No matter where you go, there you are

Filed in archive Bootstrapping Thoughts on March 1, 2010

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But the real question is, is where you are where you need to be?

I see this debate, or some variant thereof, pop up every few months, the overarching theme being "is it better to be a startup in the Valley, or somewhere else?"

You may or may not have a tech startup so that particular argument may hold little interest for you, but it does raise the question of whether or not your location is a great one for whatever startup you happen to have. Is the industry developed enough to provide a market? Can you attract and keep the talent you need? Are there financial or funding resources with whom you can develop relationships? These factors can make or break a bootstrapper, yet frequently entrepreneurs pay them little heed; most people start their businesses from where they are, not necessarily where they need to be for the best chances of success.

The great thing these days is that you don't necessarily personally have to be where your business is located. Maybe the best place for your business is Hong Kong; no problem, you have the Internet, you have legal and communications resources, you can incorporate and run a business from half a world away. Why cede the legal and tax advantages of relocation to big multi-national corporations? Why assume outsourcing is only for big business? Who says you need to deal with the regulatory soup your home state saddles small businesses with? Smart entrepreneurs have been incorporating out of Nevada and Rhode Island for years to take advantage of friendlier business environments. Don't hold yourself back by putting your business some place where the environment necessarily makes you less competitive. If you care enough to succeed, give yourself the best chance of success by going where you have the most advantage.