By Steve Nicastro

Don’t become a small-business statistic.

Nearly half of small businesses don’t make it past the first five years, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Optimistic owners may underestimate the costs of starting a business, run up too much debt or have bad personal credit that keeps them from getting a business loan. Then it’s curtains.

In honor of the new year, here are five stupid small-business mistakes to avoid in 2016, so you’ll still be around in 2021.

1. Not repaying expensive variable-rate debt

The Federal Reserve’s first interest rate hike in nearly a decade means small-business owners will read more >>>

Source : HuffingtonPost.Com