Sometimes small business owners must be their own lawyer, especially when the stakes are relatively small and seeking legal assistance would be too expensive.

Consider this scenario: You own a bakery that contracts with a local hardware store to provide $5000 in cakes and cookies for its grand opening. The day before the opening--after all your work is done--the new owner announces that he is not opening the business after all and refuses to pay you.

What steps could you take to recover your loss? Write a two-page paper (double spaced). You will want to consider the linked site as your primary resource.