Start with someone
you can help.

Before you spend more

Find your first customer

Choose one kind of customer and one problem you can help solve. Ask what they have tried and what still gets in the way. Then make a small, clear offer.

Try this: Write down who you want to help, the problem, and one person you could speak with this week.

Still deciding? Check whether starting a business fits you.

Make the work sustainable

Price your first job

A price has to cover more than the hours spent doing the job. Count materials, preparation, messages, travel, revisions, and the time it takes to get paid.

Try this: List everything one real job would require before choosing the final number.

Need a starting hourly rate? Work out what your time needs to earn.

Agree before work begins

Send an invoice and get paid

Make the work, price, payment dates, and any deposit clear. Then choose a way to send the estimate and invoice that fits your work and your budget.

Try this: Write down when you will pay for materials and when the customer will pay you. Check whether you can cover the gap.

Compare the free and paid options. Paying for software is a separate decision from finding a customer.

Make the next step easy

Help people find and contact you

Start with a clear explanation of who you help, what you do, and how to reach you. Use the places your customers already look, whether that is an in-person introduction, a business profile, or a simple website.

• Describe the problem you help solve in plain words.
• Show your service area or availability where relevant.
• Give people one clear way to ask a question or request a quote.
• Check the details and contact route on your phone.

Try this: Show your current page or profile to someone unfamiliar with the business. Ask them what you offer and how they would contact you.