Let’s say everything’s gone.
No business.
No followers.
Just $100 in your bank account and a laptop in front of you.
What do you do?
Here’s exactly how I’d start over — no fluff, no fantasy. Just a clear plan that actually works.
Step 1: Find a Real Problem People Complain About (Free)
Start by looking for problems — not products.
I’d go to places where people are honest and unfiltered:
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Reddit threads
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Facebook groups
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Amazon reviews
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YouTube comment sections
Look for the complaints.
If people are frustrated, stuck, or saying “why isn’t there a better way to do this?” — that’s where the money is.
Forget passion. Look for pain.
Because people don’t pay for hobbies.
They pay to solve real, annoying problems.
Step 2: Create a Simple Offer to Help Solve That Problem (Free)
Now I’d create an offer.
Not a full product. Not a brand. Not a logo.
An offer is simply this:
“Here’s what I’ll do for you — and here’s how much it costs.”
For example:
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“I’ll write you 5 Instagram captions that boost engagement — for $15.”
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“I’ll build you a basic website in 7 days for $100.”
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“I’ll design a professional résumé for £25 — and revise it until you’re happy.”
It could be:
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A service (something you do for someone else)
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A template or digital product (something useful people can download)
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A tool or checklist (something that saves them time or effort)
That’s it. That’s an offer.
Simple, specific, and valuable to the right person.
Step 3: Build a Basic Page That Explains What You Do ($0–$20)
You don’t need a full website. Just a page that explains your offer clearly.
I’d use:
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A free Gumroad or Stan Store page
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Or even a Notion page with a Stripe payment link
Include:
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A clear headline
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What the customer gets
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A picture or example
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A big button that says “Buy Now” or “Get Started”
No tech knowledge needed.
Step 4: Sell Before You Build
Now I’d start telling people about it — before I build anything fancy.
Where?
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Facebook groups
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Subreddits
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Indie Hackers
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Twitter/X
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Discord communities
I’d find where my ideal customers are already hanging out, and start conversations.
I’d offer value in those conversations, then share my solution when it fits.
Goal: get 3–5 paying customers before building anything complicated.
If nobody bites?
Tweak the offer or pick a different problem.
If people pay?
Build and deliver — then ask for testimonials.
Step 5: Reinvest Some of the Profit ($80 Budget)
Once I get those first few sales, I’d reinvest $80 into:
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A real domain name (e.g., [myservice].com)
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A better-looking landing page
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Canva Pro for better graphics or mockups
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A virtual assistant or Fiverr gig to speed things up
This makes things look more professional and lets me free up more time to focus on growth.
Step 6: Collect Proof and Grow from There
Now I’d use early customer feedback to build momentum.
I’d ask for:
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Short testimonials
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Social media shoutouts
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Referrals
Then I’d stack that proof on my landing page and keep improving the offer.
You don’t need to go viral.
You just need to be reliable — and valuable to a small group of people.
That’s how $100 turns into $1,000.
And $1,000 turns into something you control.
You don’t need investors.
You don’t need to know how to code.
You just need to solve a problem — and be clear about what you’re offering.
That’s how I’d start an online business from scratch with $100.
