Ask HN: What business you can start under $100?

Very nice advice, I couldn't have written it better myself!

Just to comment on one of your points:

On creating a website... probably less than $30 to get it started, or if you start on WordPress.com or something like that, you can start for free.

But I'd say if you were looking to make money with a website, don't do it just for that. Most people try.. and fail because unless you have a passion for it, it's not going to be what you want.

I began Confessions of the Professions ( http://www.confessionsoftheprofessions.com ) and it is nearing 5 years old now, close to 1800 posts. I never thought it would actually bring me any money, but it has brought me in nearly $3,000 - $3,500 over the past 5 years. Not anything near where I could quit my day job... but it is money I would have never made had it not been for me starting a website... and keeping it going.

It takes patience and a little hustling, between sponsored posts, ads, text ads, banner ads, etc. All from just blogging and accepting guest posts. Guests posts are free submissions (with about a 2 week wait), but there is the occasional person or company who wants to get it out within the week, so that has been a great upsell for me there.

I'm sure I could have brought in a lot more... but it is a side hobby and I work on other things as well.

But starting a website all began with a passion to get it started.. and even more passion to keep it going. Luckily for me, I'm not the only one who has the passion to keep it going... if it weren't for my contributors... I probably wouldn't have the motivation, but it is that strong community support that keeps me going on.

If I could change anything... I would've probably taken my email list more seriously. I actually just have a very small email list and I don't really advertise collecting of email addresses.

For many people out there... their businesses all started simply.. with a huge email list.

I started http://www.manypixels.co with under $100!

My goal was to launch a single digital offering / service or product and launch it in less than 6 hours and make USD $10,000 in the first month.

1. Find value proposition (Bootstrapped startups need quality design services but don't want to pay agency prices) 2. Find business model (fixed fee per month for almost unlimited design service) 3. Find how you can fit value prop with business model & be profitable (flew to SE asia to meet designers there & live there a few months) 4. Make it scalable (set up quality control processes & communication processes) 5. Code (actually did not code much, used Paywhirl for the payment / membership system) 6. Launch

Here is the breakdown of my expenses:

1. Namecheap .co domain name - $8.88 2. OVH vps - $6/month ($72/year) 3. Themeforest template - ~12$

Total: $92.88

The project generated ~$3k in the first week of its operations (though most of it is not actually profits - but I am already in the green :))

I love that you made good money with a MVP, for people building MVPs :P

Did you get on Product Hunt or something? I'm curious how you made $3k in the first week.

Stock trading robots won't make much from $100 either.. maybe a trickle of $2/month.

I am not yet on ProductHunt - I am a bit afraid to post there yet, haha :) Do you think the product is ready to be on PH? I grew the traffic mostly via super niche Facebook groups actually (like SaaS entrepreneurs for example)