This is original ebook written by me
ABOUT THE BOOK
How to start a business with little or no money is a cutting-edge arsenal designed specifically for entrepreneurs to destroy their fear of starting a business due to lack of capital.
In this book, you will get startup ideas, practical ways you could start your own business without money, and how you can leverage the experiences of most entrepreneurs who started from scratch.
Contents
Introduction 3
Chapter 1: Startup steps 4
Chapter 2: Discover Your Resources. 6
Chapter 3: Sell Yourself To The World. 9
Chapter 4: Learning From Experiences Of Other Entrepreneurs 12
Chapter 5: Businesses You Could Start Without Money 15
Chapter 6: Businesses You Could Start With Little Money 25
Chapter 7: How To Succeed And Make Your Business Thrive. 29
Conclusion. 34
INTRODUCTION
Raising a startup capital has deterred many entrepreneurs from reaching their goals, you too may be going through the same struggle right now.
Many people think that starting a business without money is not viable, if you feel so you are not alone.
As an entrepreneur, I'm here to reach out to you through this book and I want to tell you that you have the potential to start your business with little or no capital. All I need from you is to be positive and open-minded.
Many entrepreneurs around the globe have done it, you too can do it.
As you are reading this right now, no doubt you have made the right choice because in this book are found some experiences of individuals who started their businesses from scratch and some practical ways you too can do that.
Now you are on the road to lift that seemingly insurmountable challenge, "the fear of raising startup money".
Chapter 1
Startup Steps
Can you start a business with no money?
Yes, it’s possible to start a business without money.
Starting a business with no money might sound like an impossible prospect. But it is viable if one can be open-minded and leverage from those who started their business in the past without capital.
Learning how to start a business without capital will help you not to go into debt but this requires that you recondition your mind to an entrepreneur mindset, so be positive and creative.
Creativity here is not referring to only skills you possess, rather making wise use of your thinking ability.
Steps to take
So what are the basic steps to take while trying to set up such a business?
First and foremost, You need to take a survey of the market around you, your neighbors, your acquaintances and ask yourself what services can I provide for them.
Second, you need to design your business startup template. Let what you want to do be defined, try to understand your niche, the best way to introduce it to customers, and know your targeted client.
Thirdly, you have to look around for businesses you could start with the resources you possess or businesses with lower startup costs.
Try to consult people in that field to know whether it is a profitable business or not.
As you read on I'm going to share with you some of those businesses and how you can get started.
Chapter 2
DISCOVER YOUR RESOURCES
Understanding Your Potential
What can help you to understand your potential is to consider your skill, experience, knowledge, and resources.
Skills – Are you gifted? What skills have you learned? What service can you offer? If you check very well you will discover that you are good at something.
Experience – what are you good at and have done in the past? What experience do you have that you feel can salvage a situation or create value?
Knowledge – "Knowledge they said is power", what do you know?
What knowledge have you accumulated so far?
I see a lot of good content on Facebook, after reading it fans will say wow, awesome, great, wonderful, amazing, etc and that ends it. My dear let me tell you knowledge is not free, you can compile and monetize those values you are given out for free.
Resources – what do you have at your disposal to kick-off? e.g phone, laptop, writing skills, teaching skills. Your resource in this context depends on what you want to go into, it could be your legs, hands, tongues, or something else.
Ready To See Opportunities
Where I reside the waste disposal place is very far and most people do not have their vehicle to convey their waste to the designated place.
A boy sees an opportunity in that and starts using his wheelbarrow to collect waste bins from people's houses and they pay him for that.
The money he collects from them is not the only money he makes, rather he understood the Chinese proverbs that say "waste is wealth in the wrong hands". Most times people throw away some valuable things so he separates them and resells them.
Today he has established a big plastic sales company and he still buys recyclable materials from people. There is no difference between this story and how many companies started their journey.
It may not be waste disposal, it could be any other business, so if you master the art of humble beginning and make wise application of it you will see yourself on the road to a successful business journey.
So from this moment, I implore you to think, think about your environment, the resources you have, and how to start.
So try to see opportunity in everything and that opportunity might be a gap in customers' unsatisfied needs or a new invention that will thrive in a particular market.
Chapter 3
SELL YOURSELF TO THE WORLD
Power Of Communication
After checking what you have to start, the next step is to make your services known to your targeted customers if possible write a business proposal.
Assuming you have acquired some skills and you do not have the equipment, you should be able to start making an income.
How?
You can do that by collaboration, you can look for a contract and collaborate with people who have equipment but you will need to design a sharing formula.
Mentorship
You will have no regret meeting those who have been into the field you
want to go into because they have acquired much experience you can leverage from.
"Birds of the same feather flock together" on your journey to starting a business you may also meet like-minded someone who likes what you want to do, collaborating with such a person can also help.
Mentorship can also come in the form of books. "If you want to hide knowledge from people, put it inside the books".
One of the things that helped me to kick off my business is reading books. The book How They Started written by David Lester spurred me to become who I am today.
Try to read, read and read RRR. Do not borrow books, build your library.
When you come to people's houses and take a look at the kind of books they read, it really reflects their mindset or who they want to become, so try to read books that revolve around what you want to become.
The book "How they started" is a useful tool for business startups. In that book are found experiences of businesses with low startup costs, how they started from scratch with little or no capital, so do not wait to start big.
I mentioned a little capital above right? You may say capital is capital no matter how small, yes I believe because in many countries where the economy is very bad, people find it difficult to feed let alone raise a little capital for a good startup business.
Starting with a little capital depends on what you want, the kind of business you have designed for yourself.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of business opportunities out there waiting for you that you could start without capital. As you read on, it will gradually unfold in the subsequent chapters.
Another thing that could help you succeed in starting up a business with little or no capital is to leverage from the experiences narrated below, these experiences are of those who have no skills and how they succeeded in starting up a business, so you need to read on.
Chapter 4
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCES OF OTHER ENTREPRENEURS
First Experience
A friend of mine started a fashion business without money. What he did was to meet his tailor and negotiate with him, he made his intention known to him and asked him to teach him how to take a measurement.
He promised to bring the contract to him if he secured any, he borrowed a tape and catalog from him for a start.
He started by marketing his product to families, friends, and neighbors. A few months later, boom, he was on the road to the fashion world.
Second Experience
A friend too lost his job, while working as a laborer in a construction site he saw an opportunity there and what was that? gates.
He noticed that the new buildings close to the site where he works will need a gate, so he went to a welder and made inquiries about prices and he took some shots of the already made gates and started his marketing.
Fortunately, the owners of the building agreed to give him the contract.
He did not stop there he added painting and block supply to the product he offers and that was how he started his journey.
Third Experience
Thirdly let me narrate how I set up my photographic business without capital. How did I do it?
After high school, I wanted to pursue a university degree but there was no money so I started thinking of setting up a business to enable me to attend the university.
What came to my mind was to become a photographer, but the challenge now is that I don't have a camera and I don't know how to take a shot.
The next action I took was to start telling people around me my intention. I started asking them if there is anyone that has a camera they are not using.
Fortunately, someone told me of a man who has a camera that he is not using, I finally met the man we agreed on bringing a weekly return to him.
Now I have acquired a camera which is a manual camera. How do I go about using it to snap? For manual cameras, depending on the weather you have to always set the speed and aperture and sharpen the lens.
I finally met a photographer who happens to be my friend in school who later taught me how to set the speed, aperture settings, and lens sharpening, and it took a few hours. He said if I want to continue to learn I have to pay for an apprenticeship.
As I understudied the guy for a few hours I wrote the settings on a jotter. When I want to take a shot, I will bring my jotter out and check the speed and aperture that will suit the weather. That is the spirit of an entrepreneur and I implore you to cultivate the same spirit.
I did many trials and errors but that was how my photographic journey started, you too can apply this method depending on what you want to do.
Below I am going to share with you some businesses you could start without money.
Chapter 5
BUSINESSES YOU COULD START WITHOUT MONEY
Below is a list of businesses you could start without investing any money, but note that some businesses stated below may not be practicable in your country.
Ebook Author
Just like this one you are reading you can write and publish your ebook online.
Although publishing platforms require money, there are some platforms on which you can publish your book free of charge. E.g Amazon Kindle, iBooks, Nook. etc.
If you are interested in making money through ebooks you can email me at [email protected].
Blogger
For a start, you can set up your free blog using WordPress, through ads, sponsored posts, or product sales you can make some earning.
Social Media Influencer
People easily become popular on social media.
If you use any social media site, you can build up your audience gradually, at a point you will become influential. You may offer your service to brands looking for promoters and you can also introduce your products to your followers.
Freelance Writer
If you have writing skills you can offer your services to freelance platforms, blogs, or businesses.
House And Land Agent
You may place an advert about a house and land agent where you live or use your social media handles.
when you get a client even if you don't have land for sale or a free apartment to rent, you can liaise with local agents and still have a share.
Waste disposal
Just like those who offer cleaning services you too can offer waste disposal services to your neighbors, companies, etc.
Social Media Manager
Most businesses are looking for social media managers to manage their social media handles, you can apply to work in that capacity.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a platform where you earn by referring customers to a specific website, after signing up for the program a link will be given to you which you could share on your social media channels, website blog.
YouTuber
YouTube gives users access to create accounts free of charge. On YouTube, you can share your video content and then earn a portion of the revenue generated.
Graphic Designer
If you are a good designer, do not hesitate to offer your services to clients.
Photographer
You don't need to buy a professional camera to start, you can start with your phone.
Canva is a good app to help you edit your images. And you may start by offering your services to your neighbors and acquaintances. You can also sell some of your images to online photo platforms. E.g pixabay
Laundry Services
You can start with what you have, if you can acquire a bucket, water, soap, and a pressing iron your journey may start from there. Do not aim to start big, start with your friends, family members, and neighbors, if you are determined, no doubt you will see yourself on the road of never-ending progress.
Web Designer
With the help of free open source, you could learn web designing and offer your services to clients.
Life Coach
Depending on the skill you have, you can place an advert on social media. Many People may need your services then you can offer your services to them online.
Tutoring Services
If you have acquired some knowledge or are gifted with something, why not enroll in a paid service where you can transfer the knowledge?
There are a lot of apps available where your services could be needed. You can as well place an advert where you live and check around your area who may need your services.
You can also teach people offline by making use of your home. If you do that for some time you will save some money to start your journey.
Dance Teacher
Are you a good dancer, that is also a skill you could offer to people, you can also make use of your home for a start?
Cleaning Services
Cleaning services is one of the easiest services to start, just meet people and talk to them about the services you provide.
Fitness Instructor
You can make use of free online videos to become a professional personal trainer, you may use your home for a start to offer your services as an exercise instructor.
Music Coach
You can offer your services as a music coach to people if you have mastered some instruments.
Yoga Instructor
If you are into Yoga, what are you waiting for, start making money with your skill just like I said above start with what you have?
Cloth Designer
You don't need to be a tailor to offer these services, all you need is to learn how to take measurements, get a tape, and a catalog, and let people know what you are into.
Start with your acquaintance but make sure that you will meet a tailor that will give them what they want, be creative.
Child Care
You can use space at your home to start a daycare service.
Car Washing Services
You can also offer car wash services to car owners by using space from your home.
Dog Trainer/Walker
You can offer to train dogs for clients, if you don't know how to do that, a free online video will help you.
Most people don't have time to take their pets and dogs for a walk. Do you see an opportunity there? you may not but there are many out there who need this service.
Interior Designer
If you are a talented designer you can offer your service to the client, after you sign a contract you can hire your equipment from the upfront payment given to you.
Custom Embroiderer
To do this doesn't require skill, some customers will like to customize their clothes or other items, tell them you can do it, collect upfront payment and take it to the embroiderer to do the job.
Online Researcher
With your phone and internet connection, you can offer online research services to clients. For example, you can do research work for students, you can also write projects for graduating students and earn some money.
Translator
Understanding more than one language is a gift too, you can utilize that by offering translation services to clients.
Ghost Writer
As a ghostwriter, you can provide content for authors, business owners. Many authors may have ideas on what to write but they do not know how to populate it, in companies it might be a business proposal.
Editor
If you are a good editor, many clients out there need your services. You can offer editing services to companies, writers, bloggers, and businesses.
Voice Artist
Are you gifted with a good voice? If yes there is a great opportunity with that. You can showcase yourself to different businesses as a voice artist.
Baker
You can start a little baking business with little equipment you have in your kitchen, tell people what you can offer, and talk them into giving you an advance payment for the job which will enable you to hire or buy needed material. e.g baking of cakes etc.
Event Planner
If you are an organized person and event-oriented you can use your skills to organize events for people, even rent equipment for them if needed, and get paid.
Errand Service
You can offer your services as a dispatched person, doing laundry or shopping for people.
Chapter 6
BUSINESSES YOU COULD START WITH LITTLE MONEY
There are many businesses you could start with little money, let me share just but few.
Mini Importation
There are many online shops where you can order products at a cheaper rate and resell them at your own fixed price. You can use Amazon, Alibaba, Dhgate, Jumia, etc.
In 2016 through dhgate I ordered finger watches, the finger watches are unique because it is like a ring but it contains a watch.
The cost price of these rings is 1dollar but I sold them at my fixed prices and made a lot of gains. People continue requesting it because they have not seen such a product before.
Just think deeply about what you feel people may need in your locality.
Let me give you an idea, in my town, there have been many serious gas fire outbreaks in the recent past, and none of the homes are making use of gas detectors.
So tell me if I am to do a mini importation right now is that not a good product?
You have all that it takes to start just think deeply.
Remember that many of the online shops do not have all the products they claim to have, when you preorder what they don't have they will get it from another dealer and deliver it to you.
Depending on your location you can do a market survey or look intently into people needs that may require little capital to start and fill the gap
Recycling Pickup
Recycling pickup is one of the profitable businesses around the globe that you can start with little money.
This business is one of the easiest to start because you could even start it with wholly recyclable products picked from the trash.
But if you have raised a little money you can go from street to street to buy from people who want to dispose of their unused properties.
Remember you should not focus on a specific niche, you should buy any recyclable product ranging from e-waste to junk.
Mobile Salon
If you are a barber, a hairdresser, or a make-up artist and you are finding it difficult to rent a shop, why not offer home services?
Many people due to busy schedules or some health challenges may not have much time to go to a salon, so you could bring your salon service to a person's home, hospital, or hotel.
Jewelry Making
Jewelry making is one of the profitable businesses you could start with little money.
We live in a world where fashion trends and people are investing more in fashion now than before.
So if you have a passion for jewelry making or have acquired the skill of jewelry making do not hesitate to start because it is a potential business.
Telecommunications Business
In most countries, people buy telecommunications products, they buy in bulk and resell to consumers.
Some of those products include
Recharge cards printing
Data sales
Decoder subscription
For those in Africa, the network providers have platforms where you could buy airtime and data in bulk at a cheaper rate and resell at your own fixed price.
For those in Nigeria do you know that with $4 you can start this business? If you are interested to do this business kindly contact me through my email [email protected]
Chapter 7
HOW TO SUCCEED AND MAKE YOUR BUSINESS THRIVE
Before you get to this stage I believe you have applied the rules and principles found in the context of this book. Below are the next things you will do so as not to go out of the business.
Master Your Products
First, you need to understand your product, the value you are creating, know your targeted customers, reach out to them, and know how to manage them.
Are you a tailor, hairdresser, makeup artist, builder, marketer, commercial motorist, etc.?
Whatever services you provide for the public you need to have a deep-rooted knowledge about it, modify it over time, if possible make research about it from time to time so that you will always be updated and not go out of business.
You may use google search or you may look for a group that shares the same goal with you on social media and join.
Register Your Business
Registering your business will boost it, customers will have more confidence and trust in you and they will believe that you have the potential to do the job.
Registered businesses thrive more than unregistered ones, in the name of winning a contract registered businesses are always first.
How To Retain Your Customers
Retaining customers is relative because many people purchase their goods with emotion attached to it.
Now I am going to teach you some simple steps to retain your customers.
Smile
Your facial expression matters a lot, smile for your customers always, naturally people have different ways of interpreting your actions.
Smiles are a positive strength. Naturally, everybody responds to them positively too, even if they don't it does help to soften the heart and imprint your face in their mind.
Greet Your Customers
An African adage said that greetings brighten the face. Make sure you greet your customers because it makes them feel respected, naturally people like to be respected.
Make good recommendations to them either what they are putting on or something else.
Dressing
How you dress contributes to how people address or respect you, if you dress well it creates a good impression in the mind of your customers.
Show Empathy
Do not make your customers feel that you are only interested in collecting money from them, show deep and sincere concern.
The best way to do that is to give them a listening ear. Listen to your customer, do not only focus on selling your products to them, make a meaningful comment or give advice if necessary, by doing so you will buy their hearts.
Integrity
Integrity matters in business, your motto should be integrity itself, do not lie to your customers otherwise, you will lose their trust.
I work as a house agent, I met someone who is looking for a shop although he told me that the shop is not his, someone wants to rent the shop and employ him and they have agreed on a sharing formula.
The shop rent was 20 dollars per month and he tried to negotiate with me and the landlord to add 5 dollars to the rent because the investor was not around.
I called him and I told him that in business integrity and first impression matters, what if the investor finds out? Do you think you can earn his truth again?
I urged him to focus on upfront gain and he accepted.
Having satisfied customers will attract more customers to you and that is the dream of every entrepreneur, it should be yours too.
Do not sell fake products to your customers, to some customers it does not matter the price just give them what they want.
Call Them
At first visit show personal interest in your customers, know their names, by the next visit to your shop call them by their names.
You need to identify your potential customers, call or text them from time to time asking them about how their business is fairing, do not forget to do freebies from time to time.
Develop A Promotional Growth Strategy
From time to time, you have to update your customers about new products in the market that you feel they might need and subtly introduce them to them.
Conclusion
This is a great business startup help, isn't it? I believe that this article has reconditioned your mind to think like an entrepreneur and there is no doubt that you must have seen a whole lot of opportunities waiting for you out there.
So now is the time to take action, stop waiting for jobs to come, create one.
Strike the iron while it is hot, expectation postponement is making the heart sick, start now.
"Yesterday was history" because people took action.
"Tomorrow is a mystery" because we do not know what the future holds but do not be afraid to start because of the contingency you may encounter. Act now, in the long run, your goals will be brighter.
"Today is a blessing" because you are present here reading this.
Right now you are like a soldier who is equipped for the war front and I have looked into your heart and I see no fear because you are now ready to take action.
As you leverage this article, I believe it will spur you to set up that good business you have yearned for from scratch.
Good luck.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Enyia Japheth is an author, business consultant, and Geologist.
You can reach the writer at
Email: [email protected]
Facebook page: Japhethsnuggests