Hello! I'm Samuel Chapman. 

I'm on a mission to show you that every product based business can flourish and grow, no matter the challenges. Regardless what you sell, or whether you have a physical or online location.

With the right knowledge, tools, and a bit of inspiration, you can achieve amazing results.

So, you want to start a product-based business, but there’s one problem... you’re broke.

No savings. No investors. No rich relatives funding your dreams.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many successful entrepreneurs started with nothing. The difference? They used smart strategies, not big budgets, to launch and grow their businesses.

In this episode of The Abundant Business Podcast, Samuel Chapman reveals how you can start a product-based business with zero money, using simple, proven steps.

By the end of this blog, you’ll have a step-by-step plan to get your first customers and start making sales without spending a single penny upfront.

Step 1: Pick the Right Type of Business

(Avoid Upfront Costs)

One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a business with no money? They choose a business model that’s too expensive.

❌ If you’re broke, don’t:

• Spend thousands on inventory without knowing if it will sell.
• Rent a warehouse or studio before you have consistent income.
• Waste money on branding, fancy packaging, or an expensive website.

✅ Instead, choose a low-risk, high-reward business model:

Here are three business models that require little to no money upfront:

1️⃣ Print-on-Demand (POD): Sell custom-designed products (T-shirts, mugs, phone cases) without holding inventory. Platforms like Printful, Gelato, and Redbubble handle the printing and shipping for you.

2️⃣ Dropshipping: Sell trending products without stocking inventory your supplier ships orders directly to customers. No upfront costs, no storage fees.

3️⃣ Handmade Products Using Pre-Sales: If you make products (candles, jewellery, skincare), pre-sell them before making them so you’re never out of pocket.

Action Step: Pick one business model and commit to it. Don’t overthink it, just choose the one that fits your skills and interests best.

Step 2: Sell Before You Create

(The Power of Pre-Sales)

Here’s the truth: You don’t need inventory before you sell. You need sales first.

Most people think they need to spend money on stock before they start selling. Wrong. The best businesses pre-sell their products before they even produce them.

✅ How to Pre-Sell Your Product:

1️⃣ Create a mock-up or prototype (Use Canva to design a product image for free).
2️⃣ Set up a simple landing page (Use Shopify, Etsy, or Instagram DMs).
3️⃣ Offer a limited pre-order deal (Example: “Order now & get a free gift or first access before we officially launch!”).
4️⃣ Start selling before you invest in stock.

Example: If you’re launching a skincare brand, offer a “Glow Serum – Limited Edition Pre-Order” and get customers to pay upfront before ordering the ingredients.

Action Step: Choose one product to pre-sell today. Post about it—even if it’s not ready yet. Test the market and see if there’s interest!

Step 3: Use Free Marketing Strategies

(Don’t Waste Money on Ads)

If you’re broke, every penny matters. That means no wasting money on paid ads.

Instead, use free marketing strategies that actually work:

✅ Free Marketing Tactics That Get Sales:

✔️ TikTok & Instagram Reels: Post short videos showing your product in action, unboxing, or being made. Answer FAQs and talk about the benefits.
✔️ Facebook Marketplace & Buy/Sell Groups: List your product in local selling groups for free exposure.
✔️ Leverage Viral Content: Use trending TikTok sounds and SEO-friendly descriptions to get seen.
✔️ Micro-Influencers: Offer free products in exchange for promotion. (Look for influencers with 3K-20K followers—they usually have the best engagement).

Example: If you’re selling handmade jewelry, post a 30-second TikTok video showing it being made, and use hashtags like #HandmadeJewelry #SmallBusinessLove.

Action Step: Create ONE piece of content today show your product in action, post it on Instagram or TikTok, and see what gets engagement.

Step 4: Start Small, Reinvent Later

(Perfection is a Business Killer)

Many people never launch because they think everything has to be perfect first.

Reality? Your first version won’t be perfect and that’s okay.

✅ Start Simple & Upgrade Later:

✔️ Logo? Make one in Canva (free).
✔️ Website? Start with a one-page Shopify or Etsy store.
✔️ Packaging? Use basic materials and improve as you grow.

Example: Apple’s first iPhone wasn’t perfect. Tesla’s first cars weren’t perfect. The key is to start now, test, and improve along the way.

Action Step: Give yourself a 7-day deadline to launch, no excuses. It doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to exist.

Step 5: Reinvent the Money Game

(Bootstrap & Scale Up)

Once you start making sales, reinvest the money back into your business so you can grow.

✅ How to Scale from £0:

💰 First £500: Upgrade branding, packaging, and marketing.
💰 First £2,000: Order stock in bulk to lower costs & increase profits.
💰 First £10,000: Invest in a professional website, paid ads, and influencer partnerships.

Example: Kylie Jenner didn’t use her own money to launch Kylie Cosmetics, she pre-sold products, reinvested the money, and scaled up.

Action Step: Decide how you’ll reinvest your first sales have a plan so you don’t waste money.

Got questions or want to chat?

If this post resonated with you, please share it with someone who could benefit from hitting reset and setting intentional goals for their business.

I’m on a mission this year to help as many small business owners as possible have their brightest year yet, and I can only do that with your support.

Drop me a message on Instagram @productcoachsam. I’m here to help you succeed!

Samuel Chapman