Home Business Tools 21 Business Ideas That Require No Money in 2023: Become Your Own Boss

21 Business Ideas That Require No Money in 2023: Become Your Own Boss

by Stewart Gauld
Last updated on May 29th, 2023
Business Ideas That Require No Money in 2023

Are you thinking about starting a new business? Do you currently have no business ideas? And do you have $0 spare to invest money in a new business?

If you answered YES to all of these questions then I truly believe I can help you out!

Do you have a deep feeling that you want to become your own boss? I’ve been there, and believe me it’s both an exciting and nervous place to start.

It’s equally a scary new change in your life, especially if you have no money!

The good news is there are 1000s of opportunities and business ideas to try (online or offline) that can start generating income for yourself and replace your full-time job. I mean that’s the ultimate goal, right?

And the best part, many of the business ideas and opportunities that I’m going to cover do not require any money to start!

The hardest part is deciding on the right business to start based on your passion, skill set and experience

And that is my job in this post, it’s to help you choose the right business idea by sharing 21 of my top business ideas that you can start today with no money in 2023.

Also, if you what to learn how to start a business with no money make sure you read this post too.

Okay so with that out the way, what are my top 21 viable business ideas you can start with no money?

Read more: How To Start A Business With No Money

Want to become your own boss in 2023?

21 Business ideas that require no money

Does this sound like you? “Help me, I want to start a business but have no ideas or money”.

If you’re ready, then I’m ready! Let’s get into it.

Before diving into my 21 business ideas, It’s important to mention that these are not just random business ideas that I have picked.

These are my top ‘viable’ business ideas that I know you can start with no money.

How do I know this? Because I’ve worked with 100s of clients that have launched these types of businesses and generated an income, additionally, I’ve been personally involved with many of these business ideas myself.

I’m also going to share the free tools, skills, and marketing activities recommended and the time frame that it will take to start the following business ideas.

Physical businesses that you can start with no money

First, let’s take a look at physical business ideas that you can start with no money. These are businesses that focus on providing a product or service to a specific geographical location.

Now many of these physical businesses can also pivot and function as online businesses too.

Let’s dive into these one by one.

I’m also going to share the free tools, skills, and marketing activities recommended and the time frame that it will take to start the following business ideas.

Important: I dive into much more detail in my eBook (Go Digital Now) if you are interested learn the exact steps to starting a small business for just $19 dollars.

1. Dog Walking Business

How to start a dog walking business with no money

Do you love animals? Well, this is a great business opportunity to start.

Depending on where you live there will many people within your community that have dogs BUT do not have the time to walk their dogs due to many reasons (old age, mobility issues, work commitments etc).

You can be the solution!

You could walk 1 – 10 dogs at $10 – $20 per dog per walk (30 – 45 minutes) which can become well over $100 per day with just one or two walks per day.

Free tools:

  • Create a dog walking free website with Site123 or Wix.
  • Create a dog walking Facebook page.
  • Create a dog walking Instagram page.
  • Create a dog walking Google Business Profile.
  • Create free dog walking marketing materials using Canva.

Skills:

  • Good with animals!
  • Able to walk (relatively fit).

Marketing activities:

  • Join local Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile.
  • If you have your own printer you can print out flyers (created for free inside Canva) to drop off in the community.

Time frame to start:

  • Start this dog-walking business from day one!

2. Consulting Services

How to start a consulting business with no money

Do you have a specific skill or knowledge base that you can consult on? Think about your past experience and what you’re good at.

You can provide one on one or group consulting either in person or online. For example, I provide in-person and online consulting for my clients. I consult them on how they can properly leverage online tools and strategies to launch, grow and scale their businesses.

I charged $195 per one-hour session and ongoing 45 minutes consultations are $95 per session.

Again, think about how you can package up your expertise into a consultation.

Free tools:

  • Create a free website with Google Sites or Wix.
  • Create a Facebook page.
  • Create an Instagram page.
  • Manage your Clients with HubSpot for free.
  • Create a Twitter account.
  • Google Business Profile (local businesses).
  • Create a LinkedIn profile.
  • Create free marketing materials using Canva.
  • Use Calendly to book sessions.
  • Use Stripe to create a payment page to collect payments.

Skills:

  • Be an expert in something.
  • Good at communication.
  • Understand how to sell.

Note: You can learn all of these skills over time.

Marketing activities:

  • Join local and online Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content that you can post across all your different channels (Canva can help you create content for free).
  • Provide free services to build reviews and testimonials.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your consulting gig in a few days! Just set up your systems and away you go.

3. Gardening Services.

Do you like gardening? Or being outside and doing some kind of work?

This could be a great business opportunity for you depending on the community that you live in. Similar to the dog walking business idea, you want to provide a solution to a big problem.

The problem is people just do not have the time or energy to maintain their property. You can approach these potential customers and help them with gardening, landscaping or general work around their property. There will always be a need for this service!

I actually used to do this before I started my own agency and education platform. I would mow the laws of my neighbours using their own lawnmowers. I did it to make some extra money.

However, you could easily scale this! And even start hiring people to help you mow the many lawns that you could eventually manage.

Free tools:

  • Make a free website with Google Sites or Wix.
  • Make a Facebook page.
  • Make an Instagram page.
  • Leverage Google Business Profile (local businesses).
  • Make free marketing materials using Canva.

Skills:

  • Be able to mow a lawn nicely.
  • Good at communication.
  • Understand how to sell.

Note: You will also learn all of these skills over time.

Marketing activities:

  • Join local and online Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and you will get messages and phone calls.
  • If you have your own printer you can print out flyers (created for free inside Canva) to drop off in the community.
  • Go door-to-door to sell your gardening packages.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your lawn mowing business on day one!

4. Cleaning Business

How to start a cleaning business with no money

Do you enjoy cleaning? This is a service that will always be needed. You can clean for residential or commercial properties. I suggest focusing on one group.

Again, you can do this your self and then as you grow you can start hiring other people to help you clean these properties.

Free tools:

  • Build a free cleaning website with Google Sites, Wix or Site123.
  • Build a cleaning Facebook page.
  • Build a cleaning Instagram page.
  • Manage your clients with SmartSuite or Monday.com
  • Setup cleaning Google Business Profile (drive phone calls).
  • Design free marketing materials for your cleaning services using Canva.

Skills:

  • Be a good cleaner!
  • Become a great communicator and listener.
  • Sales

Note: You will naturally get better at these skills over time.

Marketing activities:

  • Join local and online Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and you will get messages and phone calls.
  • If you have your own printer you can print out flyers (created for free inside Canva) to drop off in the community.
  • Look up commercial companies and cold calls.
  • Go door-to-door to sell your cleaning packages.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your cleaning business from day one just start cold calling!

5. Language Teaching Services

Language teaching is a great business idea for anyone that knows how to speak multiple languages or if you can speak one language proficiently, this is fine too. You can teach others how they can learn basic to advanced writing, reading, speaking and listening skills.

There will always be a demand for this.

You can also choose to teach online through platforms like Zoom, and Google Workspace or join and teach on language learning marketplaces like Italki (there are many platforms like this).

Free tools:

  • Join language marketplaces like Italki.
  • Make a language-focused Facebook page.
  • Make a language-focused Instagram page.
  • Leverage Google Business Profile (local language businesses).
  • Create a language Facebook page.
  • Make free language marketing materials using Canva.

Skills:

  • Learn how to be a good teacher.
  • Learn to be a good communicator in the language that you are teaching.
  • Be proficient in at least one language.

Marketing activities:

  • Join local language and online language Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and you will get messages and phone calls.
  • If you have your own printer you can print out language learning-based flyers (created for free inside Canva) to drop off in the community.
  • Leverage online marketplaces that you can join and then help teach others.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your own language teaching business in one day, you do not even need a website!

Reminder: I dive into much more detail in my eBook (Go Digital Now) if you are interested learn the exact steps to starting a small business for just $19 dollars.

6. Coaching Business

This is similar to the consulting business idea that we talked about. What are you good at? What is your speciality or expertise? You can also create an online or offline business as a coach.

For example, you could be a health coach and provide training and nutrition and coaching to clients once per week. This could be conducted at the gym at home or online. Your goal is to help your clients achieve their fitness and health goals.

There are many apps you can use if you started a health coaching business online like Trainerize and My Fitness Pal.

Again, think about what you can do to provide value ongoing to your potential clients.

Free tools:

  • Create a free coaching website with systeme.io or Podia also used to collect payments and host coaching material, memberships and more.
  • Create a coaching Facebook page.
  • Manage your coaching clients with HubSpot for free.
  • Create a coaching Instagram page.
  • Create a coaching Twitter account.
  • Create a coaching LinkedIn profile.
  • Create free coaching marketing materials using Canva.
  • Use Calendly to book coaching sessions.

Skills:

  • Be an expert in something.
  • Good at communication.
  • Understand how to sell.

Note: You can learn all of these skills over time.

Marketing activities:

  • Join relevant online Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content that you can post across all your different channels (Canva can help you create content for free).
  • Join local events or businesses that are in your industry.
  • Provide free services to build reviews and testimonials.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your coaching gig in a few days! Just set up your tools and away you go.

7. Local Marketing Business

How to start a marketing business with no money

Why not try to help local businesses grow their business online? This could be anything from helping them with their website, social media and paid marketing. This will require you to upskill in any of these areas. However, many local businesses need the support.

How can you help these businesses get discovered online?

For example, I have a friend that helps local businesses with their free Google Business Profile listings. He simply helps manage their GBP lists to help those businesses get discovered online by local customers.

And it is a VERY easy activity to learn how to manage and help these businesses with local discovery online.

So, think about a specific service that you want to learn or already have experience and start helping local businesses in your area.

Free tools:

  • Create a free marketing business website with WordPress.com, Wix or Site123.
  • Create a marketing business Facebook page.
  • Create a marketing business Instagram page.
  • Leverage Google Business Profile.
  • Manage your marketing clients with HubSpot for free.
  • Manage your marketing projects with SmartSuite or Monday.com
  • Create a marketing business LinkedIn company page.
  • Create free marketing materials using Canva.
  • Use Calendly to book introduction sessions.
  • Use Google Forms to capture all the information you need from a local client (project requirements)

Skills:

  • Good at communication.
  • Learn sales.
  • Become an expert in one area of marketing.

Note: You can learn all of these skills over time.

Marketing activities:

  • Join relevant online Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content that you can post across all your different channels (Canva can help you create content for free).
  • Go business-to-business and introduce yourself and show them how you can be a solution to their marketing needs.
  • Provide free services to build reviews and testimonials.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your marketing business within a week! Just set up your tools and up-skill.

8. Handyman Business

Are you a handyman? Meaning are you good around the house or naturally good at everything? For example, if anything needs fixing in your house are you the man/woman for the job?

You can provide your handyman services to your local market.

There is always someone needing the odd job done around the house from, fixing doors, to painting and building or installing something.

Free tools:

  • Make a free handyman website with Google Sites or Wix.
  • Make a handyman Facebook page.
  • Make a handyman Instagram page.
  • Leverage a handyman Google Business Profile (local businesses).
  • Make free handyman promotional materials using Canva.

Skills:

  • Be ‘good’ at jobs around the house (are you practical or a problem solver?).
  • Good at communication.
  • Understand sales.

Marketing activities:

  • Join local and online Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and you will get messages and phone calls.
  • If you have your own printer you can print out handyman flyers (created for free inside Canva) to drop off in the community.
  • Go door-to-door to sell your handyman services.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your handyman business on day one!

9. Buying & Selling Business

Basically, this is a simple business idea where you can buy second-hand items and then sell those items for a profit. Do you know how to find a good bargain?

If so you can simply buy those local items and then sell them on different online marketplaces like Amazon, Facebook Marketplace or eBay.

This is one of the best ways you can quickly make extra cash and turn it into a full-time gig.

Example: I have a friend that buys and sells second-hand building tools. He simply buys them at a discounted rate and then sells them for a profit. He knows his tools so the market he decided to go for.

Free tools:

  • Use different online marketplaces like Amazon, Facebook Marketplace or eBay to find, research, buy and sell second-hand goods.

Skills:

  • Understand the value of certain goods.
  • Understand sales (verbal and copy).

Marketing activities:

  • This business idea requires the least amount of marketing effort. As I’ve mentioned all you need to leverage is the organic exposure on the platforms you are listing the second-hand items.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your buying and selling business on day one!

Online businesses that you can start with no money

Secondly, we’re going to dive into online business ideas that you can start with no money in 2023.

10. Building websites (Web design business)

How to start a website building business with no money

There are hundreds of easy to use, no-code website builder that you can use to build websites for your clients.

Read about my top website builder for small businesses here.

You can literally build a full-feature website a few hours using these all-in-one website builders and charge anywhere from $500 – $5000 depending on the size and the reuremt for the specific project.

This is actually how I started my web design agency. I focused on creating basic small business websites fro my clients. Then my business expensed into other digita marketing services.

The great thing is you do not need to be a design expert. Many popular website builders offer professional pre-made website templates that you can choose from and then customize the way that you like.

Free tools:

  • Create a free website for your web design agency with WordPress.com, Wix or Site123.
  • Create a Facebook page for your web design business.
  • Create an web design business Instagram page.
  • Create a web design business Twitter account.
  • Manage your projects with SmartSuite or Monday.com
  • Manage your web design clients with HubSpot for free.
  • Google Business Profile (local businesses).
  • Create a LinkedIn web design company page.
  • Create free marketing materials using Canva.
  • Use Calendly to book introduction meetings.
  • Use Stripe to create a payment page to collect payments.

Skills:

  • Learn how to use these website builders
  • Good at communication.
  • Understand how to sell.

Marketing activities:

  • Join local and online Facebook groups and post in these groups.
  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content that you can post across all your different channels (Canva can help you create content for free).
  • Provide free we design services to build reviews and testimonials.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your web design business in under a week! Just set up your systems, create your website and start driving reviews by providing discounted or free web design services.

11. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants are in high demand! Many businesses need help with managing repetitive or time consuming tasks. This could be anything from booking appointments, managing websites, updating content, inventory management, content creation and more.

The work environment is shifting into a hybrid workforce and talent is now being sourced from all arond the world.

You have the potential to build up a business where you have multiply clients that you work for each month. For example, you could sell your virtual assistant service as a package. This could be 10 or 20 hour monthly packages.

You will be able to put a good schedule and system in place for managing all the different tasks for your clients.

Free tools:

  • Create a free website for your virtual assistant business with WordPress.com, Wix or Site123.
  • Create a virtual assistant business Twitter account.
  • Create a LinkedIn account.
  • Create free content for clients using Canva.
  • Manage your tasks with SmartSuite or Monday.com
  • Use Calendly to book introduction meetings.
  • Use Stripe to create a payment page to collect payments from clients.

Skills:

  • Learn how to use many of the tools that your potential clients use.
  • Excellent at communication.

Marketing activities:

  • Post content about your service on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content that you can post across all your different channels (Canva can help you create content for free).
  • Provide free virtual assistant services to build reviews and testimonials.
  • Reach out to SMEs and ask if they are interested in the virtual assistant services that you offer.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your virtual assistant business in a few days! Start reaching out to potential clients right away!

12. Business Tool Expert – Online Service

Become an expert in any business tool like a CRM product (HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho CRM) or Project management tool (Monday.com, Asana, Notion). This is just an example.

However, think about some of the popular business tool that SMEs use or maybe an online tool that you use. Become a top expert in that business tool!

Then you can provide, consulting, training, advice, educations, create templates or apps, essentially there are many ways that you can monetize your expertise around one particular tool. You will become a niche expert in one particular tool.

Free tools:

  • Create a free website for your tool expert business with WordPress.com, Wix or Site123. If your selling consulting or a online course you can use tools like Systeme.io or Podia
  • Create atool expert busines Twitter account.
  • Create a LinkedIn account.
  • Create free content using Canva.
  • Use Calendly to book introduction meetings.
  • Use Stripe to create a payment page to collect payments from clients.

Skills:

  • Learn how to use that one tool and learn everything there is to know.
  • Excellent at communication.
  • Sales

Marketing activities:

  • Post content about the tool on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content that you can post across all your different channels (Canva can help you create content for free).
  • Provide free advice to build reviews and testimonials.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your business after you have become an expert at the chosen business tool! This could take weeks or months depending on your initial level of expertise.

13. Logo or Graphic Designer

How to start a graphic design business with no money

There are so many free and easy-to-use tools these days to simply create all sorts of cool graphics for potential clients.

My favorite free graphic design tool is Canva.

You can focus on creating logos, social media content, posters and more by just using Canva.

You can even create basic video content for your clients using Canva. Learn how here.

Free tools:

  • Create a free website for your tool expert business with WordPress.com, Wix or Site123.
  • Create a Twitter account.
  • Create a LinkedIn account.
  • Create free content using Canva.
  • Use Calendly to book introduction meetings.
  • Use Stripe to create a payment page to collect payments from clients.

Skills:

  • Learn how to use Canva or another tool to create amazing graphics and content.
  • Excellent at communication.
  • Sales

Marketing activities:

  • Post content about graphics design on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content that you can post across all your different channels (Canva can help you create content for free).
  • Provide free graphics to build reviews and testimonials.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your graphic design business within a few weeks after you have become an expert at Canva.

14. Freelance writer

Do you love writing? Or are you naturally good at writing engaging copy?

This business idea could be for you. Many businesses are looking for freelance writers to help them create engaging content for their brands.

You can engage with these brands and help them with specific projects. You can charge yourself out at an hourly rate, number of words, or a package services.

And the great thing is your can target any industry you have a passion for and joy writing about.

Free tools:

  • Create a free website for your tool expert business with WordPress.com, Wix or Site123.
  • Create a Twitter account.
  • Create a LinkedIn account.
  • Create free content using Canva.
  • Use Calendly to book introduction meetings.
  • Use Stripe to create a payment page to collect payments from clients.

Skills:

  • Proficient in writing.
  • Story telling.
  • Expert in a specific topic.
  • Excellent at communication.
  • Sales

Marketing activities:

  • Post content about topics on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content that you can post across all your different channels (Canva can help you create content for free).
  • Provide free writing servces to build reviews and testimonials.
  • Create your own blog and start writing content on a specific topic, a topic you want to start writing for.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your freelance writing business on day one!

15. Become a Canva expert

How to start a Canva business with no money

Become a Canva expert. Teach, consult and provide service around Canva (Popular free graphic design tool).

Canva is gowing fast and have become the largest online design tool on the planet. This is the reason that I want to mention Canva as a viable online business idea that does not require any money.

You can use Canva to create videos, logos, business cards, social media content and more for your clients.

Not only this but you can create your own content driven business around Canva and create online courses, templates and designs that you want to sell.

Free tools:

  • Create a free website for your tool expert business with WordPress.com, Wix or Site123. If your selling online course or digital products you can use Systeme.io or Podia.
  • Create a Twitter account.
  • Create a LinkedIn account.
  • Create free content using Canva.
  • Use Calendly to book introduction meetings.
  • Use Stripe to create a payment page to collect payments from clients.

Skills:

  • Learn how to use all of Canva’s tools.
  • Excellent at communication.
  • Sales

Marketing activities:

  • Post content about Canva on Facebook, Instagram and Google Business Profile and engage with your audience on LinkedIn and Twitter.
  • Create educational and valuable content around Canva that you can post across all your different channels.
  • Provide free content with Canva for free to clients to build reviews and testimonials.
  • Create your own blog and YouTube and start writing and talking about content around Canva. This will help you grow your business organically online.

Time frame to start:

  • Start your Canva business right away once you are confident in your Canva skills.

Reminder: I dive into much more detail in my eBook (Go Digital Now) if you are interested learn the exact steps to starting a small business for just $19 dollars.

16. YouTuber/influencer

How to start a YouTube Channel with no money

Becoming a ‘YouTuber’ or influencer across social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube can lead to many lucrative opportunities.

Again, this should be specific to your interests, passions, knowledge and skill set. Think about how you can create engaging, enjoyable and/or educational content for your audience.

For example, I have a YouTube channel! I use this channel to educate small business owners on the tools, skills and knowledge to help them thrive online.

I use this Channel to generate multiple stream of income which includes:

  • Ad revenue from Google ads.
  • Sponsorship content (Companies paying me to create content).
  • Affiliate commission (I get a commission from companies that purchase software we recommend).
  • Customer revenue that comes from people that discover us on YouTube.
  • Course and eBook sales from our YouTube channel.

How go right and you can do the sale across many different platforms.

Free tools:

  • YouTube for creating content (also Tiktok and Instagram). If your selling online course or digital products you can use Systeme.io or Podia.
  • Create a Twitter account.
  • Create a LinkedIn account.
  • Create free content and videos using Canva.

Skills:

  • Learn how to use YouTube and create content.
  • Excellent at communication behind a camera (use your phone).
  • Have expertise on a specific topic or be an expert in a field.
  • Sales

Marketing activities:

  • Post short form video content on YouTube shorts, Instagram reels and TikTok. Post long form videos on YouTube.
  • Create educational and valuable content about your chosen niche on YouTube and other platforms consistently.

Time frame to start:

  • Start creating YouTube video content right away! Over time you will naturally get better.

17. Etsy Business

Think about what can you make and sell on the HUGE, global Etsy marketplace.

This is a great place where you can list unique and handcrafted items to be discovered online.

So, if you have a passion for creating something in particular, you can sell it for free on Etsy. This could be a physical or digital product that you have created.

We have a video and article that can help you get started with Etsy here.

Free tools:

  • Etsy store.
  • Create a Twitter account for your Etsy store.
  • Create a LinkedIn account for your Etsy store.
  • Create a Facebook business page for your Etsy store
  • Create free content for free using Canva.

Skills:

  • Learn how to use Etsy.
  • Have the skill of creting something unique.
  • Learn how to create engaging copy.

Marketing activities:

  • Create your Etsy store and start proting across your different social media platforms.
  • Ask friends and family to buy your products and leave reviews to get your store ranking on the marketplace.

Time frame to start:

  • Spend a day setting up your Etsy store and away you go!

18. Online Course Creator

This again goes back to if you have a skill set, particular knowledge or passion in something. If you do, you can create online courses!

The online education space is growing rapidly and you have the opportunity to create and list your courses online to start selling!

There are many free online course marketplaces that you can leverage to sell your courses online and self hosted platforms. These include Udemy, Skillshare, Podia and Systeme.io.

You can see I have my online course on both Skillshare and Udemy.

Podia and Systeme.io are great for managing your online class within your own platform rather than using a marketplace. Basically this means you have more control over your courses.

It’s also important to note that you can create online courses in additiona to the other business ideas we have talked about today (diverisfy your revenue streams).

Read more about selling online courses here.

Free tools:

Skills:

  • Learn and create video content.
  • Excellent at communication behind a camera (use your phone).
  • Have expertise on a specific topic or be an expert in a field.
  • Sales (if using self managed platforms).

Marketing activities:

  • Engage on social media and build a community of loyal followers. Create an email list using the platforms mentioned above and start sending weekly emails (valuable information).

Time frame to start:

  • Start creating online courses right away! Can take a few days to create a sales funnel if you want to use the self-directed platforms.

19. Blogging Business

Start creating useful content on your website.

This again, requires you to be an expert at something or have a passion or interest. You can create long-format written content that can be searched and discovered online.

It’s also important to note that you can create a blog in additiona to the other business ideas we have talked about today to diverisfy your revenue streams. However, many people first start out with a blog and then turn it into a business.

You can generate money similar to the way you would with a YouTube channel. For example, this is how we generate ravine through our blog:

  • Ad revenue from Google ads.
  • Sponsorship content.
  • Affiliate commission.
  • Customer revenue that comes from people that discover us through the blog.
  • Course and eBook sales from our blog.

Free tools:

  • Create a website with a blog for free using WordPress.com or Wix.
  • Create a Twitter account to help grow your brand.
  • Create a LinkedIn account to help grow your brand.
  • Create a Facebook business page to help grow your brand.
  • Create content for free using Canva for your blogs.
  • Build an email list using MailChimp or ConvertKit for free.

Skills:

  • Learn how to optimize your blog posts.
  • Learn how to engage in keyword research.
  • Learn how to create engaging copy.
  • Skill or expertise.

Marketing activities:

  • Start promoting your blog across your different social media platforms and groups.
  • Build an email list and engae with your audience.
  • Create blogs at least once per week.

Time frame to start:

  • Create a blog and start blogging! You can launch this from day one.

20. Social Media Manager

How to start a Social media management business with no money

This is the business idea of managing other businesses social media accounts. This is big business! There are so many businesses out there that need help managing their social media as they do not have the time.

You can start managing all of their social media accounts and get paid to manage and create content on a monthly bases.

Free tools:

  • Create a website with a for free using WordPress.com, Site123. or Wix.
  • Create a Twitter account to help grow your business.
  • Create a LinkedIn account to help grow your business.
  • Manage your clients with HubSpot for free.
  • Manage your projects with SmartSuite or Monday.com.
  • Create a Facebook business page to help grow your business.
  • Create content for free using Canva for your clients social media accounts.
  • Build an email list using MailChimp or ConvertKit for free.

Skills:

  • Learn how to create social media content.
  • Learn how to mange all your client social media.
  • Sales

Marketing activities:

  • Start promoting your social media business across your different social media platforms and local business Facebook groups.
  • Build an email list and engage with your audience.
  • Go business-to-business or cold outreach online through LinkedIn, Facebook and email.

Time frame to start:

  • Create a website and start promoting your social media servces! You can do this within a few days.

21. Google Ads Manager for Local Businesses

One of the ways that I first started out on my business was creating websites and managing text based search ads using Google Ads.

There and many free resources to help you learn how to run profitable ads for local businesses and help them drive phone calls and leads.

Again the focus is starting out with text based ads with local businesses. You can charge any where form $350 – $1000 per client per month to manage their ads.

Free tools:

  • Create a website with a for free using WordPress.com, Site123. or Wix.
  • Create a Twitter account to help grow your business.
  • Create a LinkedIn account to help grow your business.
  • Manage your clients with HubSpot for free.
  • Manage your Google ads projects with SmartSuite or Monday.com.
  • Create a Facebook business page to help grow your business.
  • Create content for free using Canva.
  • Build an email list using MailChimp or ConvertKit for free.

Skills:

  • Learn how to create, run and managetext based Google Ads.
  • Sales.

Marketing activities:

  • Start promoting your Google ads business across your different social media platforms.
  • Build an email list and engage with your audience.
  • Go business-to-business or cold outreach online through LinkedIn, Facebook and email.
  • Start working with clients for free so you can learn how Google Ads works. This means you are spending your clients money on ads.

Time frame to start:

  • After you have worked with a few clients and understand how Google ads (text based ads) work. You can start reaching out to potential clients and engage in marketing! This should take you a few weeks to a few months before you are competent.

Also, each month I will be updating this business idea list.

As you can see, there are so many exciting businesses online and offline that you can launch with no money in 2023!

If you want to learn more about how to start each of these business, read more here.

Final Thoughts

And that is it for this list of my top 21 business ideas that require no money in 2023.

These viable business ideas will help you become your own boss!

Ideally, you still want to keep your full time or part time job until you start making enough money from the business idea that you want to start.

Reminder: I dive into much more detail in my eBook (Go Digital Now) if you are interested in investing just $19 dollars into this powerful business resource.

Let me know what business idea your found most interesting!

Also, let me know in the comments the business idea that you are going to start.

Enjoy the journey of becoming your own boss!

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My name is Stewart Gauld. I’ve been helping small and local businesses with digital activties over the last 7 years.