Can I start a business even though there is a trademark out there?

Trademark infringement is only an issue if your likely to get sued. If you business is local I don't think there should be an issue. I'd have to know more about your business concept to be able to fully understand the situation, but note that most businesses are only slight deviations from other functioning models. No matter what, if you're serious about starting a business, you should speak with legal counsel and consider business insurance. Both don't come cheap, but they are tax deductable and with local, state and federal business taxes, you could use deductions. The question is, is the trademark in place protecting the name, or the concept. I'm near certain that what it means is you can't use the name, but a lawyer is the only person who can tell you that for sure.