Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi everyone,

I may be posting this in the wrong forum, but I am very curious, is it REALLY possible to make money online? Particularly, is it possible to make money online with NO financial investment?

I think this is a valid question, especially in today`s economy. People are either losing their jobs or have already lost their job, with little or no savings, and having a hard time finding jobs to pay the bills. Is it possible to make money online, and if so, is it possible to do so without any financial investment?

This question may have already been asked and answered in the forum(s) already, and if so, I do apologize (please direct me to the answer(s) if this is the case). If not, I`d really like to know if it is possible to make money online, and if so, if it can be done with NO financial investment whatsoever.

(Actually, the question I`d really like to ask is is it possible to make let`s say $1000 online within let`s say 30 days with NO financial investment whatsoever?)

God bless...

Miss J (aka MJ)

One topic we`ve had is:
Do you Earn Money Online?

Another one:
Does Anyone Else Make a Living Online?

Then there`s:
Is it Possible to Make a Living Online?

There`s nothing to apologize for in terms of re-asking a question others have asked. Startup Nation forums have a weak search function, to say the least, so it`s not easy to find those previous topics.

But basically, it`s the same as when women say, "All the good men have been taken." That`s not true either.

The problem in this particular post is whether or not anyone can make money without investing or spending any money. Perhaps with affiliate marketing, but the replacement for money is work and effort.

So another way to ask the question would be, "Can anyone make money online with a tremendous amount of work instead of investing large amounts of money?"

Many times, yes.

I`ll agree with Craig, there. Yes, you can make money online without investing a lot of money... even with no money, but the time and effort for your return may not be viable.

Online is excellent for making money with a reasonable return for time invested with a bit of money invested as well. Good, working website, good materials, etc.

Big money? That`s harder, but still possible. Many of the people making big money right now, are doing it at the expense of their investors, and have yet to make a profit. Nice, eh?

I look forward to other replies.

Good luck!

One of the most basic concepts relevant to being a business owner is that you no longer have a job. You`re not your own employer, in other words.

A business with you being the owner involves a very different mindset and perspective than being an employee with a job and salary. To that end, anyone expecting a salary in whatever metaphorical version you read about in books will be disappointed.

We`ve had a number of discussions here about the concept of expecting a business to work the same as a job. In all cases, the person with the expectation ends up leaving the business. To be successful at running an online or brick-and-mortar store, you first have to have in mind that it isn`t a job. Y`know?

Craig,

I agree that owning a business and working at a "job" entail different mindsets. That said though my concern is that in this economy I wouldn`t expect anyone to have $100 or so to invest in an online income opportunity. However, I do think it is possible to make money online, if one is willing to work at it like they do a job. So I guess my question is "is it possible to work online and make a living at it, ie, a "job" (for lack of a better term/word) online but where the "salary" increases as the time, effort (and as income is made), money invested increases?". Thank you.


God bless...

Miss J (aka MJ)

The short answer is yes. Any market offers the opportunity to make money.

Basically, you`re asking if you can earn a living online. Whether the online effort replaces a job, acts as a secondary source of income, or is a new career doesn`t matter so much. The need is for income, and can online commerce provide that income. Yes...but...

Any market and distribution system can provide income. Today`s ecommerce climate is far more sophisticated than it was 10 years ago, but there are emerging dangers to watch. One is the combined ownership of eBay and PayPal.

With eBay doing everything in its power to wreck the company, the executive management is now looking at how to grab profits from PayPal to keep the eBay ship from sinking. That will impact ecommerce.

Meanwhile, Google Checkout is seeing the opportunity and rapidly entering the market of financial transactions to steal market share from PayPal. With banks either in trouble or having poor public images, "merchant accounts" (where you can take credit cards directly) are in flux.

Two fundamentals affect the ecommerce world. The one is shipping (USPS announced a $1.9B loss and deep workforce cuts due to drastic reduction in mail). The other is exchanging money, meaning financial transaction processing.

In the US, another major factor is the tax system. Congress is going crazy trying to figure out ways to grab tax revenue from Internet commerce. Additionally, they`re passing regulations and laws that while targeted toward Chinese manufacturing, will seriously damage small business products.

So your work and effort generally earn you money in proportion to that work and effort. But the surrounding infrastructure and government interference is putting more and more pressure on successful ecommerce.

It`s the free-market system. Currently, with no regulation at all, we`re seeing both how scams and legitimate businesses have an equal opportunity. But we`re also seeing how the government is chomping at the bit to enter the market the same way as with brick-and-mortar business. The result is like the old wild West.

There`s no free ride. There`s no easy way. You won`t become an "instant online millionaire." Nor can you reasonably expect to grow a business from scratch in 20 minutes. Even in the physical world, a typical small business takes 2 years to become profitable and generate an income for the owner.

To expect to instantly make a living with no investment at all is probably unlikely. Not to say it can`t happen---miracles to happen, after all.

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your contribution. I feel I need to clarify something with the question I put forth. I left out (inadvertently) one crucial word in the question. The question should actually read: is it possible to make money online with NO INITIAL financial investment?

I acknowledge that at some point, no doubt, money will need to be invested in any venture, whether online or offline, but for purposes of making money online, is it possible to make money online with NO INITIAL financial investment?

In other words, can whatever venture online provide the financial investment needed to make it a (huge) success?  Is it possible to make money online, if one is willing to work at it like they do a job, which is to say "is it possible to work online and make a living at it, ie, a "job" (for lack of a better term/word) online but where the "salary" increases as the time, effort (and as income is made), money invested increases"? Can anyone make money online with a tremendous amount of work instead of investing large amounts of money (initially)? Thank you.

God bless..

MJ

I am sure anything is possible and someone has done it. Then again, Bill Gates became Microsoft as well. Saying it`s possible does not necessarily mean it`s probable.

For example, to even be online, you have to have a computer and an internet connection, unless you travel to and from a public access point, say the Library. I know my local library allows 2 hours at a time on the comps, then they charge a fee after. And there is the cost of getting to and from the library...

But I`m assuming you mean no initial expense above and beyond being online anyway, since you are obviously already doing that, and not considering it a business expense.

So, that begs the question, "What do you hope to sell?" There are a few scenarios:

1. Affiliate products. Normally, you would sell these through a blog (Wordpress is free) with amazing content (do you write well?) or a website. A website will cost you money, unless you have friends that host and design. Even a blog can cost, but at the beginning would not. You could promote your blog and get traffic through social media sites.

That said, many affiliate programs with products that sell well will not accept and affiliate application from someone who has no history.

2. Information. You can write an eBook and sell it off your free blog. If you are an amazing writer AND marketer you can do this. It wouldn`t hurt to have good design and layout skills as well, but it`s not necessary.

3. Writing. You can write for other sites and get paid for it. This is harder to break into, and eventually (again) you will want your own website for it. Sites like Associated Content will pay you for what you write, if you write it well.

4. If you have a network of online content provider friends who need assistance, they may pay you to help them. Do you?

5. Web Development. You can often get your foot in the door here if you can code and develop websites. You might not even need your own site to show off your work, if you have the connections and enough work to keep you busy.

I do this, to raise money for the business I am developing. I have friends who pimp me out, a portfolio of work for those who are interested, and I am kept as busy as I need to be with no website. Then again, I have been making money online in one way or another since 1996, so it`s easy for me with my contacts.

Those are just a few ideas. It`s more a philosophical exercise the way I see it, than a serious question. At least phrased the way you have phrased it.

Again, although it`s possible, I wouldn`t say it`s probable.

Just like getting a real "offline" job takes an investment... getting to and from work, the clothing for an appropriate day, lunches out if you don`t pack every day...

*shrugs*

Reading this again, I think what you`re talking about is "bootstrapping." The term refers to starting a business with nothing but a basic product. You sell the product, take the money and re-invest it to make more product. Hopefully, you gain enough money to replace 1 unit, and prepare for 2 units.

You`re pulling the business up by its own bootstraps, in other words. You build the next unit with money from the first. You have to sell each unit for more than the cost so that you`ll have enough to increase your inventory.

For example: You make a Widget for $5 (cost excluding labor). You sell it for $10. Fees are $2, so you`re left with $8. You make another Widget for $5, and store $3. When you sell the second unit, you have enough left over to now make two units.

You exclude labor because you need to build the business first, before it can pay you a salary. The idea being that you have zero money to invest. A secondary aspect is that you make the product or perform the service yourself, thereby having no employees except yourself.

Here are some topics:
"Bootstrapping"
"Bootstrapping Tips"

Your only other options are things like Heather suggested, above.