[petek]

Brian,

"No, my attempts to start my own business have been thwarted thus far, by the availability of cheap overseas labor. "

Then hire the overseas labor yourself and start up the company anyway. Or offer a premium product (risky but works when the consumers perceive extra value in the premium product and are willing to spend the extra bucks).

IMHO, the one BIGGEST risk of starting your own company is fear. Many successful companies are started while still working for another company. You do your 9-5 and then work at home from when you get home until 2 am. Weekends represent 48 hours to work on your business. If your company fails, you are out a few bucks and some time. If you company does well and is making enough money, then you quit your day job and work your business full time.

Offer something that consumers want or need, at a quality and price that they accept, and if you can make a few bucks doing it, well, you've got yourself a company!

(Just for the record, yes I have, a couple failed big time, a few did so-so but actually made money, a couple did very well. Although I could stop working my day job, the job sure does a great job of taking care of my health insurance needs and putting bucks into my 401k.)