In today’s world, if you have a laptop, an internet connection, and a valuable skill, you can build a business from anywhere. That’s how I started my first online business. You don’t need a big budget, office space, or a team of full-time employees. All it takes is effort, determination, and a willingness to start with what you have.
Here’s the story of how I built an agency business with $0 investment from Nepal:
I used to work as a junior research analyst at an investment bank, but I never liked the 9–5 culture. I wanted to start something on my own. COVID was the perfect time to rethink my options and build a side hustle.
So, I started a blog and wrote articles. I built my website using WordPress, which I learned using YouTube. I monetized my blog to generate a few dollars, which wasn’t very effective. Then, I started posting on LinkedIn and sharing my articles, journey, and things I was doing. I practiced in public, which landed me my first freelancing writing client. And that was the beginning of my first online business.
Later, I also took website development projects because I knew how to build basic websites, as I had learned it for my blog.
After a few years of freelancing, I turned it into a proper agency with my friend, now my business partner.
The Birth of ‘Creato Ink’
We started Creato Ink, my agency business, from my small home office in Kathmandu, Nepal. There was no investment, connections, or fancy setup—just a strong belief that I could provide real value to businesses through content, design, and strategy.
I had already spent years freelancing — writing, designing, and helping people build their online presence. Eventually, I realized I could bring even more value by building a team, offering a complete solution, and turning it into a business.
That’s how Creato Ink was born — a creative agency helping entrepreneurs and brands grow through storytelling, strategy, and design.
In this article, I’ll show you exactly how I went from being a solo freelancer to building a full-service agency without spending a single dollar upfront. If you’re dreaming of starting your own agency, this is the roadmap I wish I had.
1. Starting With What I Had — Skills and Internet
The agency didn’t begin with a formal business plan. It began with skills — writing, web development, design, and digital marketing — that I had honed through freelancing and self-education.
I offered these skills to clients as a solo freelancer, then slowly transitioned towards forming a team.
Nepal isn’t seen as a global agency hub, but that’s also the opportunity. I had access to talented people, lower operational costs, and increased global service demand.
The internet levels the playing field. I used:
- Free tools like Canva, Notion, and Google Workspace
- Social media (especially LinkedIn) to showcase work and attract clients
- Cold outreach to local businesses that didn’t have a strong online presence
2. Turning Freelance Work Into an Agency Model
Working as a freelancer was fun because I was all by myself. However, it also limited me from bigger opportunities. So, I wanted to scale up.
Most people stay freelancers forever because they don’t build systems. Early on, I decided to build processes that allowed me to delegate and grow.
The turning point was when I stopped saying “I” and started saying “we.”
I partnered with a like-minded creative — a friend who was skilled at designing, managing teams, and building connections. We reached out to other designers, developers, and content strategists to work with us remotely. There were no payrolls, just revenue-sharing.
That allowed us to serve more clients and deliver better results without hiring full-time employees or renting office space.
We formed Creato Ink to deliver services such as brand identity, content strategy, websites, and visual media—everything businesses need to grow online.
3. Building a Strong Portfolio (Without Paid Ads)
When you don’t have money, your work becomes your marketing.
We offered discounted services to our first few clients. Then, we showcased their results to build a solid portfolio, word-of-mouth, referrals, and testimonials we could leverage.
We started creating case studies and sharing them on LinkedIn. That content attracted inbound leads from Australia, Singapore, and other local businesses. Our philosophy was simple:
“Do amazing work for a few people. Let that work bring you more people.”
We never ran a paid ad, not even $1. Everything came through organic reach, referrals, and networking.
4. Positioning Ourselves as Partners, Not Vendors
We didn’t want to be just another “design service” or “social media agency.”
We positioned Creato Ink as a strategic partner that understands the client’s business goals. We educated them, guided them, and acted as an extension of their team. That’s how we turned one-time projects into long-term retainers.
The focus was always on delivering value:
- Instead of just building websites, we built lead-generating machines.
- Instead of just posting content, we created strategies that built brands.
- Instead of selling services, we offered solutions.
This mindset helped us stand out in a saturated market without a big budget or connections.
5. Keeping Costs at Zero (And Margins High)
Here’s how we managed to grow without spending anything upfront:
- No office rent: We all worked remotely at first. However, my partner and I now operate from a small rented office space. But at the beginning, it was all remote.
- No paid tools unless absolutely necessary: We used free versions as long as possible.
- No employees at first: We began with only collaborators and freelancers.
- No inventory or physical products: Digital service = Zero cost of goods.
- No debt: We bootstrapped using cash flow from our first few clients.
These strategies kept our profit margins healthy from day one.
6. Scaling Through Systems and Reputation
As we grew, we started implementing systems to handle client onboarding, task management, and deliverables. Tools like Notion, Trello, and Google Workspace helped us stay lean and organized.
We also invested time in:
- Creating proposal templates and pitch decks.
- Standardizing workflows for design, content, and web development.
- Documenting everything from client intake to delivery.
Now, when a new client comes in, we are not scrambling. We have a system. And that’s how we scale, not by working more hours, but by working smarter.
You Can Do It Too
You don’t need funding to start a business. You don’t need to live in a global capital city. You don’t even need to have everything figured out.
You just need to start with what you have, work relentlessly, and provide massive value to people who need it.
If you have the skills, a laptop, and the internet, you have what it takes to build your own agency. It won’t be easy, but it is possible. I’m building Creato Ink from Kathmandu, Nepal, and if I can do it, you can too (from anywhere in the world).
