How to Start a Business with No Money: 5 Steps to Success

When you discover how to start a business with no money, you won’t want to go back to your 9-5 job. As I prove in this article, it’s perfectly possible to spend $0 or $50,000 launching a business. Both can be successful. 

So, with the benefit of firsthand experience, I show you precisely how to start a business with no money in five steps. I also give you five ideas that I hope will inspire you as you decide which type of business to launch in 2025 without emptying your savings account. 

How to start a business with no money: Is it even possible? You bet!

It sure is. The old adage that it takes money to make money is true in many instances, but there are several business ideas out there that you can launch without a considerable investment. 

But first, why am I qualified to write this article? Well, at the age of 34, I have owned and operated two businesses. The first was a coffee business, which cost over $50,000 to set up. It was successful—though very stressful—and I ran it for four years before selling it for a small but tidy profit. 

The second business I launched cost $0 to set up. You heard that correctly. I didn’t spend a dime on setting up my second business, and it has been more profitable and less stressful than the coffee business that cost me over $50,000 to launch. 

I’m referring to my freelance writing business. Here’s how I set it up with no money:

Setting up a business with no money – my personal journey

• I decided that I wanted to write for a living. I created a profile for free on Fiverr, a marketplace for independent freelancers. Rather than paying to create a website, I used this free marketplace. For every sale I make, Fiverr takes a percentage. 
• I watched free YouTube videos on how to create a successful freelancer profile on Fiverr. I followed the tips and positioned myself as a new writer with great rates and professional service. 
• When the orders started trickling in, I used Google Docs and Google Sheets to track my progress for free. I listed the contact details of my clients and details of all my initial gigs, which helped as I grew my business. I also set up a free PayPal account to receive money and invoice clients I picked up outside of Fiverr. 
• After three months, I had made my first $1,000 without spending any money. Though a relatively slow start, it gave me confidence in my ability as a writer. Slowly, I increased my rates, won more clients, and invested some money into the growth of my business.

This is just one example of how to start a business with no money. But it’s proof that it works. Fast-forward five years, I have a successful freelance writing business that sustains my lifestyle and provides for my family. 

Though my example is in freelance writing, I want to show you that it’s possible to start many businesses without money. You just need the correct mindset, patience, and perseverance. So, now that I’ve proven it’s possible, here are five steps to setting up a business with no money, followed by some ideas to help you get started.

How to start a business with no money: 5 steps to success 

According to the latest data from Shopify, the average person spends $40,000 to launch a business. But by following these five steps, you can launch your business without spending a cent:

Step 1: Brainstorm – what can you do, and will people pay for it?

The crucial first step is to be honest with yourself. What skills do you have? What can you do to potentially make a living? Everyone has unique talents and attributes, and you can put yours to good use to earn for your family. 

In my case, I’m a talented writer. I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and understand grammar well. I know how to write for different audiences and for different purposes. As such, I believe that my educational background was integral to my business success as a writer. 

In your case, you might be a talented artist. Maybe you can draw, paint, or design to a high level. You could use this highly marketable skill to earn money as a freelancer.  

Again, this is just one example. But you may be a great salesperson. You might be able to speak three languages. Whatever your unique skills, you can make them the basis of your business, which is precisely what I did. 

As a starting point, open a blank document or grab a sheet of A3 paper in front of you. Then, list some of your key skills and attributes. If you’re struggling with this task, ask a friend or family member to help you. 

When you’ve created your list, create a separate column with an example of how you could potentially make money from that skill. I’ve created a table below with three examples to show you what I mean:

Skill	Potential business idea
Writing	B2B Copywriter
Fluent in Spanish	Spanish tutor
Art & design	Graphic design business

The truth is, you can make money from so many different skills, whether you’re a green-fingered gardener or proficient with the latest design software. So, list your skills and think about how you can put them to good use.

Step 2: Plan your business

In the United States, approximately 20% of new businesses fail in their first two years, while 45% of new enterprises don’t make it to the five-year mark. 

Though there are many reasons why businesses fail, they often fail to make the grade because they have been poorly planned. While new business owners don’t have a crystal ball, they do need a good idea of what they’re planning to do in their business. 

Therefore, after brainstorming your ideas, you need to work on your initial business plan. This doesn’t need to be an overly comprehensive document. However, it should be a clear, concise, and considered rundown of what you expect your new business to look like. 

Rather than struggling to create a business plan from scratch, you can prompt Arvin AI to create one for you. Of course, you’ll need to fill out the basics, but AI is a handy tool for covering the key bases.  

I encourage you to read our guide to the best ChatGPT prompts for business plans so you incorporate all key aspects at this important stage. 

After prompting Arvin, you can work your way through the business plan, adding the relevant details for your new enterprise. Using AI in this way is an excellent way to reduce stress and save time when you’re trying to get your new operation off the ground.

Step 3: Use free tools to launch your business and brand

Regardless of the business that you’re planning to launch, you need to create a brand. A brand encompasses the values, mission, and vision of your business. It’s the story behind your approach to making money, and it’s the reason that customers choose you over the competition.

Therefore, creating a strong brand couldn’t be more important. But how do you do it for free? Well, here are some tips that will help you launch your brand without spending any money:

Create a business name for free

It doesn’t cost any money to create a business name. You don’t even need to register your business right away, particularly if you’re planning to operate as a sole trader (that said, every country is different, so please do local research to learn about business registration regulations).

There are so many ways to come up with a name for your business. If you want to keep things simple, use your name or initials and make them relevant to your business. For instance, if you’re planning a copywriting business and your name is Carl Anderson, try: 

• Copy by Carl 
• CA Copywriting 
• Carl’s Copy 

Failing this, learn how to come up with a business name by reading our blog post. We reveal expert tips and insights that will help you settle on a brilliant name for your business without spending any money.

Generate a free professional logo for your brand 

Next, it’s time to generate a professional logo for your brand. Historically, this might have cost you several hundreds of dollars in graphic design fees. Today, you can create a logo for free with Arvin AI.

Our free logo generator tool is perfect for anyone keen to start a business with no money. In less than ten seconds, you will have access to a free, professional logo, which beautifully represents your brand.  

Remember to prompt our tool to create the perfect logo for your business. Consider which style you would like and think about the colors, font, and design features you would like included. 

You can then download the free logo and use it for your business, including all marketing and social media campaigns.

Launch a free website

I know many business owners spend thousands of dollars on websites for their new businesses. But this is completely unnecessary for a new company. The money can undoubtedly be better spent on other crucial areas of the business. 

While SEO and online marketing are key for the long-term growth of your company, you don’t need to spend thousands on a flashy website right out of the gate. 

Instead, use a free domain and launch a free website that you can use as an initial landing page while you grow your brand. You can then invest in a better, higher-spec website later. Here are a few online resources that enable you to build a free website with a free domain: 

• Wix.com: The best for beginners, thanks to the brilliant pre-built websites available for free. 
• Website.com: A good starting point for anyone looking for a free, simple website for any business. 
• GoDaddy.com: Though not always completely free, GoDaddy offers lots of cheap domains and websites, enabling you to get started with very little capital outlay.

Depending on your type of business, you might not need a website at all. As in my example as a freelance writer, I didn’t launch a website in my first 12 months. I relied instead on marketplaces like Fiverr and social media, as I explain in the following section.

Step 4: Market your business for free & grow your network

As with website creation, marketing can be free or extremely expensive. It’s not uncommon for startups to outlay thousands of dollars in marketing in their initial months. 

But if you’re learning how to start a business with no money, you have numerous options when it comes to marketing:

Utilize social media for free

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok are free to sign up and use. Though it takes a while to organically grow your brand on such platforms, it’s entirely free to do so. 

After creating your name, generating a logo, and launching a free website, you can start posting on social media. We recommend establishing some branding guidelines at this stage – learn all about branding guidelines in the Arvin Brand Bible.

Get into the habit of posting 3-5 times per week to begin with, as this will really help with your initial growth. Focus on one or two platforms, and don’t stretch yourself too thin from the outset.

Start a blog for free

If your free website has a blog, activate it and start writing for your audience. If not, create an account on Medium or WordPress to start a blog for free. 

A blog is one of the best free marketing tools your company can use as it grows. Though it takes time to plan and write a blog, it doesn’t cost you any money. Try to post a few blog articles in your first month and focus on keywords and topics your audience is interested in. 

You will soon see the fruits of your labor, particularly if you include the blog on your website and start seeing an increase in website traffic as a result of your articles.

Launch your business on LinkedIn for free

LinkedIn is the world’s leading professional network, with over one billion users. You should create a personal account and then launch your business on the platform. This adds credibility to your brand and enables you to post updates and gain followers on the site. 

No matter the type of business you are in, you can potentially find customers on LinkedIn, particularly if you add quality posts regularly. Moreover, LinkedIn is completely free to use, though you can upgrade to premium for advanced features later down the line.

Attend face-to-face networking sessions for free

Though some business networks are expensive to join, others are completely free. You can search for business networks and directories in your local community via Google. 

Find out when the next face-to-face networking meeting is and sign up for a place. You can then promote your business to others in your area and begin connecting with other entrepreneurs. 

So, it’s absolutely possible to launch and market your product without spending a dime. But you need to be savvy. Lots of platforms have free and paid versions. Sign up for free wherever possible and only consider upgrading to premium plans when your business starts making money, as I advise below.

Step 5: Use some of your initial profits to invest in your business growth

After three months of my writing business, the first thing I spent money on was simple accounting software at around $5 per month. 

Math has never been my strong point, and I found it difficult to keep on top of invoices. I decided that, after a few months of making a decent amount, I was okay to make a small investment that would significantly reduce my stress. 

I encourage you to do this, too. When your business starts making money, don’t feel like you have to continue doing everything for free. You will find that some tools and programs genuinely make your life easier. 

This might be accounting software, a paid website, a premium project management tool, or an advanced CRM to track potential clients.

Remember, the hack is to start your business for free, not to run it for free forever. When your business starts turning a profit, you need to consider how to reinvest some of those profits to help your operations grow and thrive.

First-hand tips: Expensive items to avoid when setting up your business

As shown above, it’s perfectly possible to cover all bases when launching your business without spending a cent. But you also need to avoid the trap of paying for expensive items and products when your business is brand-new. Here are some things you don’t need to buy or invest in to get your business underway, which many people assume are essential:

Office space

Regardless of your new business idea, you do not need to pay for expensive office space. Work from home if you can, which also helps you save on the commute. If you need to work from an office, look for free co-working options available in cities around the world. Use the Coworker website to find free desks in cities all around the world if you want to work from an office.

Premium software & subscriptions

When you perform a Google search when launching your business, you will find a product to help you with every aspect of your new operation. There’s a subscription for social media management, project management, online marketing, website building – the list goes on.

You need to resist the temptation of signing up for these plans. If there’s a free trial period, by all means, try the software out, but make sure you cancel before your card is charged, or you won’t set up your business for free!

Legal fees

Ninety-nine times out of 100, it’s not necessary to hire a lawyer to set up a business on your behalf. With a little bit of research and know-how, you can do the job yourself. No matter the country you live in, spend some time on Google working through the steps you need to follow to launch your company without hiring a professional to do it on your behalf.

Bank fees

Many banks charge fees to launch a business account. However, business e-wallet accounts (like PayPal) are free to set up and manage. Sure, they take a cut of your future payments, but it’s a handy way to save from the outset. Avoid banks that charge expensive fees to manage your account, as these add up over your first year of operation.

Inspiration: Five business ideas you might like to start with no money in 2025

Now that I’ve taken you through my recommended steps relating to how to start a business with no money, here are five potential business ideas you can investigate:

1: Freelance business

The gig economy is booming, with an estimated 1.57 billion freelancers worldwide. There are many types of freelance businesses to consider: 

• Writing (copywriting, blog writing, etc.) 
• Graphic design 
• Web design  
• Data analysis 
• AI-related tasks (content enhancement) 
• Social media manager/creator 

Most freelance businesses begin as one-person operations. However, they can quickly expand and grow into multi-person teams, generating lots of money. To launch a freelance business, you must be skilled and well-organized. I recommend starting on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to find work outside of your current network.

2: Coaching

Like the gig economy, the coaching sector is riding the crest of a wave right now. There are coaches for everything, and you can specialize by offering your clients specific services. 

For instance, you could offer: 

• Life coaching 
• Relationship coaching 
• Business coaching 
• Health and wellness coaching 
• Goal-based coaching 

You don’t usually need any specialist degrees to become a coach, as it’s not a counseling role. You simply need to be a good listener and should adopt some type of coaching philosophy. 

I recommend spending a few weeks learning from other coaches and watching YouTube videos from people who are currently successful in the industry. You can then model your business accordingly and start providing similar services on social media.

3: Gardening

While freelance businesses and coaching organizations are primarily online, gardening is a great offline business to set up with little to no money in 2025. Though you need access to basic equipment like a mower, you may already have one in your shed. 

You can then approach your neighbors and people in your current network, asking to work in their gardens. This approach will help you land your initial clients, and you can then follow my steps above to start growing your landscaping or gardening business without spending money.

4: Pet walking/sitting

Another excellent business idea if you don’t have much money is a pet-sitting or walking enterprise. You can offer to sit for pet owners in your area when they go on holiday or walk their dogs during working hours. 

Though my five-step process works for pet-related businesses, I also think door-to-door canvassing of your local area is hugely beneficial. You may need to produce some inexpensive flyers to post through doors, but this is a small expense that will almost certainly pay for itself if you onboard one or two clients as a result of your outreach.

5: Tutoring

There are numerous ways to make money from a tutoring business. If you can speak more than one language, this is the obvious option. Offer instruction in a foreign language and market yourself in your local community. 

Another option is to focus on a specific subject, such as maths, science, or geography, and advertise to high school or college students. It helps if you have a degree in one of these subjects yourself, and you should follow a specific methodology to inform your tutoring. 

However, as with the other examples above, this is a great business to launch without spending any money.

Final words: How to start a business with no money

Discovering how to start a business with no money is like a passport to independence. Though lots of hard work is on the horizon, I hope this article has given you the confidence and inspiration to follow your business aspirations. 

And while you don’t need to spend lots of money to get a business off the ground, you do need to put in sufficient time and effort. Don’t give up at the first hurdle, and believe in yourself. If you follow my steps above and use one of my recommended business ideas as your starting point, you should be able to successfully start a business with no money in 2025.

How to start a business with no money FAQ

What is the easiest business to start with no money?

Freelance businesses tend to be the easiest to start with no money, as you can market and sell your skills. You can also try a tutoring business or a gardening business, both of which require little capital to begin with.

What’s the cheapest business to start?

The cheapest businesses to start are those with limited marketing costs. As I’ve shown, this might be a freelance writing business or a graphic design business, as you can market yourself for free on freelancer platforms to get your organization up and running.

How do I start a business from zero?

All businesses start from zero, so you can do it, too. Begin with an idea and go from there. You should formulate a clear plan in your head and on paper. Then, follow the above steps to get your business underway without breaking the bank.

Is it possible to start a business with zero investment?

Every year, millions of people worldwide start businesses with zero capital investment. Sure, you must invest a lot of time and effort, but you don’t need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to get your business underway. Be frugal and avoid expensive startup costs to make your mark.