Avoiding accidents is second nature. As children, we recoil from hot stoves. As adults, we recoil from reckless drivers. Yet the instinct to avoid accidents is more about self-preservation than our financial situation. Still, accidents cause more than pain or suffering. They can bruise our wallets and purses, too....

You can’t really do business without items like a receipt printer and as a barcode scanner that can be used for inventory purposes. All the hardware you need will cost you a pretty penny. For startups and small businesses, you should try to trim down the list and postpone...