Home Equity Funded My Business -- Now What?

Steve Strauss wrote the bible on small biz. Literally. In addition to authoring The Small Business Bible, he runs MrAllBiz.com and is a featured columnist for USA Today. He's been studying, writing and speaking about how to grow a successful small business all his life, so email him with whatever leaves you stumped.

Q: I have a tough one for you! For years I have used my home equity to grow my small business. Whenever we needed money -- for whatever reason -- I would refinance. But now, with the mortgage crisis, doing so suddenly is a lot harder. What am I to do?

-- Larry, Photographer, New York

A: Is that your best shot? ...