Whether you want to open a new restaurant or sell homemade crafts online, starting your own business can seem like a daunting task, especially if you don’t have a lot of money on hand.
Small businesses can be tough to operate when you have limited funds—it can make it harder to purchase inventory, hire employees, rent out a retail space, and more. Plus, many small businesses don’t survive more than a year.
Key Takeaways
- Even if you don’t have a lot of cash on hand, there are a lot of businesses—like an online tutoring service or a freelance writing company—that you can start on your own.
- Before starting a business, it’s important to calculate potential startup costs and create a detailed budget to ensure you’re financially prepared.
- Bootstrapping, crowdfunding, and microloans help you launch your business without traditional small business loans.
- Free and low-cost marketing tools like social media, a website, and local collaborations can help you build brand visibility on a limited budget.
The one-year survival rate of small businesses, across various regions of the country, ranged from roughly 74% to more than 78% in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Another BLS report found that just over one-third of private-sector businesses established in 2013 were still in operation 10 years later.
However, even if you’re not flush with cash, it’s still possible to open a successful business, though it may require a lot of effort and time. You’ll want to work on developing a strong idea, establishing a business plan, and drafting a budget before figuring out how to finance your business.
Tip
Make sure to choose the right business structure for your company, as this will affect your taxes and legal liability.
Come Up With An Idea
Starting a small business doesn’t necessarily have to be costly. Not all businesses require a retail space or an initial investment in expensive equipment. For example, running a freelance writing business, selling crafts on Etsy from your home, or tutoring online could have relatively low startup costs. In contrast, opening a coffee shop or running a store with a brick-and-mortar location will be much more expensive.
Additionally, note that opening some types of businesses, like a restaurant, will require certain certifications or licenses, so make sure to look into the requirements in your city and state.
To come up with a successful idea, you’ll want to determine your skill set, expertise, and interests: What knowledge or skills can you capitalize on? If you have an eye for spotting vintage clothing when thrift shopping, you may consider reselling clothes on platforms like Depop or Mercari. Or if you have a knack for photography, you might think about launching your own wedding photography business.
Beyond figuring out what you enjoy doing, try using market research to identify possible customers. Market research can help you understand whether there’s a market for your small business, who your competitors are, pricing, and customer preferences.
Create a Budget
Before you develop a business plan, you’ll want to sit down and run the numbers. Can you afford to start a small business? How much will you need to invest initially?
The more detailed your budget is, the better, so get granular about any possible expenses, like the cost of renting out a retail space, purchasing equipment, buying inventory, hiring a lawyer or an accountant, launching a website, and more.
You’ll want to break down your expenses based on whether they’re variable or fixed costs. Fixed costs could include monthly rental fees or insurance payments, while variable costs are expenses, like raw materials, that may change based on your level of output.
Important
Having an understanding of your total costs (fixed and variable costs) can help you understand how much revenue you’ll need to generate in order to turn a profit.
Options For Financing Your Business
Bootstrapping
Bootstrapping refers to financing your small business with your own funds. Rather than rely on debt from a lender—like a bank—you tap your own money to fund your business. This could involve drawing money from savings accounts, liquidating your investments, or taking out a home equity loan.
Some people may also consider taking money out of their 401(k) or other retirement accounts, but this might not be the best idea, as you could end up with insufficient retirement savings later on and pay an early withdrawal penalty.
Bootstrapping can be a good option if you don’t qualify for a small business loan because you don’t meet certain credit score requirements, business size standards, or other rules.
Warning
It takes some businesses many years to be profitable, so be prepared for the possibility of investing a lot of your own money into the company before your business turns a profit (if it eventually does).
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is one way of raising money for your new small business. Rather than just requesting money from people you know, crowdfunding involves raising money from a large number of people. With crowdfunding, people who contribute money don’t have a stake in the company and typically don’t expect to receive a return. You can use online crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or GoFundMe to post about your business idea and solicit donations.
SBA Microloans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides loans worth up to $50,000 to small businesses. These loans can be used for purposes like buying inventory, purchasing supplies, repairing equipment, and more. Microloans are issued by specific lenders, and interest rates on these loans range from 8% to 13%. If you’re interested in applying, the SBA provides a list of lenders that administer these loans.
Small Business Loans
For traditional small business loans, lenders like banks and credit unions may have stringent requirements for qualification. They may require a minimum personal credit score, a certain annual revenue, and a minimum amount of time in business. Therefore, they may not be the best option for business owners who are getting their business off the ground for the first time.
Market Your Goods and Services
In order to market your small business, you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money hiring a marketing consultant or buying ads. Social media platforms like Linkedin, Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram are free to join and can be an effective tool for marketing.
Additionally, think about opening a website for your business, which can make it easier for potential customers to find your business online. You can use platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace to create a website.
Lastly, leverage your personal network and connections to help spread the word about your small business. For example, if you have a friend who owns a local coffee shop, consider asking if they’d be willing to display or sell your homemade candles in exchange for a small commission. This type of collaboration can introduce your products to a new audience and help boost your business’s visibility.
The Bottom Line
Starting a business without money isn’t easy. However, with some resourcefulness, time, and effort, it’s possible to launch a successful small business. By brainstorming ideas with low start-up costs, calculating potential costs, and making the most of free marketing tools and alternative funding options, you can build a business even on a tight budget.
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