I have been researching the web about financing start-up companies in much the way people search for discounted plane tickets! 

There is massive information, all basically the same thing....and yet I don't seem to really be lead anywhere much further from where I began!  The "family and friends" route is so far the best sounding one...but to me it is truly not.  Money and acquaintances are historically shaky unions.

Still, the web site inc.com features some decent articles; I just wish it was less reading!  If I find something particularly worthy, I will be sure to post it here.