[BillM]

The followup is what happens with the third, fourth, fifth attempt. The great majority of businesses are small. They keep on trying till they succeed.
Virtually all companies start as small businesses.

We need all levels of government to employ more small businesses and individual contractors. They don't have the costs and benefits problems of civil servants.

[waterstraat]

Not too many people still have any savings left after their second or third small business failure. They are left desitute, with no savings left, and no job either. to encourage someone who lost thier job to foreign outsourcing to start a small business with whatever savings they still have , is irresponsible, and will inevitably lead to higher taxes to support them after their second or third failure leaving them penniless.

[templar]

The followup is what happens with the third, fourth, fifth attempt.

I've been in business for myself for many years. I've watched many people come and go, many more failures than successes. I've yet to see many third fourth of fifth attempts, once is usually enough for most. And most who fail the first time don't have anything (to speak of) left to try again if they have tried in any sizeable manner.

The main reason for failure that I've observed, is that a person goes into business to make money, not because it's what he wants to do (either the business itself or the type of work). The second most common reason is a lack of understanding all the competencies needed to run a business (and being competent at them), whether it is a one man or larger operation. Most of the second, or following, attempt successes are among those that want to be in that business or work so badly that they are willing to sacrifice everything trying till they (hopefully) succeed someday. Even then, most are only modrately successful and take their satisfaction form the work, the business, itself.