A Home Based Business with No Money Necessary?
If you would like to start your very own home-based business, and you want to do so without spending any money to get it started, then this one’s for you.
There are multiple ways almost anyone can start a home-based business without risking a nickel to start it. I know, it can’t be that easy, can it?
Okay, I won’t say it’s necessarily easy, but it’s totally possible to build a home-based business without money. So, I’m going to cover a few of the exciting home based business ideas you can get started on today to build the business of your dreams, and get one step closer towards financial independence.
Sounds good, right? Let’s go!
Daycare
Starting a daycare is a fantastic business opportunity. You can stay at home with your kids and have their friends over while getting paid for it! This is a great opportunity for moms and people who enjoy working with children.
Most towns will require you to get a license if you’re planning to run a daycare from your home. So, check your locality’s requirements. Other than that, your biggest expenses will be some toys and snacks for the kids. You can even ask parents to provide a lunch, milk, and diapers for their kiddos.
Freelancing
Freelancing is a great way to start a home-based business with no money needed. Virtually any skill that you have is one that you can turn into a viable freelance business.
And, with the help of freelance marketplaces, you can literally start with zero out-of-pocket expenses. That is, of course, if you already own a computer to work from!
Here are a few of my favorite freelance marketplaces to get started with:
Sales
Direct selling is quickly becoming one of the hottest ways to start a business from home. Most of them do have a startup cost, but some are 100% free. PartyLite has a completely free starter kit to jump-start your business. Bella Branch lets you earn through affiliate sales, so no money is needed to start!
You can start some other businesses with $25 or close to it. So, these options are best left as a secondary way to earn money. Use some of your profits from freelancing to put toward a direct sales business, for example.
Alternatively, keep checking around popular direct sales companies for promotions! Occasionally, you might find a special offer for starting your business at a discounted rate.
Blogging
Blogging is a fun way to build a following and an income at the same time. It typically works best when you have a passion for a topic and a unique angle to bring. Some of the most successful bloggers write about popular topics, but in a different way that makes them stand out.
And, they’re also great marketers. To earn money blogging, you can’t be shy about marketing yourself. You should have a presence on social media and get your name out there to like-minded bloggers and readers. This way, you’ll build a strong network of people who look to you for advice.
I won’t lie – blogging isn’t an easy thing to make money from. It can take months to start earning an income, but there’s no better time to start than now. You can always blog as a freelancer while you wait for your blog to take off!
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assisting is the perfect work from home opportunity for people who like doing something different every day. Seriously, virtual assistants do it all:
- Make phone calls
- Research information
- Generate and follow up on sales leads
- Write articles
- Contact customers or clients
- Create email newsletters
- Transcribe audio files
- Complete data entry tasks
Basically, virtual assistants are all-around internet savvy people. There are several websites that will help you get started as a virtual assistant. Best of all, they cost $0 to join! Here are a few of the best ones that will help you find some work:
Transcriptionist
You can earn $20 per hour or more by transcribing audio files into word documents for people around the world. Most places don’t require any formal education to get started. Instead, you’ll usually need to complete a skills test or two. This just ensures that you’re able to type fast and transcribe accurately.
Not all transcription work is equal, though. Some companies don’t pay fair rates per word or audio hour, and you’ll end up spending tons of time working on a file for pennies. Stick to the companies that have excellent reviews and have been proven to pay their workers fairly. Rev, Scribie, and TranscribeMe are among some of the popular online transcription companies.
Once you get some money rolling in, you can invest in equipment to make your life easier. ExpressScribe is a handy transcription software to help you navigate audio files. And, it even comes in a convenient bundle with a foot pedal.
There you have it: some legitimate ways to earn money from home with no startup costs!
I want to hear all about your home-based business and how you got started! Connect with me on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram and keep the conversation rolling!
Amy is a mom of two, freelance writer, and blog manager who works with family-focused businesses to improve their content strategies. You can find her published work on Reader’s Digest Online, MSN, Niche, Frugal For Less, and other lifestyle publications.