With the digital revolution anyone with access to the Internet can own their own business. You may be having a hard time finding a job in the tough economy, or you may just have a dream of being your own boss someday. If you have the time and dedication then there is no time like the present to get started on your business venture. While you may need to spend a little extra time to get things off the ground, starting a business with little or no capital means that you have no excuse not to follow your dreams.
While a business plan is always important, it is going to be critical if you are starting your business on a tight budget. You don’t have the wiggle room to make mistakes. Do your research, plan for as many contingencies as possible, and stick with it. You may have to make some adjustments as you learn, but try not to make too many knee jerk reactions.
You don’t need a huge advertising budget to get started with social media. These sites offer free pages for your business so all you need to do is get people to visit your page. Create pages on all the major social sites for your business. Instead of paying for advertising, you can offer people a coupon for your product if they connect with your business. Use these sites as a place for two-way communication with your customers.
Launch new products and introduce special offers. In many ways these sites will be more important to your business than your main webpage in those first weeks and months. While your business’s main page will not get a lot of traffic initially without paid ads, you can get traffic to your social site with only a little effort. Remember that social sites share your posts over your contacts entire social network. This gives your business a near infinite reach right away.
Buy only what you need in supplies and inventory. While bulk pricing may be an attractive offer, it will tie up money in things that do you no good sitting on a shelf. Instead, stick to your budget and buy only what you need for a few months at a time. You may not need some items any more at all in a few months and if you buy too much you will be stuck with them.
Always shop around for any business service you need. Just because someone is offering the cheapest price does not mean they are the best choice. If they offer substandard work, you could end up paying more in the end. Read reviews and make sure you are getting your money’s worth. While in some ways you need to “make do,” you don’t want to get cheated either.
You need to make sure you have a lot of personal strength and determination to start a business without any money. You will essentially be replacing that extra money with hard work. Having a good plan on your side will make all the difference in this venture. Hold onto your wallet, work hard and be successful.