Small business. How to start a business with little cash

It can be intimidating starting a business with little cash.

At times it can seem downright impossible.

But with the weak economy and the tight lending market, many entrepreneurs have little choice but to bootstrap it these days. The key is finding ways to shave off some of the initial start-up costs so you can stretch those dollars farther, say experts.

"You don't need as much money as you think to start," says Bob Reiss, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based small-business expert and author of "Bootstrapping 101" (R&R, $19.95). "There are a lot of ways to save money. "

And here are just a few:

Small Business Development Center at Stony Brook: 631-632-9070

Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale: 631-420-2765

SCORE Long Island: 888-433-3632

Entrepreneurial Assistance Program at Hofstra University: 516-463-5850

Entrepreneurial Assistance Program at Suffolk County Community College: 631-851-6200