How to start a business with very little money (I spent <$200 in the first 9 months!)

I’ve been in a reflective mood as I approach my official 1 year anniversary in business (the day I got my LLC status). What a wild ride! The other day a friend asked me how to start a business when you don’t have a lot of extra cash lying around. 

Granted, I had a full time job when I started copywriting on the side, so I did have steady income coming in. BUT I am also extremely frugal and didn’t want to invest my corporate salary into the business just yet because I had other financial priorities and TBH, I didn’t even view it as a business at that time! It was just this…thing.

But I grew enough in those first 9 months to justify quitting my job, so I told her it is 100% possible to start a business with very little money. How? Here are my top three pro tips:

1. Utilize free versions of software as long as you can. I used the free versions of Calendly, Zoom, Wix, Gmail, and MailChimp for the first 9 months before upgrading to premium versions and/or changing to more sophisticated platforms.
2. Use social media (a FREE tool) to get the word out! Share on IG, join relevant FB groups, and make TikToks about your biz offerings. People will start to notice.
3. Work for free or do a services trade to get testimonials at the start (emphasis on “start”. Then people gotta pay you bb). I got my first few testimonials in exchange for a page of free website copy, and they absolutely helped build my credibility and get the ball rolling.

Once you have proof of concept, i.e. you know people want to buy your product or service from YOU, then you can invest the money you’ve earned into snazzier things like branding, custom web design, professional photos, and the likes.

So if you’re wanting to start a business but aren’t a Rockefeller, YOU TOTALLY CAN! Go for it. You’ve got this.

P.S. Have you heard? I’m raising my prices in October! Reach about your project out now!