How To Start a Business With No Money in 7 Steps (2026)

More people are taking the leap into entrepreneurship than ever before. Recent US Census Bureau data shows that more than 3 million business applications were filed in the first six months of 2026, up 16.9% from 2.6 million during the same period in 2025. Yet money remains the top barrier to starting a business, according to a survey of current business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs conducted by Shopify and The Harris Poll. This preparedness paradox comes at a time when roughly eight in 10 founders say technology and AI have made it easier to begin with limited resources or expertise.

The good news is that you can start a business with no money (or very little of it) by choosing a business model that doesn’t require inventory or employees. Service businesses, freelancing, digital products, print on demand, dropshipping, and reselling are funded one sale at a time. Ahead, learn how to turn your passion and readiness into a successful business, all without a big upfront investment.

5 businesses you can start with no money

The easiest businesses to start with little money tend to keep fixed costs low and avoid buying large amounts of inventory upfront. Many can also be operated from home, making them practical low-cost options if you want to test demand before investing more money.

Dropshipping

A dropshipping business model allows you to sell products without buying inventory upfront. The global dropshipping market was forecast to grow from $128.6 billion in 2020 to $476.1 billion by 2026, making it a great time to get into the industry.Here’s how it works: When a customer places an order, you purchase the item from a supplier, who ships it directly to the customer. That makes dropshipping a low-investment business, and one you can test from home since you don’t need to store, pack, or ship products yourself.

“The beautiful thing about dropshipping is it doesn’t judge you based on where you live,” says dropshipping entrepreneur Kamil Sattar on the Shopify Masters podcast.

Here are a few tips to prepare for a dropshipping business:

• Source trending products. “TikTok is the leading indicator today to find products,” Kamil says. He recommends searching the social media app for keywords like #Amazonfinds and #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, then sourcing 5 to 10 low-cost products from verified suppliers.
• Start with free dropshipping apps. Try DropCommerce for North American suppliers, Syncee for global brands, or AI Dropshipping for US and EU suppliers. You can also find and sell products from Shopify brands with Shopify Collective, Shopify’s own curated supplier network, which gives you access to quality products with reliable shipping and better margins.
• Use organic marketing strategies. Kamil recommends filming 30 days’ worth of short-form videos featuring your products before starting a new TikTok account for your business.
• Start with a basic ecommerce website. Build your first website with a three-day free trial of Shopify, then connect your chosen dropshipping app to start importing products.

Print on demand (POD)

A print-on-demand service applies your designs to white-label products such as T-shirts, totes, and mugs, then produces each item only after it’s ordered. There’s no inventory to buy or store in a warehouse, and you can test which designs sell best before investing in manufacturing.

Grand View Research estimates the global print-on-demand market was worth $10.8 billion in 2025 and projects it will reach $57.5 billion by 2033.

That low-risk setup helped European clothing brand #muhoov get started. 

“We started with a print-on-demand service, bringing initial operational investment to $0,” Cofounder Katheriin Liibert says. The founders used it to validate the idea before putting money into production.

Service-based business

A service-based business can be one of the best low-cost businesses to start with little or no money because you’re selling skills and time, rather than buying inventory. You can begin as a solo operator, often from home, and hire once demand supports it. NMS Consulting estimates that the US business services market will reach $18.8 trillion in 2026, with professional services representing 42% of the total.

“If you don’t have the capital yet, start with the things that you have, like your experience, knowledge, skills, and resources you own,” says Kei Nishida, owner of Japanese Green Tea Co.

A few low-cost service business ideas include freelance writing, virtual assistance, social media marketing, and personal shopping. You can also combine services with another model. For example, a closet-cleanout service could resell unwanted items online, creating an additional revenue stream from the same client work.

Digital products

Digital products can be created and sold with little more than an internet connection and the tools you already use. Mordor Intelligence estimates the global digital goods market will reach $157.4 billion in 2026, up from $124.3 billion in 2025.

Start by harnessing knowledge, content, or creative work you can package into products, such as:

• Ebooks
• Online courses
• Worksheets and templates
• Photography presets

Because there’s no physical inventory to manufacture or store, you can create a product once and sell the same file repeatedly. Shopify’s free Digital Products app can automatically send files to customers after they purchase.

Big Life Journal, for instance, used free printables they created for email subscribers, and turned them into a sellable product by packaging them together into a kit.

“When people sign up to our newsletter, a very frequent question that we get is, ‘How can I get a hold of the past printables?’ and we direct them to our shop,” says Alexandra Eidens in an interview with Shopify Masters. 

Handcrafted goods

While handcrafted goods require a few upfront expenditures on materials, you can start production at home and expand as sales increase. In 2026, Grand View Research projects the global handicrafts market to reach $810.1 billion. A few ways to keep initial costs down include:

• Start small. Kristen Pumphrey began P.F. Candle Co. by making candles in her apartment. “I would always say yes and figure out how to make it happen. I was so scrappy and just didn’t know when I might get another opportunity,” Kristen says.
• Use crowdfunding. Harry Doull cofounded Keap Candles by crowdfunding while still working full time. “The idea sparked just through knowing that we had the shared love with the product,” says Harry.
• Upcycle materials. The Sage Vintage makes jewelry from vintage charms, while Suay turns discarded textiles into patchwork clothing.

These approaches let you test demand before spending heavily on materials or larger production runs.

How to start a business with no money in 7 steps

The steps to start a small business are more or less the same whether you have a large budget or almost none. The difference lies in how you use free resources where possible, and spending cash only when it helps you make or support sales.

1. Write a business plan

A business plan helps you figure out what to do with the resources you already have, what will cost money, and where you may need outside help. The US Small Business Administration (SBA) describes it as a road map for how to structure, run, and grow your business.

2. Find your community

When you don’t have money for extensive market research or advertising, start by spending time with the people who can help shape your idea. Look for niche Reddit communities, Facebook groups, Discord servers, local business groups, and other places where your prospective customers already talk. Listen for recurring questions, complaints, and products people wish existed, then contribute to the conversation and ask for feedback. 

Pistakio Cofounders Nicola Buffo and Francine Voit did just that. While developing their idea, they used Reddit to confirm people’s enthusiasm for pistachios, then continued to involve their community in product decisions as the business grew.

“Continuing that approach just built this strong community of people who always felt like our friends. We always respond. We always answer the DMs,” says Francine.

For advice from other business owners in social communities, check Reddit threads like r/Entrepreneur and r/startups, the Shopify Community boards, and the Shopify Entrepreneurs Facebook group for free feedback and support.

3. Choose a business name

Choose a name that’s memorable, easy to spell, and flexible enough to still fit if your products or services change. If you’re stuck, Shopify’s free AI Business Name Generator can generate ideas from a few keywords and check domain availability at the same time.

Before committing to a name, check that it isn’t already in use or trademarked. Then, secure the matching domain and social media handles so customers can find you under the same name across all channels.

4. Create your branding

Your branding gives the business a consistent look, voice, and personality. Start with the essentials—a logo, color palette, fonts, tagline, and a few guidelines for how you’ll speak to customers.

You don’t need to hire a designer to get started either. Shopify has a free AI Logo Maker that allows you to customize your business name, slogan, fonts, colors, symbols, and layout, plus a free Slogan Maker for generating tagline ideas.

Once your store is set up, save your logo, colors, cover image, slogan, and description in Shopify’s brand assets so you can reuse them consistently across your store and sales channels.

5. Launch your website

Your website gives potential customers a place to learn about your business, browse products or services, and purchase goods. On Shopify, you can start with a free theme and customize your storefront without coding, while built-in tools cover essentials such as product pages, checkout, and blogging.

6. Validate your idea

Before spending money on inventory, find out whether people will buy what you’re planning to sell. You can collect feedback through social media, surveys, or small test launches, then use preorders to take payment before committing to a larger production run.

Regirl Founder Remi Martins used Instagram to test demand for wigs designed for natural-hair customers while she was still working full time. After the response showed there was interest, she developed the product with a hairstylist and launched through preorders.

“We sold 50 products in the first 60 days of the business,” Martins says. Only then did she invest $1,000 in inventory and marketing, using early demand to justify the expense rather than funding it upfront.

7. Secure funding to grow

Once you’ve proven there’s demand, outside funding can help you buy inventory, hire employees, market the business, or increase production. Most established merchants combine the two approaches. A 2025 Shopify survey of store owners* found that 79% use profits to self-fund growth, while 62% also use outside funding.

While federal grants are worth exploring, don’t count on them as general startup cash. The SBA doesn’t provide grants to start or expand most businesses; federal opportunities tend to target specific industries, research, locations, or public objectives. 

You can search current opportunities on Grants.gov. Some other resources include the following:

• The SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, whose Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) provide free or low-cost training, counseling, and help accessing capital.
• The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), whose Business Centers help minority-owned businesses find financing, contracts, and growth support. The MBDA itself, however, doesn’t provide grants or loans directly to start or expand a business.
• The SBA’s Microloan program, which offers up to $50,000 through nonprofit intermediary lenders; the average loan is about $13,000. The funds can cover working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, or equipment, but not existing debt or real estate.

When you know how additional money will generate returns, a loan, line of credit, or other form of financing may be more practical than waiting for a grant.

Alicia Ho followed that path with Precious Ones Photography. She started the business with a $0 investment, taking on clients after friends and family noticed her work. When she was ready to scale, she found a local nonprofit offering loans and scholarships for young entrepreneurs. 

“It was the best step forward for my business,” she says.

When it comes to expansion, Shopify Capital is another option. If you’re a Shopify store with an established sales history, you can receive funding offers based partly on your store’s sales performance and use the capital for expenses such as inventory or other growth investments.

Note: Funding availability, eligibility, rates, and terms vary; review current program requirements and consult a qualified professional where appropriate.

*Based on a 2025 survey of 500 Shopify merchants conducted in English across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. Respondents were established merchants with two or more years on the platform. Results reflect the experiences of this specific sample and may not be representative of all merchants.