4 Legit Business Ideas You Can Start with $0
Hey everyone, it’s Tom here with This Online World! Hope you’re all having a fantastic day.
If you’ve seen the show Shark Tank before, you’ve definitely seen entrepreneurs asking for a ton of money to kickstart their business. But while many businesses require a significant investment, that’s not always the case.
In fact, there are plenty of businesses you can start with no money at all. Some can even be scaled into full-time income streams. In this article, I’m covering four legit business models that you can start with absolutely no money.
Business Idea #1: Start a Printify Business
What is Printify?
Printify is a leading print-on-demand company that lets you design and sell products like:
- T-shirts
- Mugs
- Posters
- Blankets
- Stickers
The best part? You don’t handle manufacturing or shipping—Printify does it all for you!
How Does It Work?
- Sign up for a free Printify account.
- Use their design tool to create simple graphics or slogans for products.
- Sell your designs on platforms like Etsy, Shopify, or TikTok Shops.
- When someone buys, Printify fulfills the order and ships it directly to the customer.
Success Stories
- An Etsy store called Print With Sky has over 100,000 sales just selling funny t-shirts.
- Another shop, Old School Cult, makes meme shirts featuring animals and has thousands of sales.
Why This Works
- No upfront costs (except a small Etsy listing fee of $0.20 per item).
- Beginner-friendly – No graphic design experience needed.
- Multiple sales channels – Sell on Etsy, TikTok Shops, and Shopify.
Business Idea #2: Start a Newsletter Business
Why Newsletters Are a Goldmine
Starting a media newsletter can be life-changing. You can monetize through sponsorships and affiliate deals.
Success Story: Young Money Newsletter
A finance writer named Jack Reigns started his newsletter Young Money while in college.
- Grew it to 60,000+ readers.
- Landed a full-time job at Robinhood.
- Earned thousands per month from sponsorships.
How to Start Your Own Newsletter
- Choose a Niche – Finance, fitness, tech, etc.
- Sign up for Beehiv – A platform with a $0 starter plan for up to 2,500 subscribers.
- Write valuable content – Share insights, tips, or industry news.
- Monetize – Use sponsorships, affiliate deals, or paid subscriptions.
Business Idea #3: Parasite Affiliate Marketing
What is Parasite Affiliate Marketing?
Instead of building your own website, you leverage high-authority platforms (LinkedIn, Medium, Quora) to rank content on Google and earn commissions from affiliate links.
How It Works
- Find affiliate programs (Amazon Associates, ClickBank, Impact, etc.).
- Write reviews or guides on platforms like LinkedIn Pulse or Quora.
- Insert your affiliate links to earn commissions.
Real Examples
- A LinkedIn Pulse article ranked #1 on Google for “Swagbucks Review” and earns money from affiliate links.
- A Quora user named Money Hawk writes answers to money-related questions and funnels traffic to affiliate links.
Why It Works
- No need to build a website.
- Leverage Google rankings without SEO knowledge.
- Earn passive income from affiliate commissions.
Business Idea #4: Become a Niche Influencer
Why Being a Niche Influencer is Powerful
Building a niche audience on a blog, YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok can generate thousands per month.
My Story: How I Built This Online World
- Started a blog in 2018 while in college.
- Made $500/month within a year.
- Scaled to $10,000+/month through ads & affiliate marketing.
- Eventually, the blog was acquired by a US company in 2023.
How You Can Start
- Pick a platform (Blog, YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok).
- Create valuable content around a niche (finance, fitness, tech, etc.).
- Monetize with ads, affiliate links, and sponsorships.
Other Examples
- Instagram theme pages sell shoutouts for $$$.
- TikTok creators go viral & sell digital products.
- YouTube faceless channels make money with ads.
Final Tips: The Reality of Starting with $0
- No business is truly “free” – Expect small costs like a domain name or Etsy listing fees.
- Consistency matters – These businesses take time to grow.
- Skills pay off – You’ll develop valuable skills in marketing, writing, and content creation.
Conclusion
I hope this article has inspired you to try one of these $0 business ideas. If you stay consistent and put in the work, you could build a life-changing income source.
For more unique ways to make and save money, visit This Online World. See you in the next one! 🚀
