本文为与《创业者》杂志的合作内容。下文最初发表于Entrepreneur.com网站。

    人们经常认为，创业必须有大笔资金才行，但这不一定全对。

    许多成功的公司在成立之初确实投入了大量资金，但创业者需要清楚，公司成功与否与创业时所投入的资金多少，并没有直接关系，这一点非常重要。你所需要的资金，事实上并没有你想象的那么多。

    不要因为资金不足而感到灰心。这虽然听起来有违常理，但在许多情况下，以少量资金创业，反而比投入大笔资金更有好处。

    在创业期，如果资源有限，你将不得不在用钱上更加精明。我创立第一家公司时只用了3,000美元——这笔钱还是老爸提供的贷款，我用它去学习房地产课程。对我而言，这是一个关键的起点，让我最终有能力创建物业管理公司Renters Warehouse。这笔钱不多，但却是我所需要的，而且用在了刀刃上。

    如果你正在考虑创业，一小笔资金可以让你在走向成功的道路上坚持很久。那些有好想法但资金短缺的创业者应该如何开始？下面是我的一些建议：

    1.自力更生，不要太早寻找投资

    自力更生可以让你避免放弃宝贵的公司股份。如果你不需要外部资金扶持，那就不要接受它。

    许多初创公司在某一个时点，都必须寻求外部资金，但太快寻求资金支持是错误的。过早寻找投资会导致股份被稀释，未来你在公司中持有的股份会随之变少。

    将自力更生的时间尽可能延长，可以让你的产品或服务有时间去获得市场的认可与追捧。除非你可以向投资者证明，一笔新的资金能帮助公司实现明确的目标，否则就不要太早地寻找投资。

    2. 小心举债

    能有一套新的办公家具自然很好，但在公司初创阶段这是必需的吗？还有，此时此刻，你真的需要2万美元的营销预算吗？

    当然，如果你要创建的是一家工厂或要进入零售业，那就另当别论了。不过，大多数初创公司需要的资金，实际上远远低于他们所想。风风火火地刷信用卡来采购物资，确实很有诱惑力，但大多数情况下，这并非好主意。

    一家成功的公司，应该是充分利用现有机会的结果。成功的创业者会利用自己手头的资源来取得成功，保证自己能够在不同的阶段做出合适的决策。

    3. 做好准备，全力投入

    努力工作是所有小公司的先决条件，尤其是你目前并没有额外购买资源或聘请人手的资本。在资本方面所欠缺的，你应该用汗水来弥补。

    创建小公司时，要做好长时间工作甚至没有时间睡觉的准备。而且在最开始的时候，不要担心身兼数职。创业之初，你必须自己做前台、出纳、营销总监和财务总监。

    4. 当机会来临时，抓住它

    公司成功的关键之一在于学会如何发现机会。不论你创业时投入的资金有多少，这一点都非常重要。发现市场中的空白，如果你能找到一种需求，并且知道如何去满足这种需求，你离成功也就不远了。

    位于凤凰城的Renters Warehouse特许经营公司，就是预测市场并抓住机遇的一个极好例子。这家特许经营公司已有三年历史，今年的收入将达到250万美元。

    这家公司的老板和我一样，最初创业只用了3,000美元，现在他有四家物业管理公司。最初，他花钱买下了一家物业管理公司，他热爱并擅长这门生意，公司发展的很好，于是抓住机会又买下了三家公司，之后，他开始多样化经营，进军主流市场。

    5. 行动起来

    高层管理者流行一句话：“不要光说不做。”好的想法一文不值。但你执行这些想法的能力将带来价值。这一点毋庸置疑，不论你在公司中投入多少资金。

    只有行动起来，才能将你的想法变成现实。制定目标，列出行动纲领，然后行动起来。放手去做！你能做到完美吗？不会，但没有什么事情是完美的。记住，行动起来比完美更好，所以安排满自己的日程，为了创业成功而努力吧。

    6. 保持激情

    再多的资金也弥补不了激情的缺失。如果你真正相信自己的创意，那就要勇担风险，投身到创业当中。记住自己为什么创业，不要让其他任何事情阻碍你去实现目标。你需要这种推动力和激情来提醒自己，你所做的牺牲都是值得的，并帮你坚持到底。

    如果你有一个非常好的创业点子，不要让缺乏资金成为拦路虎。相比前几年，以极少的资源创业变得越来越容易。许多公司成立的时候，可能只有一台笔记本电脑，一个简单的网站，一个注册的域名。

    相反，许多得到大量风投的公司最后却沦落到失败和破产的境地。关键在于，再多的资金也拯救不了一个糟糕的想法或者一个执行不力的好点子。

    未来属于那些能够迅速抓住时机的人。成功只青睐那些为了目标愿意牺牲和努力工作的人。（财富中文网）

    本文作者为Renters Warehouse创始人。

    译者：刘进龙/汪皓

    审校：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