Starting a Business with little to no money

By Jaqui Sabnal

Starting a business with little to no money is a concept that sounds impossible to most people, especially in today's day and age. However, this idea is definitely achievable if approached correctly. Want to learn how to start your own business with a limited amount of funds? Here are some helpful tips to help you on your path to entrepreneurship.

Choose Your Business Idea
To build a house, you must have a strong foundation. The same can be said about starting your business, as a solid idea is the starting ground for any business that sees success. A great way to start this process is to find a niche. This can be done through brainstorming and researching an industry you have a great amount of interest in. Ideally, your business idea can serve as an answer to your potential consumer's need. It is helpful to consider yourself as a whole: your passions, your talents, and how these two evaluations can be used for your benefit to produce a service or product.

Create a Business Plan
Once you're set on your idea, you will need to create a business plan. This plan will assist in defining your business' objectives/strategy, goals, and target market. Remember, the more detailed this plan is, the better results you will see. You might think that this process appears to be "busy-work". However, having a plan that outlines how you'll manage your business in order to achieve these goals is nothing short of essential. A business plan may seem like a difficult task to start, but rest assured as there are many, no cost resources that are available for your usage online.

Evaluate and Utilize Yourself
When starting off your own business with little to no money, it is crucial to know what value you bring to your business. Evaluate yourself and see what skills and talents you possess. Ask yourself what you can provide to the field/industry you have chosen and use the knowledge you've obtained to your advantage.

Using Low-Cost Resources
There are a handful of tools that cost little to nothing and are easily accessible online. These resources can be used to help you grow your business, especially in a time where a digital approach can have a more significant impact in comparison to a more traditional means. Examples of these resources can include WordPress, Wix, or Weebly for website creation and graphic design softwares such as Adobe Express (formerly known as Spark), Canva, or Visme can be used to create enticing visuals that you can use to set yourself apart from others within the industry and market your business on a budget.

Bootstrapping
You might be asking yourself, what is bootstrapping and how is it relevant to becoming an entrepreneur? To put it simply, bootstrapping is a concept where you begin with what you have and put your profits back into your business to ultimately grow. Use this as a reminder to be mindful of your business expenses and if necessary, seek cheaper alternatives that get the job you had in mind completed.

Build An Online Presence
The importance of the digital age cannot be emphasized enough, so, embrace it. Use social media as a valuable asset and marketing tool to promote your business. Create content that is engaging for users and engage with your audience in return. Keep up with viral trends on popular platforms and relate it back to the industry that your business is in.

Consider Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding can be defined as a way to raise money for a specific cause and in this case, can be a valuable resource to generating your business's initial funds. Websites such as Kickstarter or GoFundMe are popular examples of crowdfunding websites. You could prepare with an engaging pitch for your potential backers and even incentivize this audience with a reward as sort of a "thank you" for supporting your business in its early stages.

Patience and Persistence
Nobody said that starting a business with little to no money would be easy by any means. Success is not something you will see overnight. That is why it is important to have patience with your business and persevere when times get challenging. Try to remain focused on your goals. When an obstacle appears, do not get discouraged. Instead, learn from your shortcomings and adapt to the situation as needed.

Overall, starting a business with limited funding is an achievable feat. By setting a strong foundation, building upon what you have, and taking these tips into account, you'll be able to turn those dreams into a living reality. ​