How to Start a Business With $0 (Or Pretty Close)

How to start a business with no money 

Opening a business with limited resources is like starting any other company. You will need to follow the same standard steps to become a successful entrepreneur, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Conduct market research to determine a minimum viable product.
2. Perform a competitive analysis.
3. Choose a business name.
4. Write a business plan.
5. Follow the applicable legal requirements.
6. Choose your vendors.
7. Market your business.

Using your home instead of a brick-and-mortar location or joining an online marketplace instead of building your own website can help test the waters and save significant funds. If your service or product proves worthwhile, you’ll have opportunities to add investors or partners, and to crowdfund to increase your cash flow so you can scale at your own pace.

Although it’s possible to start your own business with little to no money, you will still need to put in an incredible amount of work to pull it off. The more time and energy you put into your company, the faster you can see its viability and turn a profit. You may not want to quit your day job just yet, either. Making a profit can take several years when you start a business, so you will initially require the cash from your nine-to-five to make ends meet.

Businesses you can start with little to no money

Many businesses with low overhead costs can be started on a shoestring and then scaled up. Some business owners start small, working out of their homes or online, and then expand to hire more workers and find a larger location. If you want to get started for less, here are a few businesses that are relatively easy to begin with a small amount of capital:

Freelancer

Any freelance business comes with low overhead. Whether through freelance writing, graphic design, web development or software coding, your skills can get you started with your own business. 

All you need is what you likely already have — a computer and access to the internet. Over time, build up your clientele and hire others to do some of the work. It’s easy to scale a freelance business up to include scores of workers.

Consultant

If you have knowledge and skills others can benefit from, become a consultant. There are midsize consulting firms that started with a single person.

Today, technology consultants are in demand. If you have a skill, you can provide services based on your business knowledge.

Handmade craft seller

If you have an artsy or crafty side, you can use that to start a business. Turn your crafting hobby into a business by making items for sale. 

If you are an artist, you can create beauty others will pay for. As your business grows, hire talented people or find other ways to produce what you need.

Caretaker

Taking care of the elderly or people with special needs can be a low-cost way to start a business. Hospice and in-home care businesses often start with a single person and grow over time.

Cleaning service

If you have household cleaning supplies, you can start a business taking care of others’ homes and offices. As your business grows, you must buy more supplies and hire more workers. 

If you focus on quality work, there is a good chance that you can establish a well-known cleaning company without a big upfront expenditure.

Virtual assistant

Help others with various tasks, such as sorting through email or improving their social media presence. You can get involved with scheduling and other tasks that allow others to manage their own businesses better. As you gain more clients, you can hire additional assistants and even get someone to help you.

Digital products creator

Selling digital products only requires an internet connection. You can use third-party websites like Etsy, eBay and Amazon to sell your creations. If you specialize in design or a particular industry, you can create e-books, online courses or printable downloads.

Digital products are easy to market test. Simply keep the designs that sell multiple times and discard those that do not gain traction. Once you have a library of successful digital products, you can continue to collect passive income.

Dog walker/pet sitter

According to Zippia, 70 percent of U.S. households have at least one pet. If you start a pet walking or pet sitting business, you can collect a piece of the $76.8 billion U.S. pet services market.

Start by canvassing your neighborhood for clients or offer to watch the pets of your friends and family while they are away. Once word of mouth spreads about your excellent care, you won’t have to spend time marketing your services and can concentrate on doing what you love.

All of these businesses have the potential to scale rapidly. Eventually, you’ll have to put money back into the business, or it won’t be successful. Still, you can grow quickly. Plus, the low initial overhead will allow you to save money so you’ll have investment capital when you want to expand.

How to find funding for your business

Although starting your business may require little to no money, there is a good chance you will have to pay for something along the way — especially if you are expanding. Take advantage of several resources to help fund your business.

• Business grants. Business grants are essentially free money given to help fund businesses. However, they often come with requirements and stipulations. Business grants are competitive and can be difficult to win, so it is best to only apply for grants you directly qualify for (e.g., business grants for women, business grants for minorities and so on.)
• Business loans. A business loan is a type of financing offered by a bank or alternative lender. Business loans are easier to obtain than business grants, but they often come with hefty interest rates, fees and repayment terms, so do your research before choosing a small business loan. Before lenders approve you for a loan, they will generally consider your credit history, years in business, annual revenue and ability to make payments.
• Friends and family. If you know someone with enough capital to help fund your venture, present them with a business proposal to help finance your startup. Keep in mind that doing business with family or friends can get messy, so be sure to set clear boundaries on expectations.
• Crowdfunding. If you don’t feel comfortable asking a specific person to help finance your business, consider raising money through crowdfunding (raising money from multiple donors). There are four types of crowdfunding: donation, debt, rewards and equity.
• Saving money. As your business makes money, you can nestle away as much money as possible. Eventually, you could save enough to expand your successful business.

How to save money when starting a business

When you are just starting out, your business may be strapped for cash. There are several ways to save money when starting your business. Free tutorials and courses, crowdsourcing, low-cost payment options, and technology can help stretch your funds when needed.

Free marketing tutorials

Finding current digital marketing advice isn’t difficult if you know where to hang out. If you like reading blogs, you will appreciate Social Media Explorer (SME) and its expert-published authors.

Other sources include the Social Media Examiner and the free digital marketing short course by CareerFoundry.

Crowdsourcing

One of the best ways to expand your business is through crowdsourcing. Several resources allow access to workers at a low cost. You can get help with content creation through sites like Upwork. If you are looking for even higher quality work that might be more regular, sites like Skyword and Contently can connect you to content creators that can free you up to focus on other aspects of your business.

Crowdsourcing works well in other ways, too. If you want to redesign your website, a site like 99Designs can allow you low-cost access to ideas and people who can do the job. Fiverr is another great resource, whether you are looking for audio, video, content or social media help. Find assistance with marketing and other tasks by outsourcing to these low-cost resources.

Don’t underestimate the benefits of outsourcing mundane tasks that take up much of your time. If you want to expand your business without spending a lot of money, you can find virtual assistants worldwide with good skills and a willingness to work. You can also outsource tasks like accounting if you use resources like Gusto and Due.com to stay organized with your invoicing and payroll.

Low-cost payment options

If you are interested in expanding your business and accepting a variety of payment options, use devices like Square and PayAnywhere to accept credit card payments. You can turn your smartphone or tablet into a point-of-sale device for a low cost. 

Low-cost payment options can help you grow your business without buying expensive equipment, especially if your business has mobile aspects. These tools work especially well for service businesses like salons, spas and massage therapists, but they can be adapted for almost any type of business.

Video conferencing

Finally, don’t overlook the resources available to help you stay in touch and expand your business worldwide. Zoom allows you to make low-cost calls worldwide, saving you money as you look for new clients and customers. Services like GoTo Meeting can make it easy to hold video conferences and training with people in remote offices, cutting down on travel costs for your business. It’s easier to focus on expansion when you don’t have to spend money traveling around the globe.

Technology provides many opportunities for you to start a new business or expand your current business without huge expenditures. While you’ll always need to spend money to make money, the amount you need is smaller, and the returns can be more significant than you expect.

Julie Thompson and Skye Schooley contributed to this article.