Quote from oldtime:
you have a very narrow view of starting a business.
I knew four guys out of work, they pooled their money and printed up flyers claiming they were painters and went door to door handing them out until finally they got someone willing to pay them to paint the house.
Then they went around to their friends and borrowed ladders and paint brushes.
They did this all summer. In the fall, 2 of them got jobs and the other two retired years later as professional painters.
The problem is that you are talking about an economy years ago. The "recession" is deeper than any we have seen since the 30's. This is NOT the same situation your four friends faced when they started their business.
Lets look at TODAY. The residential construction industry has all but collapsed. How many out of work painters are a fighting for the same jobs now? In addition there are MILLIONS of "undocumented" workers willing to do this work dirt cheap which further cuts into business.
You have to take into consideration CURRENT economic reality rather than "years ago I knew a guy......."