ORIGINAL: ec121
I am more old school(or hardheaded). I have had good luck using a chicken stick. I cut off an umbrella and put a piece of air hose over the shaft to make it. My GMS 75 starts with a couple of flips. Electric starters are more of a convenience than a requirement. They work well with an enclosed motor though. The jump starters are the ticket if you get one with a lot of amp-hour capacity. Have their own handle, etc.
I have a couple of engines you can stick flip until the cows come home and you aren't going to start them until they have been started once and been warmed up. I have others that I can just choke and back snap them once, even during the winter and they fire right up.