Starting a wellness business can be an exciting and fulfilling endeavor. However, it’s important to have the right tools in order to get off on the right foot. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available for those looking for ways to set up their business with minimal upfront cost. Here are five essential tools that a wellness practitioner needs to start their business for nearly nothing.

1. Brand logo.

When creating a brand name, you can opt for a catchy phrase or even use your own name. Ultimately, you will want to create a logo that is unique and memorable. Use an online logo maker to design one or hire a professional graphic designer on sites like Fiverr.com to work with you on the project.

Using a site like Canva can help you look at pre-designed brand logo templates that, once again, you can customize. You can then use this brand identity to be consistent across all platforms. You will want to make sure that you have a unified look for all communications materials such as business cards, flyers, and banners.

You can also use this logo design to create digital assets such as cover images for social media accounts, profile pictures, and background images. It is a great way of branding yourself and conveying an overall message for what you do as a business.

2. A Website.

Create a website to showcase your services, list contact information and create an online booking system.

Having an online presence will help people not only find you locally and remotely, but also give you the opportunity to establish credibility. A website should include detailed information about your services and a way for customers to easily book appointments.

There are many free and affordable options to create a website. One suggestion I highly recommend is using Canva.com, a free and powerful design site that offers pre-designed templates that you can customize! That's right! Canva already has hundreds of page layouts for you to choose from, so you won't forget the important parts you'll need in your site, like the About Me, Products and Services and Contact Us pages.

Simply go to Canva and type website in the search bar. Then, thumb through the many designs and begin creating your own. They even let you use a website they provide if you do not yet have your own domain purchased.

3. Social Media Presence.

Social media is essential to reach potential clients and generate leads. Set up a Facebook, Instagram and Twitter account for your business. Of course, there are paid advertising options, but you can certainly grow your online presence organically.

Start by creating content that is engaging and interesting to your target audience. You can post pictures, videos and stories related to your services as well as helpful tips and advice. This will help drive traffic to your website and build a relationship with potential clients.

You may also consider joining relevant groups on social media platforms so you can share your content and increase your visibility. You want to be sure to include a link back to your website in all of your posts so that people can easily find you and learn more about what you do.

4. Payment Processing Software.

A payment processing system allows you to accept payments online, in-person and through invoicing. There are many options that will not cost you a ton in fees, while also keeping track of all your income and expenses so you can accurately report numbers at tax time.

Some options include Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, Square and more. Their fees will vary but can be worth the convenience and security they provide. The last thing you want is to not have a secure way of collecting payments or getting paid in full. Research all the payment processing services available to you and choose one that is best for your business.

5. Accounting Software.

Use an accounting software such as Xero or QuickBooks to manage your finances, generate invoices and track expenses. There are affordable options that include basic features such as tracking income, expenses and invoices.

These programs are also incredibly helpful for tax season. All your financial information is in one place which makes it easier to stay organized and keep track of everything. Research all the available software options that fit your budget and choose one that will make managing your business finances much simpler.

These 5 tools are pretty much all you need to get started with your wellness business for nearly nothing. With the right combination of skill, determination and a commitment to showing up, you can turn these tools into a thriving and profitable practice. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start building your dream business! See you in class!

It's not always easy to get out of debt. Sure, there are tons of financial experts that will tell you that all you need to do is spend less than what you earn and save the rest. But it's not always as easy as it sounds - especially if your income is low. That doesn't mean it can't be done though! There are many ways we got out of debt on a low income - some might even surprise you! Here are our top tips for saving money now!

Cut them grocery costs.

You hear this one all of the time but that is likely because it is one of the biggest budget busters out there. It is a variable expense typically, meaning the costs can change month-to-month. This can be a good thing, though, because it means you have control over what is spent where when feeding your family. From dining out to meals made each day.

Did you know the average American family with two kids under 5 spend around $928 a month on food? Save money on groceries by trying the following different strategies:

plan your meals for the week and buy for the day or week based on what's on sale in weekly ads.
give online shopping and (free) pickup. Not only will you know how much you'll spend as you place items in your cart, but you'll also avoid anything you would normally grab unnecessarily.
get out that cash envelope and make sure you don't have a card with you when you shop. You'll be much more inclined to stick to your cash budget when you are checking out with a specific amount of cash to cover your purchases. An extra tip? Set aside your spare change each day or week from that cash!

Cancel automatic subscriptions.

If you can, look at all of the subscriptions that automatically renew and ask yourself how often you actually use them or need to be billed for these services each month. For us, it was the gym membership and the Amazon prime. I wasn't committed to the gym and I wasn't shopping online often enough to justify a monthly Prime fee.

Beyond this more obvious subscription-ending tip is also one that is more psychologically helpful - if you ask me! I unsubscribed from all the Etsy emails tempting me with the amazing new products for sale and the digital content strategists and coaches always sending me their well-written copy, promoting their next course or printable. All those one-time $27 purchases add up! So, I highly recommend unsubscribing from those daily emails constantly coming in your inbox and disrupting your devotion to debt freedom!

Go generic!

There's no shame in buying generic over brand name. In fact, most generic brands are actually the same product that are made in the same facility as their brand name counterparts. The only difference is typically packaging and price!

Say Tootles to the Tube!

Nowadays, there are tons of streaming apps that are replacing the very costly cable services that still exist. Even with DVRs recording multiple shows at once, there is only so much time in the day to watch what you want. Why not just opt for an affordable app that allows you to stream what you want, when you want it. Avoid the cable costs and save an average of $2600 a year!

Spark a conversation with your electric company.

It is possible to save with your energy and electric bills. Call your service providers and ask them about any specific programs or peak hour plans they have that could help you save based on the usage unique to your home! Also, opt for some of these awesome ideas from Dave Ramsey at Ramsey Solutions:

Take shorter showers
fix them leaky pipes
wash clothes in cold water
swap lightbulbs out for LED bulbs

Ensure you check your Insurance

There are several different types of insurance coverage to choose from - home, life, car and umbrella for starters! Maybe there is a better policy out there that will save you money or get you more bang for your buck in terms of what it covers. Even if the increase seems minuscule (a few dollars/month), multiply this by 12 months and you'll see how much money it adds up to over a year.

Look into insurance providers in your area that have a good reputation for service, affordability and an easy claim process if needed! Do not be afraid to shop around and to tell agents you'll get back to them after comparing rates!

Make your coffee and lunches at home!

This one might not sound as exciting but you can get all kinds of creative. Lunch and coffee at home does not have to be boring or basic. Mix and match what you want and make your lunch enjoyable! You'll save an average of $294 a month if you're like the average household that spends $3526 a year on food outside the home!

Plus, with amazing coffee already made at home, you're getting a hot cup of joe before you even take on the commute, plus skipping all the drive-thru drama and time wasted!

WIN-WIN-WIN

Ask about in-cash discounts

We tried this one out a few times during our debtfree journey! While we aren't big shoppers to begin with, when it did come time to buy, you can bet we still tried to score a deal within reason. American Furniture didn't budge but surprisingly, the first few appliance places we went to would have, if we ended up getting their products. We opted for American Furniture since it saved us so much more in the overall total, but it is definitely worth asking if you can pay less with cash up front.

Ooooh, another area this worked was at one of those Kiosks at the mall when my husband, Ryan, needed to get a new shatterproof glass cover for his phone. They had just charged another guy $30 but when we walked up and said I've got 15 cash, they took it. It is always worth asking!

Another tip here too is that, just because you have more funds available doesn't mean you have to own up to that. Do it with integrity for sure, but set a price you're willing to pay and then, from there, negotiate. We did this recently with mold removal from a company after we moved in. While we have 3-6 months of savings, we agreed not to spend more than $3400 on mold removal.

When the price came to $3700, we stated that we only had $3400 available and that we would NOT be financing it. Sure enough, they came up with *all the discounts* right then and there to magically add to our quote, getting us to $3400. A first-time customer discount, a labor discount and a military discount. Just like that. Within seconds of hearing that we would get additional quotes for the same service from local providers if they couldn't do it for $3400.

Obviously, pray about it too. You don't want to stiff anyone. Especially small business. But, be reasonable and set a price you're willing to spend. Then ask if that can be honored given an up-front cash payment.

Call your cell phone service provider.

Consider cutting costs on your cell phone bills. This one is a biggie for sure. We cut our phone bill from $120 a month to just under $60/month by calling the provider and asking for an upgrade on our plan! Ask about discounts and make sure you understand all the charges you're being billed for each month.

Another tip here is to check with your service provider and see what the best package deal is for you! This will be different depending on who you use, but we found that some providers offer better deals than others based solely on where they are in town.

Do a no-spend week or month!

This can be super fun and you can even track your no-spend days on an engaging and celebratory social media post or fill-in chart. They have them for free online as well as on Canva's free platform. Just look up goal tracker templates and customize for your unique no-spend objectives!

Barter or borrow

Before blowing funds on a one-time or infrequently used product for lawn care or a craft, consider borrowing from your neighbors. You can oftentimes ask on Facebook Pages dedicated to neighborhoods in your area. Look for groups like "Buy Nothing Neighborhood Name" and see what populates!

Use Cash back apps and coupons!

Turn the money you're already spending on them groceries into cash back! Check out Honey (a browser extension) that shops online deals for you and places them in your cart on your behalf. Rakuten is always a good deal and sometimes they offer up to $40.00 cash back when you refer folks during the holiday season! You can join here and start RAK'in up the savings!

If you're looking for an easy way to make more money, first FIND and SAVE the money you are already making! Cut costs where you can and repurpose those funds to achieve debt freedom! There are many ways that we were able to do this by negotiating prices and getting discounts on products or services. Still have questions? Ask away!

5 Tools a Wellness Practitioner can use to Start their Business for Nearly Nothing