If you have enough capital in hand to start without a loan, even if it means starting small, that would be my recommendation. If you start on borrowed capital, you must acheive profitability quickly to be able to carry the debt service, and that’s not always possible with a start-up business. Right now, small business loans are tough to get, even for established businesses with a good credit record. So if you are going to need one, make sure you can actually get it before going too far with your planning.