Do I have to spend my own money to start a business?

It is possible to get loans from people or institutions when we start a business but the general rule of thumb is that it's better to get as far as possible under our own steam first before taking money in from outside. This is for the following reasons:⁠
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1: Negotiating money early on is hard and will distract you from getting your product or service ready to sell.⁠
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2: If you do manage to negotiate a deal early doors you will get bad value as the project is so risky. The further along you get the less risk to a lender or investor so the stronger your position to get good terms.⁠
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3: Learning to manage cashflow is an essential skill in running a business and we learn faster when it's our money.⁠
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To finish, if you really feel uncomfortable about spending your own money I would see that as a red flag, a sign you don't believe in the project or yourself or that it's not the right time financially for you and your family to do this. Maybe make an amended version of your plan which doesn't need much money upfront? Maybe use this time to build an audience and test their appetite for you what you are doing and see how things look in 6 months.⁠

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