During the process Hein also conquered a free course on HTML, the programming language that tells a computer how to display a Web page. She had learned the language and lingo of the online world. Applying the lessons By early 1998, Hein prepared to commit herself to the online trading post. Still working for the state, Hein used her spare time to call local Web designers and companies advertising in trade magazines. Start-up costs are often the biggest barrier to establishing an online business.
Entrepreneurs often find themselves maxing credit cards and draining savings accounts.
Hein didn't have tens of thousands of dollars to spare. Hein had already received lots of free help. Free counseling by retired executives came via an arm of the Small Business Administration, which has a local branch in a downtown office suite. In the suite, she also took advantage of an entrepreneur resource room filled with computers and software. Hein frequents the office at least three times a week.