How to get started whithout any capital

[Dainan]

Hi there fellow entrepreneur and entrepreneurettes!

I'm 26 years old and live in Sweden. At the moment I have close to 0 Swedish crowns on my account (to not confuse you non Swedes, according to
Forex 0 Swedish crowns is equal to 0 pounds =P )

I hold no job either, BUT what I do have is a lot of time on my hands and firm decision in my heart to do WHATEVER it takes to eventually become economically independent!

I know that you guys are an extremely creative and innovative bunch, so I'm asking you:
What would you do if you were hellbent on making some money but you had 0 pounds to your name?

My very best regards

Manuel

 

[vvaannmmaann]

A Swede called Manuel?

 

[Dainan]

Indeed so. However, if this makes you uneasy, please take solace in the fact that it is pronounced "Maa-nuh-ell" and if you feel an unstoppable urge to call me "Sven" instead than to that name I shall answer! =P

Seriously though, what's your take on this matter? =)

 

[papverpoppies]

For someone who is Swedish (I take it you are)? then you have a very good command of the English language.

Reading that post I would say you are 'English'.

Well Manuel, the Swedish, English, Spanish person, without money or a job, you are stuck!

You could always try Fualty Towers, and see if they are taking on Spanish, Swedish waiters - with perfect English.

Get a job and start saving is all I can suggest.

Poppy

 

[sellickbhoy]

Have you got an overdraft facility or credit card?

seriously, anything you want to do is going to require some sort of capital - even if it is just to keep a roof over your head and put food on your table

but regardless of what you do you need to SPEND 1st

1. People need to be able to reach you - so a phone, premises or web page will be needed
2. people need to know you exist - you can do this by word of mouth, but that is a slow process, so some kind of advertising will be needed. Although this can be done very cheaply.
3. Stock to sell or tools to provide your service. Now it is possible to drop ship stock and not buy it until you are paid for it, but generally you'll need to have spent something on what you are planning to sell before you can sell it.

So, you will need to get capital 1st.


I've done a couple of cheap things in the past - and mostly by word of mouth/knocking on doors (i was much bolder in my youth, i'd never drum up business knocking on doors now!!)

1 was to go to a hardware store, buy 10 door latches (the chain type) and 10 peep holes. I had a drill and a screwdriver - then just walk around the town knocking on peoples doors asking if they would like a peephole and latch fitted. took 20 minutes, charged £20, latch and peephole cost a tenner

Think i did about 25 a week for a month.

Washed cars and windows. you just need a basic set of equipment and wander round the estates knocking on doors - see a dirty car? ask if they want it cleaned. use their water, their hoover etc. a fiver for 20mins work

dog walking - again, if you have time on your hands, then just find enough dog owners who want their dogs walked. friend of mine walks 16 dogs a day, £10 a dog!!!! 5 days a week. you do the math!

you could try car boot sales if you have some old junk, if you have no junk you could try a "I'll sell your junk on ebay" type business - just ask people for anything they would like to sell and you can a. take it to a car boot sale, b. put it on ebay and sell it for them. take a % of each sale.

there, a few things to get you started.

 

[sellickbhoy]

For someone who is Swedish (I take it you are)? then you have a very good command of the English language.

Reading that post I would say you are 'English'.
Poppy

Every Swede, Norwegian and Dane I have met have spoke immaculate english. Some better than natives of these shores!

 

[vvaannmmaann]

OK Sven/Manuel.
As said above,your language skills are a credit to you.They are also an asset.
Try the bigger companies and businesses to see if they need translators,or book publishers to see if they require translators.Maybe teach English to Swedish students?
Starting a business with no money will be very difficult.
Does the Swedish government offer financial assistance to new or start up businesses?
Good luck with whatever happens to you.

 

[Dainan]

Thank you =) I was actually born in Portugal but came to Sweden as a toddler. English and Swedish are fairly similar in their linguistic structures, besides, we learn a lot of English by watching TV since nothing is dubbed

Hehe yeah that is always my last ditch plan I guess. But getting a job is indeed a good idea and I've been trying for quite a while, but unfortunately the unemployment rate is gargantuan atm

 

Thank you =) I was actually born in Portugal but came to Sweden as a toddler. English and Swedish are fairly similar in their linguistic structures, besides, we learn a lot of English by watching TV since nothing is dubbed

I suppose that I wasn't in Sweden long enough to get it but there didn't seem much in common to me. Certainly everyone over there has excellent English.

Have you tried the International organisations. Ideally you need ones which Sweden subscribes to. They require coherent thought, a civil manner, and at least two fluent languages. Some specialist skills always help and that appears to be the current sticking point. You should always look to make money by doing what youenjoy/are good at and we don't have that information to hand at the moment.

 

Offer yourself to a small business for next to nothing.

Look, listen and learn.

 

[Dainan]

Have you got an overdraft facility or credit card?

I do not at the moment, just a normal bankcard for withdrawal

Dropshipping sounds interesting. I will investigate that option further


I've done a couple of cheap things in the past - and mostly by word of mouth/knocking on doors (i was much bolder in my youth, i'd never drum up business knocking on doors now!!)

That's impressive and not a bad idea at all actually. I could see myself do that actually


1 was to go to a hardware store, buy 10 door latches (the chain type) and 10 peep holes. I had a drill and a screwdriver - then just walk around the town knocking on peoples doors asking if they would like a peephole and latch fitted. took 20 minutes, charged £20, latch and peephole cost a tenner

Think i did about 25 a week for a month.

That also is a good idea. I will brainstorm and see if I can think of a similar idea and post as soon as I come up with one!


Washed cars and windows. you just need a basic set of equipment and wander round the estates knocking on doors - see a dirty car? ask if they want it cleaned. use their water, their hoover etc. a fiver for 20mins work

Hmm this might be a pretty good idea as soon as we get temperatures above freezing again

dog walking - again, if you have time on your hands, then just find enough dog owners who want their dogs walked. friend of mine walks 16 dogs a day, £10 a dog!!!! 5 days a week. you do the math!

This too I will try out. I'll ask a few people that I know who might know people who are in need of that.

you could try car boot sales if you have some old junk, if you have no junk you could try a "I'll sell your junk on ebay" type business - just ask people for anything they would like to sell and you can a. take it to a car boot sale, b. put it on ebay and sell it for them. take a % of each sale.

there, a few things to get you started.

Selling peoples stuff on ebay for a % of each sell is really smart, I like this one in particular. I just have to think of a way of finding people who need to get rid of stuff. Maybe people who are in the process of moving perhaps

I will now venture out in the Swedish winter and try your ideas out, very inspiring and thanks a lot for sharing! I'll post my results later

 

[papverpoppies]

Every Swede, Norwegian and Dane I have met have spoke immaculate english. Some better than natives of these shores!

Yes I know they do, they put us to shame.

What strikes me about this poster is his use of our (not slang actually) but words like todder, last ditch attempt etc etc - they do not come from his learning English at school.

Sadly, we have had to many wind up merchants posting on this forum it does take much to set alarm bells ringing.

Apologies to the poster if he is genuine - I reserve judgement.

Poppy

 

[jlindsay]

yea dog walking, washing cars and windows. you can make some good money doing these types of jobs. good luck with watever you do.

 

[lexdezignsltd]

Selling peoples stuff on ebay for a % of each sell is really smart, I like this one in particular. I just have to think of a way of finding people who need to get rid of stuff. Maybe people who are in the process of moving perhaps

I will now venture out in the Swedish winter and try your ideas out, very inspiring and thanks a lot for sharing! I'll post my results later

This how i started by selling things for people @ 10% now i run my own business full time there are lots of people selling for others but worth a go if they have a swedish ebay

 

[Dainan]

OK Sven/Manuel.
As said above,your language skills are a credit to you.They are also an asset.
Try the bigger companies and businesses to see if they need translators,or book publishers to see if they require translators.Maybe teach English to Swedish students?
Starting a business with no money will be very difficult.
Does the Swedish government offer financial assistance to new or start up businesses?
Good luck with whatever happens to you.

Thank you
Well translation agencies are quite picky these days when it comes to English/Swedish. I have however done some translations of Japanese into English and Swedish on a freelance site, but atm they seem to have nothing for me.

The government will assist you with money for living costs and such but not with money to invest in any project I'm afraid.

Thanks again!

 

[Dainan]

Yes I know they do, they put us to shame.

What strikes me about this poster is his use of our (not slang actually) but words like todder, last ditch attempt etc etc - they do not come from his learning English at school.

Sadly, we have had to many wind up merchants posting on this forum it does take much to set alarm bells ringing.

Apologies to the poster if he is genuine - I reserve judgement.

Poppy

No need to apologize. I know that forums like these unfortunately also attracts con artists and scamers so it pays to be cautious of suspicious things. But to clear things up, I was born in Portugal and came to Sweden when I was about two years old and I've lived here all of my life except for a few years studying and working in Japan.

Thanks for the compliment btw. You're right, it's not school English. It's hmm well, English that I've picked here and there. But I do make mistakes, especially when it comes to spelling or prepositions and such

 

[Dainan]

yea dog walking, washing cars and windows. you can make some good money doing these types of jobs. good luck with watever you do.

I will definitively try dog walking. I just found out that there's a shortage of people who can walk dogs in this very area!

 

[Dainan]

This how i started by selling things for people 10% now i run my own business full time there are lots of people selling for others but worth a go if they have a swedish ebay

Oh really? That's great! How did you go about to find people to sell for?

Yeah we still have one genuinely Swedish version left (Ebay bought the other one) and that's where I'm planning to try this strategy out.

Congrats and kudos on having your own full time business. What kind if business do you run now?

 

[vvaannmmaann]

And he speaks Japanese! Is there nothing this man cannot do?

OP have you ever heard of Gumtree? I don't know the url,but that offers work and things that may help you.

 

[Dainan]

I suppose that I wasn't in Sweden long enough to get it but there didn't seem much in common to me. Certainly everyone over there has excellent English.

Well I guess it's closer to the accents that you have in Northern England/Scotland. Words like house, land, sand, man and daughter are almost pronounced the same as in Scotland, albeit with different spelling

Have you tried the International organisations. Ideally you need ones which Sweden subscribes to. They require coherent thought, a civil manner, and at least two fluent languages. Some specialist skills always help and that appears to be the current sticking point. You should always look to make money by doing what youenjoy/are good at and we don't have that information to hand at the moment.[/quote]

No as a matter of fact I have not. Do I just do a google search for "international Organization + Sweden" or should I search in a different manner?
I do speak and write Swedish, English Japanese. I can read and speak Portuguese as well but not write in it though.

I think that writing might be one of my stronger points. I am also very interested in aviation. I do also love to travel and I am very interested in self development

 

[papverpoppies]

And he speaks Japanese! Is there nothing this man cannot do?

OP have you ever heard of Gumtree? I don't know the url,but that offers work and things that may help you.

Then why can he not find a job, he is remarkably talented - would you not say?

Are you sure you are not DWP, just taking us all for a big big ride!

Do they have Gumtree in Sweden, is it not too cold?

Poppy

 

[Chris Ashdown]

I always think of Sweden as Free Love and Blue Movies

So if you have the right size and type of equipment, that's a possibility

Try buying small collectables or antiques at car boot sales and re-sell on ebay with good mark-up

 

[alanc]

I always think of Sweden as Free Love and Blue Movies

A few epsiodes of 'Wallander' will soon cure you of this. (The original version - not the Brannagh one).

 

hmm i started with no capital and a hand full of tools buts its bloody hard mate and it takes a good while before you can earn any money that way,but i had no option just the know how,it can be done but it will hurt

 

[newbeats4u]

do some gardening, handy work, wash cars,

I saw on the apprentice the other day, them getting fruit the sellers were going to throw away for nothing and then selling it to make over a grand in profit.

 

[Dainan]

And he speaks Japanese! Is there nothing this man cannot do?

OP have you ever heard of Gumtree? I don't know the url,but that offers work and things that may help you.

Hehe thanks. I guess that what I have been lacking is determination and focus but fortunately I am brimful with that now

I've never heard about Gumtree but I will google it up. Much appreciated!

 

[Dainan]

Then why can he not find a job, he is remarkably talented - would you not say?

Are you sure you are not DWP, just taking us all for a big big ride!

Do they have Gumtree in Sweden, is it not too cold?

Poppy

Hehe I am pretty positive that I am not DWP, whatever that stands for, all I can come up with is Driving While Phoning

Yup Sweden is pretty much too cold for everything but pines and xmas trees (hehe don't know their name in english)

 

[Dainan]

I always think of Sweden as Free Love and Blue Movies

So if you have the right size and type of equipment, that's a possibility

Try buying small collectables or antiques at car boot sales and re-sell on ebay with good mark-up

Hehe the Swedish government should go on the record and explain the whole "country of free sex" myth. Basically it was because Sweden was pro-choice and pro-sexual liberation in the sense of giving people easier access to contraceptives and improve sexual education. This didn't fly with the Pope and the Catholic world gave Sweden that label, sometime back in the 60s or so I heard.
We do have smoking hot girls over here though, almost ridiculous some times

Is car boot sale the same thing as flee market? If so it sounds like a good idea. I will browse the local newspaper and see if I can find any

 

[Dainan]

hmm i started with no capital and a hand full of tools buts its bloody hard mate and it takes a good while before you can earn any money that way,but i had no option just the know how,it can be done but it will hurt

Yeah I can only imagine. However the option of not going for it and do my best would be far more painful for me than any hardships or eventual failures so I'm more than willing to endure the hard work that it takes to get my ball rolling People like you inspire me to do it!

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Hehe I am pretty positive that I am not DWP, whatever that stands for, all I can come up with is Driving While Phoning

Yup Sweden is pretty much too cold for everything but pines and xmas trees (hehe don't know their name in english)

Manuel,
DWP is "Dances With Poodles",a forum poster and something of a Walter Mitty character.
In the UK we call xmas trees Christmas trees.Hope this helps!

 

[Dainan]

do some gardening, handy work, wash cars,

I saw on the apprentice the other day, them getting fruit the sellers were going to throw away for nothing and then selling it to make over a grand in profit.

Another smart idea. Sweden has very few markets and almost non in the winter except for in Stockholm. But in a couple of moths I will try this one out to. Great stuff, keep em coming! I will post which methods I profited from the most and how much I made

 

[Dainan]

Manuel,
DWP is "Dances With Poodles",a forum poster and something of a Walter Mitty character.
In the UK we call xmas trees Christmas trees.Hope this helps!

Aha, after a quick search on Wikipedia, I am now an enlightened man, thanks for the info!

 

Well I guess it's closer to the accents that you have in Northern England/Scotland. Words like house, land, sand, man and daughter are almost pronounced the same as in Scotland, albeit with different spelling

Geordie Hinney
"Whist lads hold ze gobs an I tell th'all an awful Story"
No it still doesn't sound like Swedish!

For the International Organisations ask at your library for info on employment in UN and EU. They will both have offices in Stockholm somewhere.

Based on this thread you should have a blog going. I am sure that it would be a great success.

 

[Dainan]

Well I guess it's closer to the accents that you have in Northern England/Scotland. Words like house, land, sand, man and daughter are almost pronounced the same as in Scotland, albeit with different spelling

Geordie Hinney
"Whist lads hold ze gobs an I tell th'all an awful Story"
No it still doesn't sound like Swedish!

Fair enough, as a corrected man I now stand! One could, however, replace all the words in that sentence with Swedish ones and without changing word order or inflictions and such end up with a correct Swedish sentence this might be a bit OT though

For the International Organisations ask at your library for info on employment in UN and EU. They will both have offices in Stockholm somewhere.

Based on this thread you should have a blog going. I am sure that it
would be a great success.

Ok, I will go down to the local library and ask them about this matter.

A blog might be a good idea! How does one go about to monetize one?
Thank you for all the encouragement by the way, it is very much appreciated!

 

[earl]

I dunno how's in Sweden but in UK u can start a cleaning business with just a few pounds for buying cleaning stuff.