Help a Small Business Owner Stay on the Road

My name is Alan, and I've been running a small company for about 10 years now. Most of the time, business has been at least halfway decent--enough to cover the expenses from month to month, at a minimum. Last year, though, was a disaster; one project lead after another dried up, and I had to go pretty deep into my personal savings to take care of the monthly bills. I've just about reached the end of those reserves, and I'm hurting badly.

On top of this, I recently learned that my car will need some fairly extensive repair work, and I simply don't have the money to cover that bill. Not having a vehicle means that I can't get to and from my office or visit any potential clients, which makes it even harder to bring in any new business and pay the bills. I'm currently facing about $5,000 in car repairs, plus another $3,000 in short-term expenses around the house and office.

I enjoy the challenges of my work and of being my own boss, and I hate the idea of having to ask for outside help. Still, the fact is that I'm at a point where I need it. Anything you can contribute will be an enormous help, but don't do it if you're in a tight spot of your own.

If this campaign succeeds, I may have half a chance at getting through this incredibly difficult time and reaching a point where my company will start to thrive again. Then I'll be able to pass along the goodwill shown to me.