Starting Your Own Business on a shoestring budget

            Have you ever wondered how some people start their own businesses without having millions of dollars in the bank? It’s possible to start your own business, even if you don’t have a lot of money, by doing it yourself and taking advantage of affordable resources that other entrepreneurs have created. This guide on starting your own business with little to no startup costs will help you figure out exactly what type of business to start, how to make it profitable, and where to get materials that won’t break the bank so you can be in business with almost no initial costs.

1- Introduction: What is a Small Business, and What Are the Benefits of Starting One?

            The Small Business Administration defines a small business as any enterprise with fewer than 500 employees. A small business typically creates at least two jobs, while big businesses might create only one position. In other words, if you’re an entrepreneur or a new startup, starting a small business is an affordable option for creating your own job and benefiting from more entrepreneurial freedom compared to working for someone else. Additionally, if you’re in business for yourself but not by yourself (business owners are rarely entirely self-employed), there are some clear benefits to being part of a smaller team: Employees feel appreciated when they're working near their colleagues.

2-The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Small Business

            Starting a business from scratch can be quite expensive. For example, without a website, it’s very difficult to advertise your new business and get traffic. So unless you have $10k lying around for a professional website, you’ll have to build one yourself with Bootstrap or WordPress—and to do that, you need HTML/CSS experience. Do-it-yourself websites are ugly; having basic coding knowledge (HTML/CSS) is highly beneficial if you plan on building your own website because it will help give some structure to your design. You can use free services like WordPress or Squarespace—but again, these require a base knowledge of how they work and how to program them yourself.

3- Finding the Right Location for Your New Small Business

            Some businesspeople like to start out in a place they're familiar with, while others want to be near family and friends. If there's a location you're partial to, your business will have an easier time getting established. But if you're up for something new, it may be worth taking a risk and trying somewhere unexpected. Moving to a new location can introduce you to new customers and expose your business to different opportunities than it had before. In any case, take some time to research and plan before deciding where your small business will set up shop—not only could it make all the difference down the road, but it could also save you money right now. Plus, ask for advice from local vendors who've been through what you're about to go through.

4- Deciding on Your Type of Business

            There are an overwhelming number of options for starting your own business, and different types of businesses require drastically different levels of start-up capital. If you want to run your business from home, for example, you can start freelance writing or consulting business by spending just your computer and Internet connection. If you want to create a physical product business like Aunt Helen's Fudge Factory, you'll need more money for equipment, employees, materials, and other costs. But whatever type of business idea you decide to pursue—just know that there's never been an easier time in history to do it. You have online tools like Google Apps at your disposal as well as social media channels like Facebook and Twitter to connect with customers and spread awareness about what it is that you're trying to sell.

5- How to Write the Perfect Online Pitch for Your New Small Business

            A pitch deck, also known as an investor presentation or executive summary, is a one-page document (or two- to four-page at most) that captures all of your business's main highlights. It’s usually created before you meet with investors. It should serve as an introduction to your startup and explain what you’re planning to do. If you want your idea to get off the ground and can't afford marketing expenses, then online pitches are one way to spread awareness about your business and attract potential investors from around the world — for free. The best part is, that even if your product or service isn't quite ready for prime time, it doesn't mean you can't create an effective pitch deck yet. Just take care of how much information you include.

Conclusion- You Have What it Takes to Start Owning Your Own Small Business!

            Starting your own business doesn’t have to mean mortgaging your home or spending your life savings. There are plenty of ways to start a business with little or no money down! Just remember to keep these tips in mind when starting your own small business, and don’t be afraid to take chances and leap into something new. You’ll soon discover you have what it takes! After all, if you can build an empire out of nothing, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish!