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How to Start a Freelance Business with Zero Investment in 2025
Did you know that the average monthly search volume for the keyword“how to start a business with no money” is close to 10,000?
That’s right — thousands of people, just like you, are Googling away the same question, looking for a way to launch their dream without spending any money.
And honestly, who wouldn’t?
The idea of getting started without risking money is something we all gravitate toward. Who wouldn’t want to make profits and get clients without emptying their pockets first?
Now, there’s one business that lets you do just that.
No office. No fancy tools. No massive outlay of cash. What is it?
Freelancing business.
Your brain, your skills, and your expertise are all the capital you need. Freelancing allows you to start right now, with what you already have, and grow from there.
In this blog, we’re going to show you exactly how to kickstart your freelancing journey with zero investment. We’ll even share real-world examples so you can see how others made it work.
And when you’re ready to take things up a notch — whether that’s setting up your business legally with an LLC or making sure the paperwork is in order — doola will be here to help you every step of the way.
But first, let’s dive into how you can turn your skills into a thriving freelance business with no upfront costs.
Easy Ways to Start a Freelance Business with Zero Investment
Let’s walk you through a few steps you need to take if you want to start a freelance business with no capital or money.
1. Start by Identifying Your Skills
Everyone has something they’re extremely good at. These are called skills.
Whether it’s writing, designing, photography, coding, or even managing social media accounts, identify your talent, your skills, your forte. That will be a currency in freelancing.
You don’t need any fancy degrees or certifications for freelancing.
Elna Cain, a mom who turned her passion for writing into a full-blown freelance business. She didn’t start with a fancy office or tons of money. In fact, she started freelance writing while raising twins!
Elna was good at writing, so she began offering her services as a freelance blogger, pitching to small businesses and content sites.
Over time, she built a portfolio of work and now runs multiple blogs and teaches others how to become freelance writers. Her story proves that sometimes the skill you already have is all you need to start.
Just like Elna, you don’t need to wait until you’re an “expert” to get going.
2. Create a Portfolio (for Free!)
You don’t need a professional website to show off your skills and services right away. Let’s toss that idea out the window for now.
Take Leah Gervais, for example, a coach who helps people turn their side hustles into full-time gigs.
When Leah was getting started, she didn’t even have a website. Instead, she built her portfolio and online presence using social media and free platforms like Medium and LinkedIn.
Leah later invested in her own website once she had the cash flow, but her initial growth? That came purely from free blogging tools.
So, how did she get attention on Medium without a big budget? Leah didn’t just throw words on the screen and hope for the best.
She was strategic. She knew what her audience — side hustlers trying to go full-time — wanted to hear. And she made sure her content hit the mark.
Here are a few tips on what Leah did (and you can too) to grab attention:
✅ Write What Solves a Problem: Leah’s articles weren’t just about her journey — they tackled specific issues her audience faced. Whether it was about balancing a side hustle with a 9-to-5 or tips for increasing productivity, she provided real, actionable advice.
✅ Share Your Own Story: One of Leah’s strengths was her authenticity. She shared her struggles, failures, and wins, which made her relatable. People love reading real stories they can connect with. So, don’t be afraid to get personal!
✅ Create Value-Driven Content: Leah always made sure her readers left with something valuable, whether it was a step-by-step guide, a checklist, or resources they could immediately use.
✅ Engage With Your Audience: Medium is more than just a platform to publish — it’s a community. Leah responded to comments, engaged with her readers, and built relationships. This interaction turned casual readers into potential clients later on.
Here’s the key takeaway from Leah’s story:
If you’re thinking about starting on Medium, don’t just write for the sake of writing.
Think about your audience — what keeps them up at night? How can you help them?
Use your personal story to make that connection. You can start small, grow organically, and then invest once the clients and cash flow come in.
3. Leverage Freelance Platforms to Get Clients
Freelancing platforms are like digital marketplaces, connecting you to clients who are actively looking for help — whether it’s writing, design, marketing, or coding.
The beauty of freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer is that they don’t require any investment upfront.
You can sign up, build a profile, and start pitching for projects without spending a dime.
Again, you don’t need to have a perfect profile, a long resume, or tons of industry experience to get started on these platforms. All you need to do is just put yourself out there and be willing to hustle on small projects to build your reputation.
Danny Margulies started as a freelance copywriter and built a successful business using Upwork, which he now shares through his blog and courses. His journey from small gigs to a six-figure freelance career is a real success story.
One of his first gigs was writing product descriptions for an e-commerce company. From that small job, he built his reputation, got great reviews, and started winning bigger contracts.
Two Cents From doola’s Playbook:
See, every successful freelancer will tell you the same thing — good reviews are gold.
When you’re starting out, the goal isn’t just to get paid; it’s to make your clients so happy they leave glowing feedback. This helps build your credibility for future clients.
You don’t need to land a dream client on day one. It’s about starting where you are — take small jobs, build trust, and let your reputation grow.
4. Use Free Tools to Market Yourself
Start with social media to market yourself and your business. Whether you’re on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Formerly Twitter), or Facebook, these platforms are your free pass to getting your name out there in the digital world.
Take Austin Belcak, for instance. He’s the founder of Cultivated Culture, a career coaching business that he built entirely without ads. Austin attracted clients who saw him as an authority in his field.
Austin used LinkedIn to post regularly about career tips, interview hacks, and personal success stories. Over time, he built a loyal following, simply by posting consistently and giving value.
You can do the same: show off your work, share tips, or even post about industry trends. The goal is to remind people you’re there, and you know your stuff well.
Next is networking. This one’s a very very important part of your freelancing career.
Join groups on LinkedIn or Facebook that are relevant to your industry. Think about communities like LinkedIn’s “Freelancers and Entrepreneurs” group or Facebook’s “Freelance Writers Den”. Being active in these groups does wonders for your credibility.
Finally, the old-school email outreach still works wonders for freelancers. Set up a free email address and start reaching out to potential clients.
Vanessa Lau, a social media coach, built her business by sending thoughtful, value-packed emails to potential clients.
She didn’t just say, “Hey, hire me!” Instead, she focused on how she could help them. Her emails were short but tailored to each client’s needs, and they got results.
You can take a similar approach: Make your outreach about what you can solve for the client, not just about what you do.
5. Set Up a Business Structure Later
Although starting out with zero investment might mean not creating a formal business structure immediately, eventually, you can think of setting up an LLC for liability protection as your income grows.
Platforms like doola can help you set up your LLC quickly once you’re ready.
Pat Flynn, a well-known online entrepreneur started out doing freelance work as a sole proprietor.
He didn’t jump straight into forming an LLC or paying for a bunch of legal paperwork. Instead, he focused on building his client base and his income first.
Once his business grew and he started making more money, Pat then decided to create an LLC for tax benefits and liability protection.
You can do the same. But wait until you’re generating steady income and then take that step.
LLC Formation for Freelancers
Here are 3 key steps for LLC formation for freelancers:
1. Choose a Business Name
Your LLC name needs to be unique and distinguishable from other businesses in your state.
It’s also essential to ensure the name fits your brand and doesn’t limit your growth.
Most states offer a business name search tool to confirm availability, and you may also want to secure a matching domain name for your website.
2. File Articles of Organization
This is the formal document you file with your state to officially form your LLC.
You’ll typically submit this to your state’s business filing office (often the Secretary of State). It includes basic information like your LLC’s name, address, and members. Filing fees vary by state.
3. Obtain an EIN and Set Up Your Finances
Once your LLC is registered, you’ll need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, which acts like a Social Security number for your business.
After that, open a separate business bank account to keep your finances organized and separate from your personal accounts, ensuring better tax and bookkeeping management.
These steps will help you set up your LLC as a freelancer, giving you liability protection and more structure as your business grows.
6. Offer Free Value to Build Trust
Offering something for free as a freelancer might seem counterintuitive — after all, you’re trying to make money, not give away your services.
But look, if clients don’t know you well, they’ll first need a reason to trust you with their project.
Or else, why would they trust you with their money?
Let’s put it this way: When you’re looking for a new hair stylist, you might not commit to a full haircut right away, especially if it’s someone you’ve never met.
But what if that stylist offered you a free 10-minute consultation or a quick bang trim? Wouldn’t you feel good?
It’s a small, no-risk way to see their skills in action. If they do a great job on something small, you’re much more likely to trust them with the bigger task — like a full haircut.
That’s exactly what we mean by offering free value to build trust.
You’re not giving away all your work for free, but you’re offering a small taste of what you can do, so clients feel confident hiring you for the full job.
Let’s say you’re a graphic designer. You could offer a free logo review. You don’t design a whole new logo for free, but you take a look at the client’s current logo and give them a few ideas on how it could be improved.
Basically, you’re demonstrating your expertise in a low-stakes way.
And if the client likes what they see? They’re more likely to hire you to redesign the whole thing. Does that make sense?
Offering free value works because:
✅ It builds trust: Clients get a sneak peek of what you can do without any commitment.
✅ It shows your expertise: Offering valuable insights for free makes clients think, “If this is what I get for free, imagine how good the paid service will be!”
✅ It reduces risk for the client: People are more willing to pay once they’ve seen you in action, even if it’s just a small sample of your work.
Remember, offering free value is about investing in trust and relationships that can turn into paid work.
Start, Manage and Grow Your Freelance Business With doola
Starting a freelance business doesn’t have to feel like a big, scary, expensive leap. In fact, freelancing is all about using what you’ve already got — your skills, your drive, and your willingness to try.
And the stories we’ve shared? They’re proof that it works.
You’ve seen how offering a little free value can open doors, how social media and networking can help you connect with clients — all without spending a cent.
The key is to take that first step. Once you do that, things will start falling into place.
Sure, there will be tough days. But don’t let them throw you off.
It’s okay to ask for help when you need it. In fact, sometimes that’s exactly what will give you the confidence to keep going.
Whether that’s leaning on someone who’s been through it or using a service like doola to handle the formation paperwork and legalities, having that extra support makes the journey ahead feel a whole lot smoother. doola helps in low-cost LLC setup.
You’ve already got enough to juggle, and having someone in your corner can make all the difference.
If you’re ready to take the leap, book a free consultation with our experts.
We’ll be here to help, from Day 1, answering all your questions and making sure you’re set up for success.