People ask this question with this cautious squint in their eyes, like they’re expecting me to drop a number so large it knocks the wind out of their side hustle dreams. “$997 to get started,” maybe. Or “$10K if you’re serious.”
But here’s the twist, the real story behind that question isn’t about the money. It’s about what people think they need. The real ask is: Can I actually do this with what I’ve got?
And honestly? Yes. You can.
Let’s talk about it.
Free Platforms, Paid in Sweat
You know what’s funny? People think the cost is financial, but the real expense is energy.
You can get started for free. Seriously. Use LeadsLeap, grab a link, throw together a free opt-in page. Or sign up for Systeme.io and bang out a funnel before your coffee cools. Both are solid.
Zero dollars. No strings. Just a blank space and your ability to click buttons and wrestle with templates.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. (Nothing worth building ever is.) It means the gates are wide open, if you’re willing to walk in barefoot and build your own damn bricks.
Starting Small Is a Superpower (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like One)
You know what people with money do? They waste it. They build 17-step funnels on day one. They run traffic to a page they haven’t even tested with their own eyeballs. They chase all the shiny things like moths with a trust fund.
But you? You who’s starting with nothing but a browser tab and a fire in your belly, you have an edge.
You can’t afford to skip steps. You’re forced to learn the why behind the tactics. That’s not a weakness. That’s leverage.
You’re building slow, but you’re building solid. (And honestly, in this game, that’s the only way it lasts.)
No Ads? No Problem. You’ve Got Personality.
Let me just throw this out there: You don’t need ads to get attention. Shocking, right?
Seriously, TikTok exists. So does Pinterest. And YouTube. And, you know, that thing called Google. (You can build a Google site for Free, AI will help if you ask)
You don’t have to buy attention if you know how to earn it.
Share a weird thought. Write a Blog Post, either on your own blog or start a free Medium.com account and write stories there.
Record your screen. Talk like you actually mean it. People will notice. They’ll feel something, and when people feel something, they click.
I once made a sale off a blurry Instagram Story where I was eating toast and talking about autoresponders. Go figure.
Connection Costs Nothing, but It Pays Like Crazy
Money gets you tools. But connection? That gets you trust.
If you’re broke, talk to people. DM the folks who engage with your content. Answer questions in forums. Go into Facebook groups and actually be a human. Be seen.
Because when people see you, like really see you, they start listening. And when they listen, they believe. And when they believe, they buy. Not because you had the flashiest ad, but because you showed up real.
You’re not a brand. You’re a person. And honestly? People are dying for that.
Reinvest, But Don’t Rush It
Okay, so eventually you’ll want to invest.
Get a domain (like, $10 a year, chill). Get email hosting. Maybe grab a course that doesn’t make you want to throw your laptop out the window.
But don’t fall for the whole “you must invest in yourself or you’re not serious” guilt trip. That’s just a clever way of saying “buy my thing.”
Invest when you’re ready. When you’ve got clarity. When you want to go faster, not just because you’re scared you’re behind.
(P.S. You’re not behind. You’re just in the first chapter.)
Truth Bomb: The Real Price Is Doubt
So, how much does it cost to start affiliate marketing?
Let’s be real. The barrier isn’t dollars. It’s doubt.
It’s the voice that says, “You’re not techy enough.”
Or “No one will listen to you.”
Or worse, “This probably won’t work for you.”
That’s the part that costs everything if you let it win. That’s the price we never talk about.
And it’s the exact reason most people never even start.
But You? You’re Different.
You read to the end of an article about affiliate marketing without a single mention of Lambos or dream boards. That means something.
You’re not here for hype, you’re here for freedom. For something that’s yours. For the kind of quiet, compounding progress that turns “just trying this out” into “I can’t believe this is my life now.”
That doesn’t take thousands.
It takes courage.
It takes consistency.
It takes one scrappy, slightly nervous, wildly optimistic step at a time.
So if you’re asking how much money you need to start, here’s my answer:
Start with what you have. (And mean it.)
Your Canvas Is Empty. Time to Pick a Color.
Let the gurus debate over ad budgets and tech stacks.
You? You’ve got a browser, a story, and a reason that keeps you up at night.
That’s enough. More than enough.
So go ahead, grab your link, build your page, tell your story.
Use the free tools. Make the messy videos. Say the thing that hasn’t been said yet.
And whatever you do, don’t wait for “enough money” to give you permission.
You already have it.
