How I Started My Business With $0 Zero Dollars
In around August or September of 2008, I gave birth to my son and simultaneously a new business. The circumstances surrounding me at the time were less than desirable. This article will illustrate how i dug myself out of an unfavorable situation.
To begin, while I was on maternity leave in 2008, I received an email from my employer at the time stating that “your services would no longer be needed.” Now if yo are familiar with the family/medical leave laws, laying off an employee while on maternity leave is highly illegal.
So on one particular day I was sitting in the couch with my newborn in my arm thinking to myself, “How am I going to help provide from this little one now? I in no one wanted to rely upon one income for a family of three, so I got starting thinking.
Being dependent on one salary for a family of three did not sit well with me because I have always been very independent and held one, two and sometimes three jobs to ensure income was coming in.
So I dug deep and had an “aha” moment. I decided I would pursue an idea that was floating around in my head for a couple of years at that point.
And that’s exactly what I did. I grabbed a notebook, baby in hand and starting writing my ideas and every idea I could possibly think of related to the business idea.
From that, the business plan formed, the unofficial mini plan that is.
I didn’t know how I would pull this idea off, but what I did know is that I was clear that going back to work for anyone again was out of the question given the fact that the employer I devoted over two years to felt I was expendable during one of the most vulnerable times in my life.
I had my why.
Next I needed a plan. Once that was finished, I needed to get a website and get the word out. Luckily for me I knew a few things about graphic design. So I purchased a domain and hosting and put together a nice “starter” website.
From there the plan was simple. Hustle Hustle Hustle.
Here are the steps I took to turn my situation around and turn that idea into a reality.
From a young age, I loved the restaurant and hospitality industry. I planed events early on in life and had a knack for being the hostess with the mostess.
A few years before that fateful event of being laid off, I had an idea to create an event staffing service for private home parties. A service that would allow the “hostess” to actually enjoy their event, not work it.
I knew there was a need because I was invited to host many home parties for clients of a restaurant I previously worked in. I watched these women struggle to mingle and enjoy their event because they were being cross utilized between kitchen duties, hanging coats, greeting tasks and other tedious yet important tasks.
So after being laid off, I put my ideas on paper, conducted research and created a mini business plan. From there I found every free website and directory relevant to my industry and listed my company.
As a result, I received a phone call from a reporter from The Denver Post.
“Is this Monica Petit.” She said. “Yes it is.” I replied. Well, my name is —- I’m a reporter for the Denver Post and I would like to interview you about your business Lady of Decorum Event Services. “Ohhh ok.” I said quickly and in a rather high pitched voice. “How did yo u hear about me? i asked. “My editor heard about your business.” She said. “Oh,” i thought out loud. But I haven’t launched yet, I thought to myself.
Next thing you know I’m on the cover of the Inside Out Section with not only a full page spread, but two additional pages within. The day the article came out I expected a small mention. My eyes couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Read the Article here.
As a result, my phone started ringing, and didn’t stop. i was booing clients and creating packages with a newborn in my arms and it felt great!
Now, my story is rare. And your story will be different from mine and others. Your story is your story. But there are some key points you can takeaway from my story. So buckle up and let’s get right into how you can start your business with little to n money.
Your Story is Your Story.
Put Your Ideas on paper
This may seem intuitive for some, but not for others. Putting your ideas, goals, apirations on paper makes it more real. It’s very easy to have an idea, but without the first step of writing in onto a piece of paper, theres the possibility it could lost or worse…forgotton.
Some ways for you to collect and organize your ideas are to get an “idea notebook,” where you can keep your thought. Or utilize Google docs, or Microsoft Office so that your idea are wherever you are.
Then, I kept a small notebook with me at all times for ideas. The actual mini business plan I wrote in 2008 was written in a notebook, so don’t trick yourself into believing it has to be fancy or professional from the start. Today I utilize Microsoft Office to manage all of my notes, due to the abiltiy to sync documents across many devices.
There are a plethera of ways to manage your ideas. Start making a list of the options that will work for you.
But remember, “Perfection kills the dreams.” So, start now. Write it down.
Perfection Kills the Dream.
Create Your Mini Plan
If you already have an idea of the type of business you would like to start, your next step is to research your industry and start devising a mini business plan. Within the mini business plan, be sure to include things like:
Company Name
Industry
industry Competitors
Your Target Audience
A Mini Marketing plan - including social media, email, events, etc.
A list of your Products and Services and potential pricing
A list of people (family, friends, aquantences) other individuals you can email or call for support and referrals.
…Get a much as you can
During the startup phase, it’s important to get as much as you can for free to start. Depending on the type of business youre looking to start, your going to need a few basics.
The following are items you may need that are completely free or low cost:
A website - Wordpress.com, Wix.com, Weebly.com, Squarespace.com
Design - Canva.com, PicMonkey.com
Email Software - Mailchimp.com
Telephone - Your personal cell or home phone
This step is all about laying down the foundational cement whcih enables you to get a good footing for whats to come. Trust me this step and the elements within are neccesary. so don’t skimp on them!
After getting the above information down on paper you will have created a mini business plan.
upon completing that, you must start interacting with your ideal client. Start gathering information about your customers as they come. Seek them out, observe their habits and get familiar with where they hang out, onlne and offline. And lastly if you can interview them, do it!
Once the phone was ablaze in my business I created a database with new client information. I gathered that information via forms, surveys, and phone conversations.
Whether they booked or not, i knew then that having thei information stored was crucial to communicating witht hem later.
Use the information you collect to not only follow-up, but to help you build your target audience profile.
Get Visible & Reachable
Getting myself listed on every free directory, creating profiles on social media channels and simply telling the people on the spreadsheet from step two what i was doing opened the door to the newspaper article.
I had no idea my business would be seen by the editor and eventually receive a full page spread a a result of my efforts. But what i did know was I needed to exhaust every free option to launch my business.
And it worked.
So step three focuses on visibility and becoming reachable. Once you nail down your company description, start listing your business on relevant sites. Choose sites and directories that are within your industry. Also have a presence on various social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Periscope or Pinterest.
Use a consistent bio for each site you list on so that you are easy to find.
A few free site I recommend:
Google My Business
Yelp.com
Foursquare.com
MerchantCircles.com
Local.com
But remember, make sure the sites are relevant to your industry. The non industry specific like Google M Business are necessary.
Once you’re listed on the directories, you are now reachable and visible. how would that reporter have reached me without a valid email and a working telephone?
Exactly, she probably wouldn’t. But your job as a business owner is to make sure your customers can find you.
That’s it! The three basic steps I took to start my first business with zero dollars.
I know it seems simple, but trust me when I say that these three steps laid the foundation for the success of my business today, eleven years later. What comes next is simply strategy, tactics, and implementation.
There a multitude of pieces to the entrepreneurial puzzle. But these steps will give you a foundation of the basics. After launching my company Lady of Decorum, I went on to open other businesses with the same basic steps, including a very successful restaurant.
Remember, its just a start. The startup phase is all about planning.
For a free, no-obligation planning consultation, contact Monica by completing the quick-response form at here. Set aside just 30 Minutes and discover how you can Start turning your business dreams into reality.
Also, I would love to hear about your business, so take a moment and tell me about it in the comments below.