How to start a side gig with no money

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.

Wfhharmony

How to start a business with no money.

1. Choose a no cost idea

2. Make use of what you already have - skills and free tools

3. Use free resources to learn

4. Keep your business online

5. Focus on businesses that don’t need inventory

6. Learn from the experience of people who have done it before

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. Sign up with a company like printify, upload designs, printify makes and ships the product. The blog on the other hand, i used hostinger (and still use it till today) and it only cost me $2.95. More about this later!

Other great no cost business ideas include selling printable products, whether educational for kids and teachers or invitation cards, games, and table signs for events like birthdays or weddings. You can create them online with the free version of Canva and sell them over and over again.

Theme-based Instagram pages are another free way to start. For example, to run a faith-based Instagram page, all you need is your bible. You can post daily verses, encouragements, or prayers—and grow a loyal audience that you can later monetize with digital downloads or affiliate links. A motivational page could share quotes, routine tips, glow up tips. People follow what speaks to them without you having to spend money.

If you’re more into service-based work, consider things like offering social media management, blog post writing or editing, resume help, or email setup for busy small businesses. You can send cold DMs to people, or advertise your skills for free on platforms like Fiverr, Facebook groups, and even your own Instagram stories.

And finally, blogging, one of the side businesses I started for nothing,is still alive and has great potential. If you enjoy writing, you can start a blog around a specific niche (like motherhood, side hustles, or small space living). Hosting doesn’t have to break the bank either—I use Hostinger and it’s one of the most affordable ways to get started with your own website.

You see, there are so many options. 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

Only start a business the requires skills you already have, so you don’t have to spend any time or money taking a course or learning something from scratch. You’re probably sitting on valuable skills without even realising it.

Maybe you’ve figured out how to meal prep for your baby. Or you know how to create catchy reels using Canva. Maybe you know how to design clipart using Ideogram. Or Maybe you’re good at bedtime routines or 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.

Want to create content and get paid by brands? You don’t need anything special. Simply romanticise your everyday routines—your morning coffee, your skincare, the dinner you’re making tonight—and turn them into content. If you’re into food, the same applies. Use your phone to capture how you cook, prep, or plate. Add music, captions, or voiceovers to make your video feel warm and personal. Your real life and skills you have are enough to fuel your business and can be your starting point.

3. Use Free Tools to Build Something Simple

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 are some free tools that have helped so many people grow £500-£10k/month businesses.

• 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.

• 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. The goal here isn’t to do everything perfectly—it’s to just begin and keep going.

4. Learn Through Free resources Instead of Paid Courses

There’s a lot of pressure to “invest in yourself” by buying a course right away. But when money is tight, 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)