Step by Step How I Start Service Businesses With $100

If you’re new here, we turn $1 into thousands building these weird but simple side hustles. Welcome to Ghost Business 👻 Your (mostly) weekly email

Okay we’re going to switch it up today. I’m going to break down my step by step process on how I build a service business.

How to Build a Service Side Hustle From Scratch (With Just $100)

Ever thought about starting a side hustle but got overwhelmed by all the things you could do? Let’s break it down into a simple, no-nonsense plan. With just $100, a little creativity, and a few hours a week, you can build a service business that gets paying customers knocking on your (virtual) door. Ready to roll? Let’s get started.

Step 1: Build a Landing Page for $30

Your first move is to create a landing page that tells people what your service is, why they need it, and how they can sign up. You can use budget-friendly tools like Wix, Squarespace, or Carrd to set up a simple page that looks professional.

What to include on your landing page:

1. Headline: Make it catchy and clear. For example, “Get Stress-Free Lawn Care at Your Doorstep” or “Affordable, Custom Dog Walking Services.”

2. Description: Briefly explain your service, what makes it unique, and why people should choose you.

3. Call to Action (CTA): Tell visitors exactly what to do next—whether that’s signing up, scheduling a call, or placing an order.

4. Pre-Sale Sign Up: Offer a 20% discount for early bird sign-ups. This creates urgency and encourages people to take action.

Cost: $30 for a basic landing page.

Step 2: Create a Facebook Business Page

Now that you have your landing page, it’s time to build a Facebook Business Page. It’s free and essential for connecting with potential customers.

1. Add a profile photo (logo, or a picture representing your service).

2. Create a cover photo: Make sure it’s eye-catching and clearly communicates what you offer.

3. Write a compelling “About” section: Tell people who you are, what you do, and why you’re awesome at it. Include your website link and contact information.

Once your page is live, ask your friends and family to like it. This will give you some initial traction and social proof, so you don’t look like a ghost town when new visitors stop by.

Cost: Free

Step 3: Run $70 Worth of Micro Ads

Next, it’s time to get the word out using Facebook ads. With $70, you’re going to run 10 micro ads at $7 each. These micro ads will let you test different headlines, images, and audiences to see what works best before you double down.

1. Create 10 different ads: Use a mix of different images, headlines, and copy.

   • Example Headlines: “Need Lawn Care Without the Hassle?” or “Affordable Dog Walking for Busy Pet Owners.”

2. Target different audiences: Play around with location, age, interests, and behaviors to find the right mix.

3. Run each ad for $7: Let the ads run for a couple of days and see which ones perform the best.

Tip: Keep it simple. Your ad should have a clear, straightforward message with an image that grabs attention.

Cost: $70

Step 4: Double Down on the Winning Ads

Once you’ve run your 10 ads, you should have a good idea of which ones are getting the most clicks, sign-ups, or interactions.

1. Pause the ads that aren’t performing well.

2. Take the best-performing ads and scale them up. You can spend $5, $10, or even $20 a day on the winners. By putting more budget behind what’s already working, you’re more likely to see a higher return on your investment.

3. Optimize your landing page: Use any feedback from your ads to tweak your landing page. Maybe a certain phrase is resonating more, or a specific feature is getting people’s attention.

Step 5: Pre-Sale Sign Up Sheet with 20% Discount for Early Birds

You’ve got their attention—now it’s time to turn visitors into leads. Use a simple pre-sale sign-up sheet on your landing page to capture emails. Offer an exclusive 20% discount for early birds to get people to sign up before your service officially launches. This is great for building a customer base before you’ve even started.

What to Include on the Sign-Up Sheet:

• Email and Name Fields: Keep it simple. You don’t need to ask for too much info at this stage.

• A Clear Benefit: “Sign Up Now to Get 20% Off When We Launch!”

• A Countdown Timer (Optional): Create urgency by letting people know when the offer ends.

Step 6: Start Booking Your First Clients

Now that you’ve captured emails and gathered interest, it’s time to start turning leads into paying clients. Follow up with everyone who signed up through your pre-sale form. Send a personalized email or message thanking them for signing up and explaining how to book your service at the exclusive discount rate.

1. Create a Simple Booking System: Use tools like Calendly or even a basic Google Sheet to keep track of appointments.

2. Follow Up: Send reminders to your early sign-ups about their 20% discount and how to claim it.

Tip: Make the booking process as easy as possible. If people need to jump through hoops, they’ll lose interest.

Step 7: Build on Success to Scale Up

Your service is launched, you’ve got your first few clients, and it’s time to scale. Here’s how to grow to $5,000/month in profit:

1. Leverage Client Testimonials: After you’ve worked with your first clients, ask them for a testimonial to post on your landing page and Facebook Business Page. Real feedback is gold and helps convert new visitors into clients.

2. Expand Your Ads Budget: Now that you’ve got a steady stream of clients, reinvest some of your earnings into ads. Focus on what’s been working and experiment with new ad sets. The more you can spend on successful ads, the faster your business will grow. If $7 ads brought in your first clients, imagine what $70 a week could do.

3. Create Service Packages: Bundle services to increase the average order value. If you’re offering a dog-walking service, create packages for weekly or monthly plans. If it’s lawn care, offer seasonal packages with discounts for people who sign up for multiple visits.

4. Referral Program: Incentivize your current clients to bring in new ones by offering a referral discount. Give them a small reward, like $10 off their next service, for every new client they refer.

5. Seasonal Promotions: Offer special deals around holidays or events. People are always more willing to spend around special occasions, and this is your chance to boost sales.

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Building to $5K Per Month in Profit

Here’s the math:

• Average Service Price: $50

• Cost Per Client (Ads, etc.): $10-$15

• Net Profit Per Client: $35-$40

If you can land 25 clients per week (not a huge stretch if your ads are working and you’re following up), that’s $1,000 in profit per week—or $4,000 a month. Continue to build momentum, scale your ads, refine your packages, and offer upsells, and you’ll easily hit $5,000/month.

Conclusion: From $100 to a Thriving Side Hustle

And there you have it—a simple yet powerful way to build a service side hustle with just $100. From a landing page to targeted ads and effective follow-ups, you’ve got everything you need to turn a small budget into consistent profit. The key is to test, learn, and scale.

Got another side hustle idea you’re thinking about? Drop it in the comments or hit reply—let’s make it happen.

(As usual each business will have it’s own setbacks, and it’s all about the execution and consistency rather than just having the idea)

It’s a great day to be great!

Love, Mike 👋