You know what the hardest part of starting anything is? Waiting. Or maybe overthinking.
You get an idea, you get excited, you research a bit, and then, the next thing you know, it’s been three months, and you still haven’t done anything.
I used to think we needed to plan everything out first, but what I realized is, the best results I’ve had have come from just starting.
So, what if you stopped waiting and just tried to launch a small, simple business this weekend?
A one-person business isn’t some complicated, techy thing with investors and a 10-year business plan. Not at all.
It’s just you, maybe your laptop, and your Internet connection.
You don’t need much. Not even a modern, design-heavy website. Just an enthusiasm to see what happens if you actually do the thing instead of dreaming about it.
So, if you’re ready to take a step forward, here’s how to start a one-person business, a step-by-step plan that you can follow in 2026.
Let’s get into it.
Step 1: Pick Your Business Type (2 Hours)
I used to spend way too much time thinking, “What should I start? What if it doesn’t work?”
Truth? Most first businesses fail.
Yes, you read it right. Not just me saying that, research has found that 20% of new businesses fail in their first year, and only 50% last longer than five years.
But a one-person business is quite different; it’s still a business, I mean, it could be a digital product, a simple service, a newsletter, anything you can build and sell yourself, and the barrier to entry is so low.
And even if you fail at this type of business, all you’ve lost is a weekend, but what you gain is priceless: real-world knowledge, a better idea of what doesn’t work, and the boost in confidence that comes from actually doing something instead of just dreaming about it.
Well, what types of businesses can we start this way?
Here are some quick ideas for this weekend, almost anyone with an Internet connection can start:
1. Newsletter
What it takes to start: Some basic idea of what a newsletter is, a topic you’re interested in, and a platform like Beehiiv.
How to get going: Sign up on your platform of choice, create a simple landing page describing your newsletter topic, and write your first edition. Start sharing personal insights, curated resources, or analysis in your chosen niche.
Then promote it by sharing on social media (like X and Threads), telling friends, adding your link in your bios, offering a free bonus for new subscribers, and leaving helpful comments.
How to earn: Offer a free-to-sign-up newsletter to build an audience, then introduce a premium tier with exclusive content. You can also earn through sponsorships or affiliate links once you have a decent subscriber base, typically 5,000+ engaged readers.
2. Notion Templates or Printables
What it takes to start: A Notion account, familiarity with creating Notion templates, and basic design skills.
How to get going: Create templates that solve specific problems (project management, habit tracking, meal planning). Polish them with clear instructions and attractive formatting, then set up a Gumroad or similar platform, like Payhip, to sell them.
How to earn: Price templates individually ($5-20) or bundle them as packages. You can offer both free templates as lead magnets and premium options with more features. Think about creating template bundles for specific niches (students, small business owners).
3. AI Prompt Packs or Guides
What it takes to start: Experience using AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Veo3, or Sora. A system for organizing effective prompts and knowledge of which prompts deliver the best results.
How to get going: Group your best prompts by type (writing, business, creativity), test them to make sure they work well, and make a downloadable guide that explains what each prompt does and how to customize it.
How to earn: Sell prompt packs as digital products ($10-30) on platforms like Gumroad. Create niche-specific collections for different professions or use cases. Offer free sample prompts to demonstrate value before purchase.
4. Freelance Service
What it takes to start: A marketable skill (like writing, graphic design, video editing, web development, or social media management), portfolio examples, and a simple webpage showcasing your services.
How to get going: You can easily start on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to find your first clients without needing your own website. These sites handle payments and finding clients for you.
Alternatively, after you have some experience, create a one-page site with Carrd or a similar website builder like Pixpa, highlighting your specific service, pricing, turnaround time, and a simple contact form.
You can literally start this with friends or network connections as first clients.
How to earn: Hourly or project-based rates are a good starting point, or think about offering package deals (e.g., “10 social media posts for $X”) to encourage larger commitments.
5. Coaching & Teaching
What it takes to start: Knowledge in a specific area, the ability to create structured guidance, and tools to deliver sessions (like Zoom or Google Meet).
How to get going: Pick what type of coaching you’ll do (jobs, fitness, business help, teaching a language, or even something hands-on like car repair coaching). Create a simple booking system with tools like Calendly or Tidycal. Start with 3-5 basic coaching plans that solve common problems for your clients.
How to earn: Coaching can be sold as single sessions ($50-150) or packages (like “4 sessions over 8 weeks for $X”). Consider offering a discounted introductory session to help potential clients experience your style before committing to a full package.
You can also create passive income by developing self-paced coaching materials or video lessons with Teachable that complement your live sessions.
And now you might think, is there anything I can do offline?
That’s a good point, one-person businesses aren’t just online ones.
You can absolutely run a one-person business offline, too.
Here are some examples:
- Freelance photography or videography
- Personal training or yoga classes
- Tutoring or teaching music lessons in person
- Selling homemade food or crafts at local markets
- Running a mobile repair or cleaning service
If your head still feels empty, copy and paste this into ChatGPT or your favorite AI tool to get a list of one-person business ideas that fit your background, interests, and skills:
I want to start a one-person business this weekend, but I’m not sure what suits me. Here are a few things I like and things I’m good at: [list your skills, interests, or hobbies]. Can you give me 5 simple business ideas I could start alone, using what I already know? For each idea, please say what problem it solves. Make sure they’re easy for beginners and possible to start in a weekend.Here’s what I got back. Even though I just typed in something dead simple about pizza, it still gave me business ideas I could start fast:
But one thing you might need to keep in mind is, don’t pick something because it sounds like it’ll make money.
Pick what you think you have confidence in doing, or could talk about all day, and can help others solve problems. Not just because of money.
It’s way easier to stick with something you enjoy, or at least don’t hate.
I once tried selling a product in a niche I didn’t care about and, you guessed, it went nowhere. So don’t do that.
Now you have some idea about what a one-person business looks like, and you still may have lots of questions about how to actually run these things yourself.
Let’s find out.
Step 2: Set Up Your Tools (1 Hour)
This is the part where most people (me, included) spend way too long looking up tools. Don’t. Just use free tools and get started.
- Planning & Notes: Notion is my all-time favorite, but Google Docs also works. You only need one spot to write down your ideas, notes, and documents to run your business.
- Task Management: Todoist is perfect for your quick to-dos, reminders, and keeps your tasks in sync without adding another complicated tool to your toolkit.
- Design: Canva is free. I use it for everything, blog featured images, Pinterest pins, and even designing our freebies.
- Website or Landing Page: Carrd is super easy for a one-page site. Gumroad or Payhip works if you’re selling digital things; they handle payments, downloads, and all the scary stuff.
- Email Collection or Sales: If you want emails (which is smart), try Kit’s free plan, or just collect them through Gumroad.
You only need ONE page. Don’t get stuck designing five pages and a long about me page.
I’ve seen many big creators’ landing pages that are basically a giant button and a line of text saying, “Hey, want this free Notion template? Drop your email.”
Sometimes, simple is best.
Step 3: Create a Mini Product or Offer (2–3 Hours)
Here’s where most people get stuck, worrying about making everything perfect. Don’t.
You’re not creating some expensive $1000 course. Just make something small and simple that works.
But the very first thing you have to do is validate your idea.
Post a poll on X, Reddit, Threads, or even in a group chat: “Would this be helpful?”
Sometimes nobody answers, but sometimes someone says, “Yes! I’d use that.”
Your first product can be a PDF guide, a Notion doc, a short checklist, or whatever you can finish in a few hours.
But almost every AI tool, like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, can code for you now, so you can even build something like this I’ve seen on Reddit:
Created a Chrome extension to practice typing on any website
byu/maximcus inSideProject
Even though it’s hard to say people would pay for that kind of thing, it’s still a good thing to build an audience around you, look at those Reddit upvotes and comment counts.
Years ago, my first mini-product was a 10-pack of Pinterest templates I listed on Etsy for just $4.99.
Not a big thing, but people downloaded it.
What I’m telling you is, you don’t have to write a book, build software, or rent a small space and sell something at first.
Aim for something you could explain in one sentence. That’s usually enough for a starter product.
Also, if you’re nervous about asking for money, just put it up as a free download or sample in exchange for an email, then send them your premium version with some added features or options.
That way, you’re building an audience too.
Step 4: Publish + Share It (2 Hours)
Now the scary part: telling people.
I get it. It’s way easier to make something than to show it to people.
But you have to do it, or you’ll never know if it works.
Share what you built on X (Twitter), Threads, Reddit, wherever you hang out.
Or even just DM a few friends like this:
Hey! I just launched a simple [product/service] that helps with [main benefit/problem it solves].
I built this myself over the weekend and thought you might find it useful.
Here’s a quick sample so you can see what it’s like: [sample link]
Take a look. If you find it useful and want the full version, let me know!If someone’s interested, don’t overthink it, don’t do that.
Just send them a quick payment link (PayPal, Gumroad, Payhip, whatever works), and once they pay, deliver your product right away (you can simply automate this).
After that happened, ask for feedback or a nice comment you can use as proof for the next person.
From my experience, Threads and X are great for this.
Both places have lots of people looking for ideas, tips, or just cool stuff, so it’s totally fine to share what you’ve made.
But don’t try to be “salesy.” Just tell why you built your product, show a picture, or share a quick story about making it.
Put your link in your profile, use some hashtags about your topic, and join other discussions where your product fits in.
Even small updates, like showing how you made it, a tip from your guide, or sharing what someone said about it, can make people interested. The best thing is, you get quick feedback, questions, and sometimes even nice words from other users.
Over time, just being yourself helps you find the right people, and you might be surprised who becomes your first customer.
People like seeing real people trying things, not just finished, polished stuff. Sometimes I mess up and post the wrong link; no big deal, just reply with the fix.
Don’t forget about the call to action (CTA).
Something like, “Get it here,” or “What do you think?”, you get the idea.
Step 5: Keep Going Next Week
So, what now?
Well, you could make your offer better. Maybe people found a part hard to understand, or maybe you found a spelling mistake. That’s okay. Fix it.
But if nobody buys or you don’t get much response, it’s not a failure.
It just means you learned something. Maybe your offer needs a small change, or your headline didn’t grab people.
Try changing your message, add a bonus (like an extra template, guide, or discount), or share it somewhere else.
Even asking a friend what they think can help you see what to fix. It’s completely normal not to sell on your first try.
You could also try making another mini-product in the same niche. Or start emailing the people who signed up. Share more behind-the-scenes stuff.
It’s a little awkward at first. Sometimes you feel like you’re bothering people. Sometimes you feel like you don’t know enough.
But everyone starts somewhere, and it’s usually messy. I still get nervous before I hit “publish” on something new.
The thing is, there’s no rulebook here; you can do as many experiments as long as you follow the platform guidelines you’re playing on.
Big companies do this too.
Instagram started out as an app to check in at places before it switched to sharing photos. YouTube was a dating site at first, but it turned into a place to share videos.
Even Slack began as a game company and ended up using its chat tool as the main product.
Making a change, or what people call pivoting, just means you try a new way when things aren’t working, and sometimes, that’s how you find your best idea.
What matters is that you actually created something you can see or touch.
Your idea has moved from just being a thought in your head to something real that exists in the world.
Final Thoughts
The goal is to move forward, not to be perfect. I wish someone had told me that years ago. Your first try will be rough, and that’s okay. You can always fix it next week.
The important part is that you begin this weekend, not someday in the future.
So, are you in? If you’re thinking about it, just try it. Even if you fail, you’ll be further ahead than you were on Friday.
And who knows, maybe by next month, you’ll have something real you can be proud of.
That’s how it worked for me.
