Start-Up Costs That Shock New Business Owners

Every year thousands of perfectly intelligent Americans jump into new business ventures without doing all their homework. Oh sure, they've tested the market and created a business plan. They've lined up a lawyer and accountant, purchased equipment and set up a Web site. But even though they may think they've covered all the bases, surprise expenses pop up in the most unusual places.

Consider the odds: A whopping 56 percent of new employer businesses disappeared by their fourth year, according to SCORE, a nonprofit entrepreneurial education association that analyzed a group of small-business studies.

It's enough to give aspiring entrepreneurs pause.

Bankrate asked small-business owners about the unforeseen costs that threw them off their game. Then we asked experts for strategies on how to avoid or minimize these unexpected expenses.

Learn how to head off nasty financial shocks that can derail your dreams.