How to Start a Low-Cost Business — Infographic

You’ve got a great idea and think it would make an amazing business, but there’s just one problem — you don’t have a lot of money to spend. Fear not — with the right approach, you can get a business up and running with very little cost. 

There are a ton of successful bootstrapped businesses that are built on scrappy attitudes, strong motivations and careful cash management. If you want to grow a successful business without big expenses, then you’ll need to follow a few good principles.

What Is the Easiest Business to Start with No Money?

We believe that the easiest low-cost businesses to start are those where you’re selling your skills and services. You don’t need to spend money buying products to sell, and you won’t have the overheads of storage, packaging, distribution or anything like that. 

That’s why we recommend selling your knowledge and expertise. You might do that as a freelancer by providing writing, editing, design, programming or similar skills. Alternatively, you might teach others, offer creative classes or provide caregiving for homes, pets or people. 

For more great business ideas, we recommend our guides. You can start with a comprehensive list of low-cost ideas, and we’ve also got a guide to businesses you can start from home. If you have a little money to spend, then here’s a guide to business ideas under $500 and another if you have up to $1,000 to spend on starting a business. 

You’re ready, and a lack of money isn’t an obstacle to following your dream. For a super-helpful guide on launching your new venture, see our complete “Start Your Business Checklist.”