How I Made Over $6K In One Week with Just a Google Document: Start a Business Without a Website
Whether you’re considering trying out freelancing, starting a side-hustle to make some money on the side of your day job, or starting your own business from a passion or great idea, it’s easy to get stuck thinking that getting started will take you a long time.
It’s actually more simple than you think.
In just one week, I went from idea to launch to $6K, and I did it all without a website – all I had was a Google document of information to sell from.
In this article, I’m going to walk you through exactly how I did this, so you can too. Because it gets to be simple. And when you do it this way, you can make money immediately so you can reinvest into building your business.
In case you’re new here – #WATCHME® – that’s what we’re all about! (You’re gonna wanna subscribe immediately so you don’t miss anything else, I promise.)
Let’s dive in.
Unconventional Advice to Start a Business
Anyone who’s considered starting freelancing, a side hustle, or a small business probably made this first mistake…
Searching “How to start a business” on Google.
The search results are always the same, leading you to think starting a business has to be complex and overwhelming. Write a business plan, register your business, build a website, get a business license and insurance… the list goes on. It’s a lot of long, hard work and legalities to try to figure out and understand before you can even get started. Let alone, multiple expenses before you even make money… or know IF it will make money.
Which is why most people stop before they even get started.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Why Should I Take Your Unconventional Advice?
Before you exit out of this in overwhelm and disbelief, hear me out.
I’ve been an entrepreneur for over the last decade and have started 4 different businesses from the ground-up – 3 of which, I still successfully run today! But believe me, I was NOT an overnight success.
The launch of my first business was easy, but the growth was extremely slow. Starting it from my passion of photography, my initial goal was just to side-hustle and make an extra $500 per month, which at the time, felt like a dream!
But then, the launch of my second business took nearly 3 years… which taught me everything I’m about to share with you.
Imposter syndrome and perfectionism got the best of me. I wanted to have everything to launch and look “legit.”
I hired a website designer – for a website I redid 3 different times.
I wrote my messaging – and continued to rewrite and tweak again and again.
I wanted my pretty branding photos, social pages, and everything set up to launch with a bang – but all it did was keep me VERY stuck, spinning my wheels, with credit card debt and no clients to show for it.
I finally did launch that business – it’s literally the reason you’re reading this now.
But I decided that EVERYTHING needed to change with my third business. I had to do things differently.
The Unexpected Business Tool for Success
The best part about this “secret” is there is no secret.
I launched my business with a Google document.
That’s it.
You can (and I highly recommend that you) start a business without a website.
I LOVE websites. (Between my husband and I, we have 6 different websites, and I build them for my clients.) They are a wonderful tool for your business in a multitude of ways.
But you don’t need one to get your business started.
All you need is a Google document.
My Google Document Success Story
Back to the story. When I had the idea to become a Virtual Assistant and launch my third business, I did everything differently.
I spent a day writing down my skills, expertise, experience, and decided what virtual assistance services I could offer. To be honest, I was pretty much a generalist, tech-savvy and ready to dive in to help any client I could get. Without much research, I decided on an hourly rate for my services and loosely created my first offer – hourly virtual assistance services, tasks and projects to be discussed and determined with the client.
I opened a Google document, added the offering information, along with a short bio and headshot.
What happened next surprised me.
To kick things off and launch my business, I did 3 things – I shared a post on social media, I sent a few emails to people I knew, and I created a profile on Upwork.
(I will caveat this and say that, since then, Upwork has changed a lot. It can be helpful if you’re just getting started, but service prices are very competitive and not all workers are quality, which has led to a not-so-quality client-base looking to hire on Upwork. I usually suggest to my clients to spend their time on better platforms.)
Once I launched and initially told people about my new business, I started having conversations with people who referred me to others, or were interested in themselves.
Within days, I signed my first clients, landing me over $6K.
No website. No branding photos. No social media profiles or content.
Just a Google document.
Wanna know something even crazier?
I ran that business for 3.5 years, and during the entire life of that business, I only ever had that Google Document. All of my business came from sharing that Google document, repeat happy clients that worked with me over the length of my business, and referrals from those happy clients.
Simple.
Why Use a Google Document
There were a few key reasons I decided (and recommend) using a Google document, instead of a website, canva design, or even a PDF.
Google documents are free and easy to create, fast to update, and offer the ability to share with anyone, anywhere, not to mention, the ability to send a direct link with “view-only” access.
This means that there is literally no-barrier to getting started immediately.
And let’s face it, when you’re just getting started, you’re going to be updating this Google document A LOT! Whether you need to change your pricing, completely reconstruct your packages, or add testimonials as you get them, Google documents are not only easy to keep updated, but the link you share will ALWAYS include your updates. (Versus using a PDF you have to create, export, and attach to send, which is outdated almost right after you send it. It would be highly confusing, and annoying, to send your potential clients multiple emails with the updated PDF to your service guide every time you make an update. Instead, send your clients a Google document link that updates as you need.)
Today, not only do I use Google documents for my business service guides, but I literally house ALL my business documents, client documents, resources, worksheets, how-to guides, and much much more. My Google drive has become the central hub of my business operations.
How to Start Your Business with a Google Document
There is no reason you can’t have the same (or better) results I did!
Starting your business gets to be super simple.
Once I learned that all of the traditional “how to start your business” checklists were all keeping me stuck, and allowed myself to do it fast, messy, and imperfect, I was amazed how quickly I got real results. I actually spend my time working with great clients, enjoying my work, and making real money. Thinking back to launching my second business and how incredibly stuck and frustrated I felt, considering throwing in the towel before I even really got started. It didn’t have to be that way – and I learned exactly how to do it differently.
(I’m sure the perfectionist in you cringed at that, I get it. But challenge your inner perfectionist. It doesn’t mean your Google document can’t look pristine! Just challenge that part of you that launching doesn’t actually have to feel hard!)
Before you go all-in to build the business of your dreams, you need to dive in, test it, and actually work with your first client(s) (and make money). That way, you can see if you enjoy doing it and know whether you should pursue further and invest in building and growing a business of your own.
So again, at this point, whether you’re thinking about starting to freelance, a side-hustle, or testing your business idea, I want you to use this strategy to simply start making money now.
Which is exactly why I’m walking you through exactly how to launch your offer and fast-track landing your first client, in just 5 days!
Solopreneur Starter-Kit: Sign Your First $1,000 Client in 5 Days
This is the exact system I used to land multiple clients, thousands of dollars, and launch and grow my businesses over the years!
Not only will I take you through exactly how to set up your Google document to launch your business or idea, but I have swipe-copy and templates for exactly how to write your emails and social media posts to help you land your first clients, know what to do to onboard them, and officially start working with your first client.
Plus, because I want you to believe just how simple this can be, I’m offering you this mini course for just $27 for a limited time. Again, no barriers for you to dive in and get started immediately.
This mini course is no fluff, and it’s not just stuff you could find through a Google search. It’s full of short, actionable, step-by-step instructions if you’re ready to take action to land your first client!
While this mini course is set up as a 5-day challenge with action steps you could do in 15-minutes or less, if you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can actually skip the 5 days and go through everything in just one day. As a self-paced course, it’s up to you!
It’s time to kickstart your business and fast-track landing your first client.
