HATTIE: Some people with an idea for a business immediately begin thinking about using OPM, other people's money. Getting startup money from a bank is hard, but not impossible. Founder of Tires Plus, Tom Gegax and his partner, Don Gullet, did it. Where did the money come from to start the business?

TOM GEGAX: Well, we both worked for Shell Oil Company, so what we did was each take money from our profit sharing fund that, when we left them, came to us.

So I remember we had, it was $90,000 it took to get in business.

So we had a $60,000 loan and $30,000 was between us. And I had like $15,500 and he had $14,500, something like that.

Getting a loan was the toughest thing because we went to like 10 banks and we kept getting turned down. And I think bank number 9 when they turned us down, I said, 'Why?' They said, 'You don't have experience at running a business.' And I really blew a gasket on that. After such frustration, I said, "Well why do they need you? Why don't they just put the stuff in the computer and one of the dings is, 'If you haven't run a business before, don't even have us come in.”

HATTIE: You're out.

TOM: Yeah. Just say no matter, how potentially qualified you are, you won't get it. I said just have this all be computerized, they really don't need you.

HATTIE: Well, where did you get the $60,000 if all the banks said no?

TOM: Well finally found one that would. We found one that would through an attorney that we were doing business -- some other attorney in the law firm was a kind of finance attorney. He was on the board of the bank, and if he believed in you -- which he believed in us, then he'd put in a good word to the board. And we got it that way.

HATTIE: So it was a character reference.

TOM: Yes.

HATTIE: An insider character reference.

TOM: Insider character reference, that's the truth.

HATTIE: You'll be happy to know that in 2000 when Tires Plus was generating $200 million in annual sales, Tom and Don sold to an international conglomerate for double digit millions. (Voiceover)

MEET PAMELA RODGERS

Pamela Rodgers borrowed money from her parents for the down payment on a GM dealership in Woodhaven, Michigan. That's other peoples money. GM has a program that allows dealers to buy in over time. So Pam put together two sources to make it happen and on top of that she was willing to invest in a location that had become known as an ugly duckling.

MEET LUPE FRAGA

HATTIE: (Voiceover) A business for sale by an owner who will carry the financing was the perfect opportunity for Lupe Fraga.

LUPE: We make your business day easier.

HATTIE: (Voiceover) Is the slogan of Lupe's company, Tejas Office Products, which has been operating in Houston since 1961.

LUPE: I was practicing as an accountant and Jim Kindig who had an office supply company, was servicing this company and he came to me and he asked me if I was interested in going into the office supply business. So, being single and just having returned from the United States Army, serving in France, I said, 'Why not?' So I took the opportunity. He loaned me some money, co-signed the note at the bank. Had one delivery truck and one secretary and that started me out.

HATTIE: (Voiceover) Lupe sales have increased 40 percent over last year bringing the total to 7.5 million for the last 12 months. Many business owners look for and win venture capital or private placements.