How To Start A Business With No Money
When you first read that headline, you might have thought this was going to be a very short article! I mean, it can’t be possible to start a business with no money! Can it? Actually, it is. In fact, it’s not only possible, it’s infinitely doable – and people have been doing it for years. Doable, however, doesn’t mean easy. But if you’re driven, have a great idea, and you’re not afraid of a little hard work (probably a lot more than a little), then you can absolutely start a business with no money!
There’s no denying that when you’re starting a business, energy and enthusiasm are far more valuable than money. Limited resources force you to be creative, and when you combine creativity with energy, there’s not a lot you can’t do! In fact, some of the world’s most iconic brands started with nothing more than a great idea and a lot of energy. Disney, Apple, Harley Davidson, Hewlett-Packard, Mattel and Lotus Cars, for example, all started in garages. And Nike founders Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight started selling training shoes from the boot of their car. Then there’s Michael Dell, founder of Dell computers. He worked as a dishwasher, earning the equivalent of R25 an hour, and later sold PCs out of his dorm room in college.
Sometimes, when funds are few, the best way to start the business you want is to start something else first! Starting a service-based business costs virtually nothing, and you can use the income generated to get your dream business off the ground. Walking dogs, mowing lawns, washing cars, shopping for the elderly…there are literally hundreds of ideas for small services business that need little more than hard work to get going.
Leveraging The Internet To Start A Business
The Internet is one of the best things to happen to small businesses. In fact, it is probably the greatest thing. There isn’t one internet for corporate giants, and one for start-ups. Everyone has equal access to its almost unlimited power. When it comes to business, the Internet is the great equaliser. Anyone with the most basic laptop can start an online business. You don’t even have to have your own internet connection – this is what coffee shops are for! You don’t even need any technical know-how. Start as small as you want for as long as you need to, slowly building and growing as more money becomes available. The Internet truly is a democratic platform for encouraging entrepreneurship.
Some of the best (and cheapest) online businesses you can start with no money are:
Blogging
There are numerous free online platforms, such as WordPress, for example, you can use to set up your own blog. Then all you need is the aforementioned coffee shop and its free WiFi! As your blog picks up more and more followers, you can start earning an income through ads, product sales, or sponsored content. Many businesses actually grow from blogs – and there is no better way to get feedback and validation for, or constructive criticism of, any start-up ideas you might have. By the time you actually launch your start-up, you’ll already have a loyal following, ready and waiting to buy your product or use your service.
Become A YouTube Personality
Setting up a YouTube account is free. If you’re creative or have funny or thought-provoking commentary to share, creating and posting your own video content is very easy to do. Then sit back, watch your views increase, and earn a portion of ad share revenue.
Podcaster
There are loads of free tools available online to set up your own podcast. Income from advertisers is a great way to monetise your podcasts.
Social Media Manager
If you’re a millennial, chances are you’re pretty darn savvy on social media. Why not turn that skill into a business? Companies are crying out for people to manage their social media accounts and the demand is growing all the time.
You Need Good Telecoms To Start A Business
Of course, Internet-based businesses need a good internet connection! The coffee shop couch is fine for now, but what happens once your business starts to take off? You might need a little more than a WiFi hotspot in order to meet your customers’ needs.
In addition to an always-on internet connection, you need reliable telephony, hosting, an email service and technical support. We can hear you panicking – all of that sounds really expensive, and we already know money is not something you have in spades right now. But that’s OK.
At Huge Connect, we are very start-up friendly! As South Africa’s premier provider of telecommunications connectivity solutions, we offer a full range of managed services that incorporate quality, reliability and service excellence. We have telecoms packages designed for all budgets, and for businesses of all shapes and sizes. All of our customers enjoy the same levels of customer service as our large corporates. So if you’re looking to start a business, chat to us first.
