I want to go into business but have a really bad $ past, where do I start?

wow that's alot of stuff you had going on.... but here's what you gotta do first....

do everything legit, systematically, and with purpose from here on out. business is business and personal is personal.

totally separate the business from the personal stuff; so when the banks looks at this down the road, they don't see the messy past with credit and all (they might count it) but when things are done properly, they will see mostly the the bright future based on how successful it has been.

as much as you can... get into this business with as little debt as possible. it may look like it is okay to get into debt to start but ultimately, it will be the debt that ends the business all together. it is better to save and move forward and gain momentum than to start strong, get some people on board but not enough, lose momentum, business closes and business reopens... by then.. there is just more negative than positive in operating... and the people you had probably will have moved on...

get a business license... example: my friend is making cakes and cupcakes from home and she wanted to do things right... soooo she had to go to the city and get some kind of license and submit a DBA. It may cost money (idk how much) but it's a first step to say and prove that you have been doing the business for 2 years or so.

track your business money.. track everything... the cost, past present and future, the profit. the losses. it may bot look good for the first year or two - as it rarely does - but it is the truth. the banks would want to see an accurate picture, not a perfect picture rather than a lie. yes this is ironic considering that they are all jacked up themselves right now. but be aware that the credit unions are all doing fine for the most part and they are the ones you would probably go to first for a loan as they give the better rates. sert p your business properly, do your taxes properly, or get them done properly as this can make or break you.

i would suggest taking a small business planning or entrepreneurship class. these classes (from light to deep detail) go into how to make a business plan, how to present or pitch your business and how to find favor in the banks.

the textbook we used for class was an older version of this one: http://www.amazon.com/Small-Business-Management-Entrepreneurial-InfoTrac%C2%AE/dp/0324226128/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234446985&sr=8-2...

i had to drop out midway due to some things but my friend who went through with the class got her business plan together and got a loan from a bank for these specialty workout clothes she imports from Brazil and she is now doing really good. she and another lady are the only ones that import these clothes to USA. now how cool is that?! these classes are available from the community colleges, free in ROP or adult school environments, or the SBA.

also join your local SBA. small business associations. they hold all kinds of sources and hold membership of a network of people looking to help each other out. what i have learned from these socials and functions is that many are there to help themselves but the successful ones are there to help you first. never forget .... what is sent out-good or bad-come right back home in the end.

also join networking groups....meetup.com has lots of local business and networking groups. join associations for weddings, etc etc etc...

all in all you can do all this but the best thing to do is make friends and learn how to influence people. read the best all time book written and recommended in business school: Carnegie's "How to Make Friends and Influence People." You will not regret it. It is available on audible.com or at the public library. Speaking of library... there are too many books to help you for free!!! there are also the bookstores that you can sit in and read their books without having to buy anything. i have a whole library of these books but seriousy not enough time to read and i have already spent the money. i don't regret it but meanwhile it is money spent not making any money in the present time.

There is so much more I could say that may help but i think i gave you the bulk of the first steps. There are a million other ways you can do things but what have stated is what i have learned by school, experience, other's experience and what I am doing. i too am building a business.... it is in the arts/crafts/consumer sciences and consulting arena. i wish you the very best in your venture.