Ultra Light Small Businesses

Got pointed to an interesting Facebook group called Ultra Light Startups.  This group is focused on creating online businesses as quickly and as cheaply as possible.  They describe their methods as:

• launching "quick and dirty" proof of concept ventures (websites, Facebook apps, Mobile apps, etc) using outsourced talent, open-source/off-the-shelf software components, virtual/cloud computing services and minimal capital
• Build a prototype on "outsourcing marketplaces" like oDesk, guru.com, eLance, rentacoder, etc and go on to become more legitamate (funded, staffed, etc.) once the market has been proven.
• Share advice and best practices for launching companies.

In our research we see a lot of companies that started using lightweight methods.  Most are online companies.  But we've also see businesses that use ultra light methods to make physical products, and recently profiled two of them - Crit Buns and My Beating Heart. 

There are many reasons why millions of new small and personal businesses are started each year in the U.S.  But a key reason is the cost of starting a business and the capital required continues to decline.