How can I start my own business if i signed some sort of non compete?

There is no black and white answer to this question.  In general, an employee (other than a public employee) has no right to view or copy the contents of his personnel file.  You could hire an attorney to write a letter demanding a copy of the document.  The company could also ignore that letter without any legal consequences. However, the employer is more likely to hand that letter to its own lawyer who, if he or she is any good, will tell them to produce the document to you, just to avoid the potential fight. Otherwise, your options are not very economical and generally involve court proceedings and subpoenas. Try the letter route first and see what happens.  Check your local yellow pages for an attorney who is Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law.  You should expect to pay between $300 and $500 for the consultation and the letter.  Best of Luck