If you're starting in my area...hire me...I would love to work in a LQS, make sample quilts, hug on everybody's kids while they shop, find out what others are doing and help them with their projects...just like I'd like to be treated if I were shopping there. One quilt shop I was in while visiting Colorado offered me a cup of hot tea to drink as I browsed through their shop that sold fabric and quilting notions as well as finished products and gifts. It was their special tea of the week that they were selling in their gift shop area. It was lovely (and I was very careful not to spill it on the merchandise). If you treat others the way you'd like to be treated, they'll come back.
Our little town is not big enough to support a fabric store. Several have attempted it, but they just haven't been able to invest in enough fabric to attract a lot of customers. When I'd shop, I'd get frustrated with such a small selection and would feel bad that I could not help them keep going. If you can't afford to open a full blown shop in an area that can support you, be careful. I'd hate to see you invest and lose it.