Image showing 24 business ideas that require no money to start

Starting a business can be a daunting task, especially when you don't have much capital to invest.

However, in this article, we will be discussing ten businesses that you can start with minimal to zero capital.

These businesses can be started by anyone, anywhere in the world, and can even lead to making millions.

Are you interested in starting a business, but you think you need thousands of dollars to start?

Well, let me tell you that this is completely false.

In fact, there are seven top business ideas that you can start with no money, seriously zero.

You just need to be creative, and I guarantee that you can turn any skill that you already have into a very viable business that is making six, seven, or even eight figures.

So, without further ado, let's dive into the ten businesses you can start without any capital:

20 Business Ideas That Require No Money to Start

1. Print-On-Demand

Print-on-demand is a business model that lets you start up a clothing company without any startup capital.

When a customer places an order on your website, the supplier will start to make that shirt.

They'll print it on demand and ship it out for you.

You don't need to keep inventory, and it's a lot easier to start if you have a good idea for making t-shirts.

To get started, there are sites like Printify and Shopify that allow you to use this business model.

Trademark infringement is one of the big things you have to look out for when you are doing print-on-demand.

A lot of the popular slogans and designs may be copyrighted.

If you aren't sure you'll probably want to talk to a copyright lawyer or someone like that because you definitely don't want to run into any problems when you're doing your first business and the biggest and hardest part about any company especially print-on-demand is the marketing.

You may create a really cool product but if you don't market it correctly then no one's going to know about it and no one's gonna buy it.

I recommend using social media sites like tik tok and Instagram to promote your shirts.

2. Door-to-Door Sales

I know what you're thinking - door-to-door sales is the sleaziest business around, right?

Well, that's not always the case.

Many door-to-door jobs are entirely legit, and since most of them are commission-based, the earning potential is enormous.

As a sales rep, your job would be to generate business by going door-to-door.

And with an unlimited number of doors to knock on, success in this line of work is all about how much work you put in.

Sure, it can be tough, and you'll face a lot of rejection, but the potential income is enormous.

Many people think that to be a door-to-door salesman, you need to be an extreme extrovert.

But that's not the case.

Introverts can excel in this job as well. And with the right training, you can use the skills you acquire to start any business in the future.

3. Personal Branding

Personal branding is a business that will bring in more business.

Building a successful personal brand takes a lot of social media work.

Don’t just be valuable, you have to be perceived as valuable.

People have to know that you are valuable.

You need to build a reputation for yourself by identifying what you're good at and what value you can bring to others.

You also need to think about the type of change and knowledge you want to inspire in other people.

Building your personal brand equates to free marketing for any business you start in the future.

Personal branding requires a lot of time but not a lot of money.

Social media is free, and posting valuable content is free.

You can get started building your personal brand while working another job or doing other side hustles.

4. Niche Content Blog

A niche content blog is a blog that is centered around a specific category.

For example, this could be like Samsung Accessories, personal finance, lamps, or any other category you can think of.

You don't have to be extremely passionate about it, but it does have to be something that you're interested in.

To get started, you just need a laptop, an internet connection, and some time.

You're probably wondering how a Content blog can actually make money?.

The way it works is with this blog you generate traffic through your blog posts and articles.

The goal is to get these articles ranked high on search engines such as Google.

You could then monetize it using maybe affiliate products.

You place your product ads on your blog and when it is purchased, you receive a commission

You could also use ad services such as google ads or any other ad service or you could even create your own product to sell.

5. Online Courses

If you're an expert in a particular skill or have experience in a specific industry, you can create and sell online courses.

Platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable make it easy to create and market your courses to a global audience.

You can also use social media platforms to promote your courses and offer free trials.

You could also use platforms like Zoom or Skype to conduct private sessions.

6. YouTube Channel

Starting a YouTube channel can be a profitable business idea if you have a passion for creating videos and sharing knowledge.

You can monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, merchandise sales, or affiliate marketing.

To build an audience, create quality content, engage with your viewers, and collaborate with other YouTubers.

7. Freelance Writing

If you have a knack for writing, you can start a freelance writing business and offer your services to bloggers, businesses, or publications.

You can write articles, blog posts, product descriptions, or social media content.

To find clients, use platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Problogger, and showcase your writing samples and testimonials.

8. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

Anyone can upload their books onto Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and make money from it.

It's easy and can lead to significant success, as seen with books like "50 Shades of Grey."

You can learn how to upload your book on Amazon easily as there are many tutorials on YouTube on how to do so.

9. Affiliate marketing

This involves promoting other people's products and earning a commission when someone buys through your unique link.

You can start by creating a blog or social media page and promoting products related to your niche.

10. Dropshipping

This is a business model where you sell products without keeping them in stock.

You only buy products when you receive an order from a customer. You can start by creating an online store and finding reliable suppliers.

11. Social Media Management

If you're good at managing social media pages, you can offer your services to businesses and individuals who don't have time to manage their pages themselves.

12. Virtual Assistance

Many business owners need help with tasks like data entry, email management, and customer support. You can offer your services as a virtual assistant and work from home.

13. Content Creation

If you have a talent for creating content like videos, graphics, or music, you can offer your services to businesses or individuals who need them.

14. Translation Services

If you're bilingual or multilingual, you can offer your services as a translator.

Many businesses and individuals need documents or websites translated.

15. Photography services

If you have a good camera and an eye for photography, you can offer your services for events or photoshoots.

16. Amazon Retail Arbitrage

This side hustle involves reselling products from big brand retailers like Walmart and Costco directly on Amazon for a quick profit.

Simply set up an Amazon seller account, download their app, and scan product barcodes to see how much they're selling for on Amazon.

Buy profitable products from stores, ship them to Amazon, and put them up for sale.

Amazon handles all the fulfillment and you get to take the profit off the top.

17. Gutter Cleaning

Homeowners are willing to pay $100 to $500 for someone to clean their gutters, which can get clogged up and stop working after a couple of months.

All you need is a ladder, gloves, and something to scoop out the gutters.

Knock doors in neighborhoods to sell your service, and if you do a good job, they can refer you to their friends and come back again and again for more work.

18. Reselling

Find free items that you can flip for a profit.

Download the app Freebie Alerts to be notified anytime there is a free listing in your area on any platform.

Look for furniture, which has the most potential.

With a few hours of research, you can easily find a couple of good flips every week.

19. Dog Walking and Pet Sitting

Many people work long hours and need someone to walk their dogs or care for their pets while they're away.

You can easily make $20-$30 per visit or walk, and with a few regular clients, you can earn a steady income.

20. Personal Shopping

Many people don't have the time or the patience to shop for themselves.

Offer your services as a personal shopper, and charge a fee for your time and expertise.

With a few regular clients, you can earn a steady income.

21. House-Sitting Business

You could also consider the house sitting business.

It's a business where you take care of peoples home while they are away.

It may also include monitoring their utilities, watering plants.

This business is somewhat location dependent.

22. Delivery Services

You could offer delivery services to businesses and individuals such local restaurants.

It is advisable to get a business license and liability insurance for this type of business because you could use your own car for doing the deliveries.

23. Podcasting

Love speaking and also interested in an online business that you can start with no money, you can become a podcaster.

This is also one of the businesses i have intention of going into.

You could create podcasts about subjects that interest you, that you have knowledge about and that you are passionate about to guide and inspire others.

24. Sell vintage clothing online

Demand for sustainable fashion has helped propel second-hand clothing into a $36 billion industry in the U.S. with projections to double in the next five years.

Consider selling thrifted, vintage or upcycled clothing on social media, and ecommerce platform or an app such as ThredUp or Poshmark.

In conclusion, these are ten businesses you can start with minimal to no capital.

All you need is a bit of creativity, hard work, and determination.

Success doesn't come overnight, but with persistence and consistency, you can achieve your goals.

Remember that no matter which business model you choose, it will require hard work, perseverance, dedication and the right tools to succeed.

But with the right mindset and strategy, you can build a successful business from the ground up.

There you have it, 24 businesses you can start with no money.

But you are going to have to put in the work to be profitable in any business you have chosen.

4 Businesses to Avoid if you have Zero Capital

Now let's see some businesses you should avoid if you have zero capital.

This isn't because these models are bad.

It's just that entry into these industries is hard and money may be required at some point or the other.

1. Real estate

Real estate is a potential income model, but it requires significant upfront capital and the ability to withstand market fluctuations.

The only way to make money in real estate when you have no money to start is through deal packaging, where you find deals for investors and receive a cut or one-time fee.

But even then, you're not a real estate investor – you're just a service provider.

Overall, there is no get-rich-quick scheme, and it takes time and effort to build a sustainable income model.

2. Software

It is an extremely tough industry to break into, as it involves significant costs and the need to go into debt to acquire customers.

The main entryway into acquiring a customer for software businesses is a free trial, but the running costs of such trials, coupled with the cost of acquiring customers, makes it challenging for small businesses.

Large companies such as Infusionsoft and Salesforce are hundreds of dollars down the hole before they make any profit on a customer.

Thus, software is not recommended for those just starting.

3. Cryptocurrency

The next potential money-making opportunity is cryptocurrency which I am a big fan of, despite the recent crash.

However, it is risky, and there is no consistent cash flow or income, and investors need technical knowledge and trading expertise.

Although some lucky people may strike gold with cryptocurrency, it is similar to being a lottery winner with no specific skill set to earn more money in the future.

Therefore, investing in cryptocurrency is recommended for those who have a high-income career or a fast-growing business to funnel their money into.

4. Coaching

It's a difficult but doable task that requires some essential steps.

First, you must be an expert in your field, with a strong level of knowledge.

Someone should be willing to pay for your expertise.

Once you have that down, the next step is to build a personal brand.

People build up a brand, launch a course or coaching program, and then struggle to keep up for the next five years.

It's not a business where you can step back and let it run itself.

You need to develop a course, and don't let anyone tell you that a screen recording is enough.

You're competing with people who have a $25,000 studio setup with two 4k cameras, a massive studio light, and a $500 microphone.

The standards keep going up every year, so keep that in mind when creating your course.

Finally, keep in mind that this industry is fickle.

People are always looking for the next thing, and the market has a lot of competition.

Don't think that launching a course is a passive business or that you'll make crazy amounts of money.

It's a brutal industry, but if you're an expert in your field, you might want to share that knowledge.

Finally, these are businesses you should avoid if you have zero capital and we have already gone over the businesses you can start with zero funds.

No matter what niche or business you choose, you have to put in the work.

After all, “behind everything that works is someone making it work”.

Good luck with your business and I'd really appreciate it if you shared.

24 Business Ideas That Require No Money and Minimal Effort to Start and 4 Businesses to Avoid at All Costs!