Darina Loakman, who runs online businesses advising work-at-home-mums, estimates there are about 70,000 new home-based small businesses in Ireland. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found that about 250,000 new businesses were started or in planning in Ireland in 2005,1 she said. 1About 28 pct. of those were set up by people who said the business would not employ anybody other than the founder in five years1 time. 1
Starting small also minimises the risks attached to setting up a new company. The internet in particular facilitates people to start small and grow organically without needing a big investment in the beginning,1 said Aisling Mackey, who set up Cara Craft Supplies after finding it difficult to get supplies in Ireland for her first business, Cara Cards. 1You don1t need 120,000. You can start with 12,000 and a small website and ship orders out from your home. 1
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Nobreak::FEAR of taking the plunge from the comfortable world of employment into an uncertain life as an entrepreneur holds many back from setting up their own businesses. Striking out alone doesnt have to be a heart-in-the-mouth affair, howev