I'd eventually like to open my own computer shop. I'm so tired of working for someone else. I wanted to see if I could get some answers for a couple of questions that I have.

1.) what was your initial investment to get the business off of the ground. Once the wedding is over in sept, I will be able to start saving money again and will fall under my honey's health insurance. How much do you need to get started.

2.) distributors! I've had a resellers liscence before and tried the online auction route, but the distributors only had really good prices buying in bulk. I could find better prices on pricewatch as an end user, than I could buying from D&H or Ingram Micro. Evertek was my main staple for online auctions, but because inventory there always changes it's bad for someone who wants to be a systems builder. Are the discounts only there for people who buy 1000 mainboards at a pop?

3.) competing with Dell and others. How do you all do it? How do you manage to offer a system comparable to this <a href="http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_dimen_1_dimen_2200.htm" target="_blank">http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_dimen_1_dimen_2200.htm</a> for $619. and make any money at all. We have a mom and pop shop in our area that manages to stay afloat by ripping people off with trade ins and installing illegal OS software. I don't want to go that route! If I do this I want it to be legitimate and ethical.

any and all input would be greatly appreciated.