. Only when you can demonstrate to investors that a new influx of capital will go towards clearly defined milestones should you look for funding.

????2. Watch out for debt

????New office furniture is nice, but is it necessary at this stage? Do you really need a $20,000 marketing budget at this point in the game?

????Of course, if you’re trying to start a factory or go into the retail business, that’s another story, but the vast majority of startups often require less capital than they think. Rushing out and putting everything on credit cards may be tempting, but in most cases this is a bad idea.

????A successful business is the result of making the most of available opportunities. It’s about using what you have to make things happen and ensuring that you make the right decisions for the stage you’re at.

????3. Be prepared to put in the time

????Hard work is the prerequisite for any small business, especially when you don’t have the luxury of purchasing extra resources, or hiring additional help right away. What you don’t have in capital, you’ll have to make up for in sweat.

????Be prepared for long days and sleepless nights when starting up a small business, and don’t be afraid to wear a number of different hats in the beginning. You’ll have to be your own receptionist, bookkeeper, marketing director and financial director when you first start out.

????4. Take opportunities when they come

????One important key to business success is learning to recognize opportunities as they come up. This is true no matter how much capital you’re starting out with. Identify gaps in the market. If you can find a need, and figure out how to fulfill it, you’ll be on your way.

????One excellent example of gauging the market and seizing opportunities as they arise is one of Renters Warehouse’s franchises that is operating in Phoenix. This franchise is three years old, and it’s on course to do $2.5 million in revenue this year.

????The owner started out just like me, with just $3,000 — and he’s now the owner of four property management franchises. He bought one and loved it so much and it’s growing so well for him that’s he jumped on the opportunity to buy three more, and has since then diversified himself into major markets.

????5. Take action

????There’s a phrase that’s often used in upper management: “Don’t talk about it, be about it.” Good ideas are worthless. Your ability to execute them will bring value. This is true no matter how much capital you have to invest into your business.

????Taking action is what brings your ideas to life. Set your goals, outline a course of action and then get started. Do something! Will it be perfect? No, but few things are. Remember, done is better than perfect, so fill up your calendar and start making things happen.

????6. Be passionate

????No amount of capital can make up for a lack of passion. If you truly believe in your idea, take the risk and dive in. Remember why you’re doing this, and don’t let anything stop you from achieving your goals. You will need that drive and passion to remind yourself that all of your sacrifices are worth it, and to help you to stay the course.

????If you have a great idea for a company, don’t let a lack of funding hold you back. These days, it’s becoming easier and easier to start out a company with less than what was needed in previous years. Many companies today are founded with little more than a laptop, a simple website and a registered domain name.

????Conversely, many companies that receive hundreds of thousands in venture capital fizzle out and go bust. The point is that capital, even a significant amount, will never be adequate enough to compensate for a bad idea, or a good idea that’s poorly executed.

????The future is open to those who are able to spot opportunities as they arise. Success will always belong to those who are willing make sacrifices and work hard towards their goals.

????Hayden is founder of Renters Warehouse