When Nancy Gandrau opened Haircuts! in June 2001, she had done her homework, taking advantage of the free individual business counseling available from the Cascade Small Business Development Center (CSBDC) and Jefferson Economic Development Institute (JEDI). Market research led her to offer a toxin-free environment, healthy hair products, haircuts without prior appointment, and a playroom for kids. But despite her careful planning, Nancy couldn't anticipate the level of dedication she would need to keep her business going in its first year. In addition to facing the usual startup hurdles, she broke her leg and her ankle, and was unable to serve any customers for three long weeks. To overcome this unexpected setback, she sent out mailers to let her customers know when she was back on her feet. "I think people came back because they knew I wasn't giving up," Nancy says. "I couldn't give up—I had invested too much work." Because of her careful planning, Haircuts! stayed on track despite the temporary loss of business, and she recently celebrated her first successful year.