A lot depends on what you intend to sell. You need to consider whether your customers will rely on your stock in a recession. For example, everyone needs to eat no matter what. (Not that I'm suggesting you go into the food business, unless it's a niche market and you've done some research). You will also need to be aware that if you are borrowing money to set up then the interest rates may rise dramatically and cripple you. All new businesses experience a cash flow after the first couple of years, so do your homework and be sure you can ride the stormy times too. Good luck.

it depends on what kind of shop

As others have said it depends on what you intend to sell...clothing store in a mall you may go out of business soon...and adult store in a good location and you will make lots of money!

sure... IF YOU AREN"T TAKING A LOAN OUT FROM A BANK IN ORDER TO OPEN IT. many banks will be closing soon.. private banks are already beginning to close..

I'm thinking of opening a small business next year. But I will finance it using my own money. I will never borrow from a bank or any other lending institutions.

As long as you're catering to a need that isn't being currently met by another shop in your community you should be fine. A deli is a great idea, especially if you'll be serving something different but delicious. If I may suggest something, try serving some items that are 100% gluten free. You may draw in a lot of business from health conscious people that way. I know I'd be there! The gluten-free/casein-free diet is widely recognized as a staple diet for the treatment of autism symptoms. Good luck with your business!

NEW YORK TIMES FRONT PAGE NEWSPAPER Sunday reports: That banks are sharply reducing business loans even for solid companies. They are struggling to recover from the housing crisis. And in another story in the New York Times paper, Seven of this nation's largest financial companies have lost half their accumulated profits they made during 2004 - 2007. That is staggering, shocking, so now would not be a good time to expect a business loan of any type for a small business. Good Luck and Pray for US ALL!!! We are heading towards a full blown Depression if things do not drastically and quickly turn around!!!! I would get prepared for that!!!!

There is no good time / bad time - the devil is always in the detail. Sure, on the one hand it looks like the economy is crashing, but on the other hand you may be able to pick up a second hand shop real cheap from some poor, desperate-to-sell interest-rate crippled soul. (I hate to sound like a vulture, but if you pay full price then You may become the victim of the vulture. What do you do? Let massive inflation erode everyone's mistakes?) That person probably thought they were doing well buying into a boom, but didn't understand they were paying too much for their shop which was priced for a boom, not a bust. Boom - rich customers - overpriced property, bust - no customers, cheap property : That is your choice. No matter how big the recession, people still need to buy stuff. What matters is figuring out how to make them buy from You. Find the customers with the money, find out what they want, and sell it to them. Sorry I can't be more helpful but this is it: Anything can work, anything can fail. Its all the little details that determine which. Who has got the money? What do they want to buy? Good luck, have fun.

Human needs are perennial; therefore, potential for profit in satisfying them is likewise perennial.

The Qu'ran says that a female Muslim must marry a Muslim, but a male Muslim can marry anyone with a book (Bible, Torah, Qu'ran.) We haven't made the trip to Mecca yet (because we have been saving for our business) but I think it will be amazing too. I also feel it will be a bit scary as I have a phobia in crowds. That is going to be a big problem but I'll just have to try and overcome it. I haven't even met my husband's family in Jordan yet. We have been married for 3 years. It must be so interesting living in Japan. Must have been a bit of a culture shock for you?