How I Started My Business With $100

When people hear “I started my business with only $100,” most assume it’s an exaggeration. But it's the honest truth. I didn’t have wealthy investors, fancy equipment, or even a business degree. What I did have was determination, resourcefulness, and a very tight budget.

This is the story of how I turned that $100 into the foundation of a real, functioning business.

The Spark of an Idea

It all began during a time of uncertainty. I had just lost my job due to restructuring at my company, and with bills stacking up, the pressure was real. I knew waiting around for another job wasn’t an option—I needed to create my own opportunity.

One afternoon, while browsing social media, I saw someone post about how they were selling digital planners online. It wasn’t flashy, but it clicked. I had always loved organizing, planning, and creating simple, beautiful designs. That was my lightbulb moment: I would start a small digital product business.

Digital products require no inventory, no shipping, and minimal startup costs—just creativity and marketing. It felt like the perfect fit for someone with more hustle than cash.

Breaking Down the $100

My next step was deciding how to stretch that $100 as far as possible. Here's how I used every dollar:

Domain Name & Hosting – $25

I chose a simple domain name and set up a basic site using a low-cost platform. It didn’t look like Apple’s homepage, but it worked.

Design Tools (Canva Pro) – $12.99/month

Canva was my go-to tool. I could create beautiful planners, social media content, and even simple logos without needing to be a designer.

Etsy Listing Fees – $5

I listed my first 10 products on Etsy. The listing fee was $0.20 per product. Not bad for access to a built-in customer base.

Marketing (Facebook and Instagram Ads) – $30

I ran small ad campaigns targeted at people who loved organization, productivity, and digital planning. I also joined Facebook groups related to productivity to learn and connect.

Miscellaneous – $27

This covered a couple of trial-and-error moments—like a failed domain attempt, downloading a fancy font I didn’t end up using, and a cheap course on how to optimize Etsy listings.

Learning As I Went

I had no clue what I was doing at first. I watched YouTube tutorials late into the night, read blog posts about SEO and product photography, and learned what "conversion rate" meant. I wasn’t making big moves—but I was making consistent, focused ones.

My first digital product? A minimalist weekly planner. It took me two full days to design, test, and list it. When I made my first sale—$4.50—I felt like I’d won the lottery. Someone out there had found my product and paid for it. That moment changed everything.

Reinvesting Everything

I didn’t take any profit from my first few sales. I reinvested every dollar back into the business. I upgraded my Canva plan. I bought mockup templates to make my products look more polished. I expanded my offerings—monthly calendars, goal-setting worksheets, and productivity bundles.

By month three, I had made a little over $350 in revenue.

It wasn’t a full-time income, but it was proof of concept.

Building Momentum

As I grew more confident, I added value in other ways. I started an Instagram page where I posted productivity tips and sneak peeks of my designs. I built a small email list by offering a freebie—a sample planner page—in exchange for people’s email addresses. This helped me build trust and loyalty.

Eventually, I created my own website to move away from Etsy fees. I learned basic e-commerce through Shopify and designed a clean, easy-to-navigate store. The startup capital came straight from my Etsy sales.

One of the best investments I made was a $20 online workshop about creating passive income with digital products. That one workshop taught me how to bundle my products, run flash sales, and offer limited-time promotions—all of which boosted my revenue.

Hitting My First $1,000

About six months in, I hit a milestone: I had made $1,000 in total revenue.

I remember taking a screenshot of my sales dashboard and texting it to my best friend. It wasn’t just the money—it was the proof that starting small didn’t mean staying small.

People were buying, reviewing, and even recommending my products. I started receiving emails from customers thanking me for helping them stay organized. It was deeply rewarding.

What I Learned

Looking back, the biggest lessons didn’t come from what I spent—they came from how I spent my time and energy.

Start Now, Improve Later

If I had waited for the perfect logo or a beautiful website, I never would’ve launched. Progress beats perfection.

Don’t Underestimate Free Tools

YouTube, Reddit, blogs, and Canva were my best friends in the early days.

Reinvest Over Reward

Tempting as it was to pocket that first $100 in revenue, reinvesting helped me grow faster.

Consistency Wins

I didn’t go viral. I didn’t make six figures overnight. But I showed up every single day.

Where I Am Today

A year later, that $100 investment has turned into a side business that brings in over $2,000 per month. It’s still growing, and now I’m exploring courses, coaching, and collaborations.

But more than the income, I gained something even better: freedom. Freedom to create, to control my time, and to build something that’s mine.

So, if you're sitting there with a small budget and a big dream, just know this: you don’t need a miracle. You just need $100, an idea, and the courage to start.