thank you for this article angie! just sharing my experience: my friend runs a cafe and his siblings are helping him. it's basically a family business and the food there isn't the cheapest, but it's good. my church friends and I always go there to eat and his cafe is the only makan place i won't be stingy with. 1 year later, their business breakeven... even though they are operating in a very competitive area with at least 6 cafes in a single stretch! goes to show that with a little support from everyone, anyone can make it. friends are supposed to help and not take advantage of the friendship!