Once you have decided to start a small business, side hustle, or startup company, you will need to figure out easy ways to cover business expenses with little to no outside investment. Relying on your own money to operate and expand your side hustle or small business is bootstrapping at its finest. Although it is not easy to do, bootstrapping helps you create a self-funded and self-sufficient small business through your savings and personal capital. If you plan to bootstrap your business to the top, here are five simple ways to get your dream off the ground.

Develop a Business Plan

You may have the details of your small business mapped out in your head, but it is beneficial to gather all the components of your business into one comprehensive plan. From the type of legal structure to specific accounting procedures, your business plan provides a detailed synopsis of how your business is funded and how the business will operate. In your business plan, you should detail estimated expenses to start the business and projected revenue in year one to determine where money needs to flow consistently. Your business plan tells you how long it will take to break even on all expenses you spent initially to start the business.

After you have a well-rounded business plan, you should better understand exactly how much money you have raised vs. how much money you will need.

Use Personal Resources

Saving money is the best way to attain money for your small business. Whether you max out your 401k or use credit cards to purchase your first piece of office equipment, your savings will help fund your business without accruing a massive amount of debt. Borrowing money from friends and family brings additional capital to your business, but too much initial debt for your venture will keep you in the red for longer than you’d like.

Design a solid budget with fixed expenses accounting for each month to develop a balanced financial strategy for your business. Determine how much money you need to invest personally and how much you need to raise, to make your small business self-sustainable.

Borrow Money

In emergencies, a personal loan helps your business with supplemental money to persevere through hard times. For some, bad credit is an obstacle to secure this type of money during an emergency. However, there are several types of loans with bad credit available to the savvy bootstrapper. In most cases, to secure a loan with bad credit, you’ll need to search beyond traditional banks or lenders. Loans from online banks or direct communication with small lenders offer better results for individuals with bad credit.

Alternative forms of financing for your small business include merchant cash advances and startup loans. It is important to remember to utilize all available resources to attain capital before borrowing any large loan from a reputable bank.

Wear Multiple Hats

When you first start your small business, it is up to you to perform all necessary duties to ensure your business operates smoothly. For the most part, you will handle everything from accounting to customer interaction to manufacturing and inventory management. Hiring other people to help perform these duties is pricey and counteracts your bootstrapping method. Bootstrapping requires using as little money as possible and as wisely as possible to make the start of your business a success.

For the success of your business, you should not shy away from any duty or responsibility your business needs. Do the dirty work if you must. Hard work is the most important work to help your business operate smoothly.

Surround Your Business With the Right People

Even if your small business only requires the help of a mentor or advisor, be certain this individual is self-driven and successful. Building a profitable business with others requires people around you who go above and beyond the status quo to raise the bar for your business. Your business requires commitment and dedication not only from you but from anyone who is involved with your business strategy. Smart people with take-charge attitudes can make or break the success of your business.

Starting a small business or side hustle through bootstrapping is a rewarding experience. Bootstrapping ensures you start your business on your terms with money generated from your hard work and effort. Though bootstrapping may be a difficult and draining process, the fulfillment of a self-funded and self-sufficient business is a feeling that lasts a lifetime.