CLOSED

Marketplace household-goods seller opened · CLOSED after 3 mo

Gao Min, 23 · 3 mo

“Next time: lower rent, smaller dream 💀”

I closed after 3 months. What remained was $45,295 in debt and 38 regulars.

On the last day, you posted a closing notice on the store’s front page. Cash $5,611, debt $45,295, 0 employees, 376 customers. You packed the last order, sent it off and closed the laptop. The business failed, but that time did not disappear.

How it went

1. 2026 · preparing to openGao Min, 23. You have decided to try starting a company in Bay Area. No idea, no product yet. Savings $21,678, employed ($1,458 a month).
2. 11/2026: what now?Start a business: «Marketplace household-goods seller» — You are going with «Marketplace household-goods seller». Next: who works with you.
3. First, the right to stayGet an investor visa — It took three months, and two extra trips for one missing form. The day the residence card arrived, you finally felt like a business owner here.
4. Who starts it with you?Hire one experienced person properly — In the interview they knew this trade better than you. A little uncomfortable, a lot reassuring.
5. 2026 · year 1 beginsUS Rates Rose Again
6. 11/9 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
7. 11/11 · The rush before the long holidayOrders rose ahead of the long holiday. Delivery and stock both became tight at once.
8. You are short of moneyHold on — Instead of the bank you called suppliers and asked for a month’s grace. Two said yes, one said no.
9. 12/17 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
10. 12/28 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
11. 12/22 · An outbreakAn outbreak is in the news every day. People are staying home.
12. 12/2 · A loan payment bouncedThe loan payment did not go through. One text from the bank, and your credit grade dropped a notch.
13. Cash ran outLet an employee go — You paid the last paycheck and severance. The next day the place was one person quieter. You hated the silence.
14. 1/13 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $334 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $27,064.
15. 1/9 · Back to normalThe restrictions are lifted. People are slowly coming back out.
16. 1/6 · The tax went unpaidOn the due date the account was empty. $2,001 went into arrears with a late penalty. It has to be paid as soon as money comes in.
17. 1/14 · Collection callsA number you did not know. It was about the overdue loan. Your family heard every word.
18. Tax in arrearsApply for instalments — Approved. $333 a month from now on.
19. A text offering moneyBorrow from a licensed lender — $18,382 arrived. On the repayment table the interest caught your eye before the principal.
20. Cash ran outClose the shop — On the last day you closed the books. The faces of a few regulars came to mind first.

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