Trying to make enough money so you can start a side hustle, so you can…make enough money? It can be a vicious and discouraging cycle. But you can break it now by starting a side gig that requires precisely zero start-up funds. Check out these five simple avenues to becoming a successful entrepreneur—with no money down. Sites like Decluttr also offload old tech equipment, DVDs and Blu-ray players, game consoles, and even Legos. Once you’re done with what you can find in your house, get others to donate to your cause. Build inventory and income by owning a virtual store for pre-loved goods. Pet-sitting and babysitting, on the other hand, are generally assumed to be paid endeavors. Offer to undercut the local kennel at a price that’s mutually agreeable for you and the pet owner—or sign up for Rover jobs within a five-mile radius. Plus, parents are always eager to find convenient childcare options just in case commitments pop up at the last minute. Bill yourself as the neighborhood helper, always available to pitch in when plans change. That strategy will likely earn a lengthy list of trusted clients (and maybe even enviable holiday bonuses). Be sure to embed a “contact us” page, where future clients can reach out directly to submit their scope of work. How do clients find you in the first place? Be sure to include this WordPress site in your signature on every email; put it on your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles, too. Apply for gigs and list them as part of your portfolio. Essentially, tell anyone and everyone within earshot that you’re open for business. When you book clients on your own, there will be no splitting commissions with a middleman. Only after you’ve received a few hundred dollars, should you consider upgrading your site with any preferred bells and whistles. Alternatively, try Mavrck’s Influencer Index to be paired with like-minded brands that align with your style. Otherwise, get in touch with the marketing team behind the small businesses or indie brands that you already follow. Ask if they would like to partner on product placement or promotional videos. To keep this launch securely priced at “free,” watch out for offers that ask you to pay shipping and handling or a reimbursable fee. Only agree to deals if the company will send merch without you chipping in a dime. People link their print-on-demand storefront to a Shopify, Wix, or WordPress landing page that might use free plugins like WooCommerce to give your page a polished look and feel. Even better, you’ll never have to print a packing label, since the orders made on your site go directly to the vendor, who prints and ships these pieces straight to the customer after payment has been made. There is virtually no way to lose money with a plan like this and, thankfully, you don’t need any to start.
