How to Start a Business With $0
Want to start a business but don’t want to invest a ton of money right away?
I totally get that! I think it’s smart to limit your spending until you can bring in revenue. If there’s one trait I inherited as a farmer’s daughter, it’s resourcefulness. Therefore, when I started my business, it was second nature to take advantage of every free resource available and operate on a thin budget.
Grab a list of those free resources, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to start your business with $0 here:
The first thing you need to do is market your business and build your following. You’re probably wondering:
Do I need a website?
It depends on the products or services you are offering and whether you have established a following. Consider the following questions:
Is it possible to sell my product/service through other avenues such as social media, Google ads, brick and mortar stores, Etsy, or live events? If so, a website may be an unnecessary expense.
Do I have an established following or email list? If you already have a large following, email list, and distribution channel, you don’t necessarily need a website.
No > If you don’t want to deal with a website quite yet, you will still want to consider setting up a landing page. Here are 2 free options:
Linktree is a link that can be pasted into your Instagram bio and provides all of your content in one place. You can categorize your files, videos, and links to other websites and social media accounts. All you have to do is set-up an account, upload your content, and paste the link in your Instagram bio. If you have a website, use this link in your bio, rather than Linktree. You want to provide the most direct path to your content.
Mailchimp is an email marketing manager that can also be used as a landing page. A landing page is a pop-up you can drive traffic to. For example, your landing page could say something like “Download my free workout” or “25% off today.” Those who click on the link would enter their email address. The whole point to collecting email addresses is so you can let your audience know when you have a promotion, or an event, or a new product/service to offer. Once you have built a landing page in Mailchimp, you can paste the link in your social media accounts or run ads to it. This guide provides more detailed directions.
Yes > which website builder should I choose?
The right choice depends on which features you need. I tried Wordpress.com, WIX, and ended up with Squarespace. Please note, although Wordpress.org offers the most customization, it requires a lot of coding. Both Wordpress.com and Squarespace offer free hosting and a free domain.
The reasons I chose Squarespace include:
It was easy for me to build and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money hiring a developer or designer.
It included SEO, analytics, opt-ins (landing page), email campaigns, and e-commerce integration at an affordable price of $18/month. These features cost $25 through Wordpress.
If you’re going to have a website, I think opt-ins are crucial so you can drive traffic and build an email list. Otherwise, you’re paying for something that LinkTree or Mailchimp can do for free.
Additional FREE tools
Canva is a great resource for creating logos, documents, and perfectly-sized images for Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. If you’re looking for the perfect planner to organize your ideas and goals, get 10% off my favorite here!
Good luck in starting your business! If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or email me!
This post may include affiliate links, meaning I will receive commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase.