Knowledge Marketplace
My First Million

My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

Back to Playbooks

Survive in expensive city with minimal capital while building business

Entrepreneurs with less than $5K capital moving to expensive markets

6-12 months

What Success Looks Like

Generating enough revenue to cover basic living expenses while building scalable business foundation

Steps to Execute

1

Find cheapest possible accommodation (shared warehouse, unconventional spaces)

2

Identify immediate revenue opportunity from network/connections

3

Create scalable service business requiring minimal upfront investment

4

Use arbitrage opportunities (matching supply/demand inefficiencies)

5

Charge for access/curation rather than creating from scratch

6

Reinvest all revenue back into business growth

7

Minimize fixed costs and maintain maximum flexibility

Checklist

Living expenses under $1000/month achieved
Revenue-generating activity identified and tested
Network/connections mapped for immediate opportunities
Service can be delivered without significant capital
Payment collection system established
Legal structure for taking payments

Inputs Needed

  • $1000-5000 initial capital
  • Network connections in target market
  • Willingness to live in minimal conditions
  • Skill that can generate immediate revenue

Outputs

  • Self-sustaining revenue stream
  • Market knowledge and connections
  • Proven ability to bootstrap
  • Foundation for scaling business

Example

“Entrepreneur uses fake Craigslist roommate ads to collect leads, then hosts paid roommate-matching parties, generating immediate revenue to survive while building larger business”