How to start a side gig with no money

The WFH team
Oct 4
5 min read

Updated: Nov 3

Want to learn how to start a business with no money?

Not many people have the luxury of starting a business from a huge pile of savings and disposable income.

Sometimes the desire to start and willingness to make use of what you have is enough to set the ball rolling until you eventually make it.

If you’ve always wanted to start a side gig but your account balance feels like a limitation, this is the gentle push you need. Because even with no money, there are several real businesses you can start and grow with the potential to become very successful.

Keep reading on tips for starting a business with no money.

1. Choose a No-Cost Idea

The best business for you is the one you can start right now with what you have. So pick an idea that doesn’t require you to buy anything or invest in tools.

A few years ago I was in the same position, so I started a print-on-demand business, as well as a fashion blog. The print on demand business was free to start.

You sign up with a company like printify
Create and Upload designs for things like Tshirts, mugs, tote bags, calendars etc
Promote for free on Pinterest
Printify makes and ships the product when people buy.

The blog on the other hand, i barely spent a fiver.

I used hostinger to create that blog (and still use it till today)
It cost me only $2.95/month.

You can start a blog too around any specific interest you have (like motherhood, side hustles, or small space living). By using Hostinger your blog will be up and running for next-to nothing. Ads, affiliate income, and brand deals will help you make money with your blog.

Another great no cost business idea is to sell printable products. You don't need inventory. You create them online. Promote them for free on Pinterest or Instagram. It could be anything from educational items like spelling tracing worksheets, party printables like invitation cards, or wedding bundles like table signs. You can create them with the free version of Canva and sell them over and over again.

Theme-based Instagram pages are another free way to make money without spending a dime. Instagram accounts like @goodquotes, which has nearly five million followers, started by posting simple motivational quotes every day.

Faith-based pages are also growing fast. With just your Bible and a few minutes a day, you can share verses, prayers, or short encouragements and build a loyal, engaged audience.

Once you’ve grown your following, you can monetize with digital downloads, affiliate links, or small brand collaborations.

If you prefer service-based work, start with something that solves an everyday problem for small businesses, like managing social media accounts, writing resumes, editing product photos, or offering virtual assistant help.

You can find your first clients by sending short, personalized DMs to small businesses or creators, or by posting your services for free on Fiverr, Upwork, or in Facebook business groups.

There are so many options to choose from. Your goal is to pick something simple, low effort, and free to set up. One idea, one platform. That’s all you need to begin.

2. Start With What You Already Know

Start a business that requires skills you already have, so you don’t have to spend any time or money taking a course or learning something from scratch.

Maybe you’ve figured out how to meal prep for your baby. Or you know how to create catchy reels using Canva. Or maybe you’re good at budgeting on one income. Whatever you’re already doing in your everyday life, there’s likely someone out there who would gladly pay for help with that. So you can build a business around it.

3. Use Free Tools

Whether you’re creating a digital product, offering a small service, or launching a content page, start with free tools. Don’t subscribe to any expensive software until you can afford it.

Here is a list of free tools that have helped so many people grow £500-£10k/month businesses. Save this in your notes.

ChatGPT - To brainstorm Ideas.
Canva – For designing planners, workbooks, Instagram graphics, thumbnails, and logos.

CapCut – For editing short videos or reels on your phone (especially useful for TikTok or Instagram).

Google Docs/Sheets – To write ebooks, plan your content, or create printable templates.

Gumroad – To list and sell digital products with no upfront fees.

Linktree or Stan Store (free version) – For collecting links and building a tiny homepage.

Unsplash/Pexels – For finding free stock photos and background images for your designs.

Pinterest Instagram and TikTok – For sharing and promoting your product or service with short, engaging content.

Trello or Notion – For organising ideas and managing your tasks with no cost.

Google Forms – For collecting customer interest or feedback.

You can do a lot with just your phone and these tools.

4. Learn Through Free resources Instead of Paid Courses

When money is tight, IGNORE the pressure to “invest in yourself” by buying a course right away. The smarter move is to learn from free resources first.

YouTube is a goldmine. So are free blogs, Pinterest tutorials, and Skillshare trials. Search for exactly what you want to know: “How to create a digital planner in Canva” or “How to list a product on Gumroad.”

Watch one video and practise until you get it right. It is just a phase and once your business grows, you can always outsource certain tasks you don’t like.

5. Keep Everything online

If you want to avoid start-up costs, stick to digital-only business models. That way, there’s nothing to print, ship, or stock. It’s just your knowledge packaged into a file or your creativity turned into content.

This might look like:

Selling digital planners or trackers

Running a faceless themed page on Instagram or Pinterest

Creating a UGC-style TikTok channel around a niche you enjoy

Offering a service people can book and receive online (like resume editing or email marketing help)

6. Stay Away From Inventory (At Least for Now)

Buying stock upfront or renting space to store physical products adds pressure you don’t need in the beginning. Stick with models that let you create and sell without touching inventory.

That includes:

Print-on-Demand: Upload a design, and the platform does the printing and shipping

Ebooks, Guides, and Planners: Sell on Gumroad, Etsy, or your Instagram bio link

Templates: Create them in Canva and sell editable versions

Freelance services: Offer things like copywriting, social media help, or digital design without ever needing to handle a product

Focus on scalable, repeatable systems—not shipping boxes.

7. Use Your Process to create Ads

Remember to document what you’re doing and Share your process. This is one of the best ways to advertise your business for free.

If you’re making a digital product in Canva, record a quick timelapse. If you’re setting up a Gumroad store, take screenshots. If you’re writing your first blog post or designing a flyer, talk about what you're learning as you go.

People love behind-the-scenes content. It’s relatable and inspiring. You don’t need to teach or perform—just show up as you are and let people watch the journey. This builds trust and grows your audience and business naturally at no cost to you.

How to start a business with no money- final thoughts

Starting with no money is not a limitation—it’s a filter. It helps you focus on what truly matters: solving a problem, showing up consistently, and creating something helpful.

You don’t need to do everything right away. You just need to start with what’s in front of you.

Save this post if you need a reminder: zero budget doesn’t mean zero results. You’ve got this. And I’ll be right here cheering you on.

And if you need a simple, friendly roadmap to actually make this happen, I created the Minimalist Side Hustle for you. It’s a realistic, low-pressure approach that helps you build income around nap time, work hours, or your peace.

🎯 Grab the Minimalist Side Hustle here(Includes product ideas, launch steps, and how to repurpose one offer into content for weeks)