If you’re tired of the same old regurgitated advice from people who’ve never actually built an online business — you’re not alone. Most of what’s out there is recycled fluff from someone who only makes money teaching business, not running one.

But I’ve been in the game since 2016, building multiple online businesses from the ground up — including my digital planner shop, which has brought in over $1.5 million in sales in just the past 3 years. (You can check that out right here.)

So when I say I know what it’s like to start from scratch, I really do. I didn’t have a business degree, investors, or a team. I was just a single mom with a laptop and a dream — and a whole lot of determination.

In this post, I’m going to show you the exact steps to start your own online business — even if you’ve never done anything like this before. No confusing jargon. No “you’ll learn this later” paywalls. Just real, actionable steps from someone who’s built it for herself.

👉 Oh — and I’ve got a surprise waiting for you at the bottom of this post, so stick around!

So, here are 7 steps to start an online business and actually start making money — even if you’re starting from scratch.

1. Decide What Kind of Business You Want to Start

Before you dive in, you need to know what type of business you want to create. This could be digital products like planners or printables, offering a service like coaching or design, or even building a personal brand to monetize later.

The truth is, you don’t need some world-changing idea to start. You just need to identify what lights you up and what you could potentially help others with.

Ask yourself:

• What do people already ask me for help with?
• What have I figured out that others might want to know?
• What kind of content or work would I enjoy creating over and over again?

For example, I loved creating planners and organizing my life digitally — so I turned that into a business. You can do the same with your unique interests or skills.

 

2. Pick Your Niche and Audience

Once you know what kind of business you want to start, it’s time to get specific. Your niche is simply the category or group of people you’re creating your business for.

Instead of saying “I want to sell planners,” ask: “Who am I selling them to?”

For example:

• Fitness planners for busy moms
• Budget templates for first-time renters
• Prayer journals for Christian women

Narrowing your audience will help you stand out and create more targeted offers that people actually want.

Here’s a quick way to define your niche:

• Who do I want to help?
• What problem am I helping them solve?
• What result will they get from my product/service?

The more specific, the better.

 

3. Choose a Platform to Sell On

You don’t need a fancy website or custom code to start. You just need a place where people can see your offer and buy it.

Here are a few great beginner-friendly platforms:

• Etsy – great for templates, printables, and physical goods
• Gumroad – simple setup for PDFs, guides, and digital tools
• Shopify – best if you’re ready to build a full brand/shop
• ClickFunnels – ideal for building funnels that convert

Pick the one that feels easiest for you to get started with. You can always switch or expand later.

Don’t overthink the tech. The goal is to start and get your product out there.

 

4. Create Your First Product or Offer

Now it’s time to bring your idea to life. This is where you create your first digital product, service, or freebie to share with your audience.

Here are a few beginner-friendly product ideas:

• Digital planner or journal (Canva templates are great!)
• A mini course teaching something you’ve learned
• A checklist or guide that solves a quick problem
• Templates for social media, organization, or productivity

Start with just ONE product. Don’t try to create a full shop with 10 listings — you only need one good offer to get started.

Example: I started with one simple planner. It wasn’t perfect, but it sold — and that motivated me to keep going.

 

5. Set Up a Simple Shop or Sales Funnel

Once your product is ready, you need a way to actually get paid.

Depending on what you’re using (Etsy, Gumroad, etc.), setup can be super simple. You’ll upload your product, write a quick description, add a price, and you’re live.

Make sure you include:

• A clear product name
• A short description of what it is and who it’s for
• A strong call-to-action (ex: “Download now” or “Start today”)
• A few product mockups (Canva is perfect for this!)

It doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to be clear.

If you’re setting up a blog-based business, this is also a great time to follow my free blog setup tutorial.

 

6. Start Creating Content to Attract People

Now that you’re live, it’s time to bring people in. You can use free platforms like:

• Pinterest – perfect for digital product traffic
• Instagram – build connection and community
• Email list – great for follow-up and launching future products
• Blog posts – amazing for long-term traffic from Google

Pick ONE platform to start. Post consistently, provide value, and always link back to your product or offer.

Example content ideas:

• “3 ways I stay organized as a busy mom”
• “Why I stopped using paper planners + what I use now”
• “My favorite budget hacks (and free printable)”

The more you show up and help, the more trust you build — and trust leads to sales.

Need help starting your own blog? Follow this tutorial that walks you through it all using Bluehost — the same platform I used when I got started in 2016, and is actually still my blog host today!

 

7. Grow As You Go (This Is Key!)

Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Start messy. Launch small. Tweak as you go.

Every successful business owner you see today started before they felt 100% confident. They learned by doing, made mistakes, and kept going.

You will learn so much from your first product, your first post, your first customer. Just take the first step.

Here’s what growth can look like:

• Your first sale from Pinterest
• Someone messaging you saying your product helped them
• Adding a second product when you’re ready
• Turning your small shop into a full-time income

 

Want to See How It’s Actually Done?

If you’re still feeling unsure or just want someone to walk you through it all, I created a completely free 7-day online business course — something I’ve been asked to do for years. I’ve spent the last several years actually building my own planner shop (not just talking about it), and after selling over 60,000 digital products, I finally said yes to teaching what’s worked for me.

This course is my way of pulling back the curtain and showing you what’s worked for me — without fluff or filler.

I don’t hold back the info you actually need to get started. While I will offer more advanced training later, this free course is all about helping you get set up in the right direction so you can start making sales as soon as possible.

Here’s what you’ll learn inside:

• How to pick a profitable niche

• How to create a product people actually want

• How to set up your shop (the simple way)

• How to start getting traffic that leads to sales

I’m not just throwing random advice at you. I’m showing you what’s worked for me — and how you can do it too.

So what’s in it for me? Well, I hope you like my teaching style enough to buy something from me down the road 😉 — and I do use affiliate links for tools I’ve personally used for years (like Canva, Bluehost, and Shopify). But even if you don’t, I want to make sure you’re set up for success before you move on to anything more advanced.

Ready to get started?

Don’t keep putting your dreams on hold or waiting for the “perfect time.” This is your moment — and this free 7-day course will help you take that first step with clarity and confidence.

Since starting my planner business, I’ve made over $1.5 million in digital product sales — and it all began with the same steps I share in this free course.

🎉 Click here to join the Free How to Start an Online Business Course and let’s start building something amazing together — one step at a time!