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should; other deals self-destruct when the rock-bottom salary figures, unrealistic to begin with, are altered without planning, thus throwing the budgets into disarray. Be realistic. Don't be greedy. Your payoff comes in the future, after your business becomes successful. To help you figure out what you need to live on, we have provided some Cost of Living Budget forms in Appendix 4. Knowing what you need, as distinguished from thinking you know what you need, takes effortbut one sure way to damage a small business is to bleed it for family necessities. If your business can't afford to pay you a living wage, and you have no other income or savings, you had better think your deal over again. If you are preparing a financing plan, your banker will need the cost of living budget to help justify your salary requirements. Remember: Be realistic. Resources Available to the Business All businesses, no matter how tiny, need the following: • An accountant • A lawyer • A banker • An insurance agent or broker If you have to be told why you need these, you shouldn't be contemplating going into business. Other sources of assistance include the following: • Chambers of commerce, regional planning commissions and councils • Business, trade, and civic organizations • Small Business Administration technical assistance, SCORE, and SBDC programs • Consultants • Colleges, universities, and schools • Federal, state, and local agencies • Your board of directors Some small business owners have found that judicious use of online bulletin boards and chat rooms can lead to linkage with other owners in similar businesses. For example, a Berwick, Maine, woman with a computer-driven service for small contractors was able to link up with a woman in Mississippi who had a similar business several years further along. They "met" via a chat, and ended up phoning one another to discuss their ventures. Don't forget: Your banker can be among the most helpful of all due to the nature of the job. Bankers trade in information as much as in credit, and banks have a wealth of information about businesses that you can tap simply by asking.
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