You don't need a big advertising budget to get your business off the ground. Your first customers are closer than you think, and reaching them costs more effort than money.
Updated September 2026
Getting your first customer feels like a milestone. Getting your first ten feels like a business. Those early customers do more than pay the bills. They prove people want what you offer, they tell you what to improve, and if you treat them well, they become the people who bring you the next ten.
The good news is that you can reach your first ten customers without spending much at all. Here's how.
Start with the people who already know you
1. Tell everyone, personally
Your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and church family are your first marketing team. Don't just post once and hope they see it. Reach out one by one with a personal message or phone call. Tell them what you're offering, who it's for, and ask a simple question: "Do you know anyone who could use this?" Most people are happy to help when you ask directly.
2. Make a list of 50 names
Sit down and write out 50 people you know. Next to each name, write whether they might be a customer, might know a customer, or might be able to spread the word. This list becomes your roadmap for the next few weeks. Work through it steadily, a few conversations each day.
3. Offer a "founding customer" deal
Give your first customers a reason to say yes now. A small introductory discount, a free add-on, or a bonus service can tip someone from "maybe later" to "let's do it." In return, ask for honest feedback and a review. Keep the deal limited, so it feels special and doesn't become your permanent price.
Make yourself easy to find
4. Set up a free Google Business Profile
When someone in Erie searches for what you offer, a Google Business Profile helps you show up in local results and on Google Maps. It's free. Add clear photos, your hours, a description of what you do, and how to contact you. Even home-based and mobile businesses can set one up and choose to show a service area instead of an address.
5. Use Facebook the local way
A business Facebook page is free and lets people see your work, read reviews, and message you. Beyond your own page, join local community groups for Erie neighborhoods, local buy-and-sell groups, and groups related to your industry. Read each group's rules first. Then show up as a helpful neighbor, not a salesperson. Answer questions, share tips, and mention your business when it genuinely fits the conversation.
6. Post what you're doing, not just what you're selling
People connect with people. Share behind-the-scenes photos, a quick video of your work in progress, a happy customer (with their permission), or the story of why you started. These posts feel personal, and they tend to get far more attention than a plain sales pitch.
Get out into the community
7. Show up where your customers already are
Think about where the people you want to serve spend their time. That might be church events, community festivals, farmers markets, school activities, neighborhood meetings, or craft fairs. Setting up a table or simply attending and talking with people can lead to real customers, and many community events charge little or nothing to participate.
8. Partner with other small businesses
Look for businesses that serve the same customers you want but don't compete with you. A caterer and a cake baker, a hair stylist and a nail tech, or a cleaning service and a property manager can send each other referrals. You can also swap social media shout-outs or display each other's cards. Partnerships cost nothing and put you in front of customers who already trust someone else's recommendation.
9. Teach what you know
Offer a free short workshop, demonstration, or talk related to your business at a church, library, community center, or local group. A baker can teach a decorating basics class. A bookkeeper can explain simple money tips for small businesses. Teaching shows off your skills and builds trust quickly, and attendees often become customers.
Turn customers into your marketing
10. Ask for reviews and referrals every time
When a customer is happy, ask them to leave a review on Google or Facebook. Make it easy by sending them the link directly. Then ask, "Is there anyone else you know who might need this?" A simple referral reward, like a discount on their next purchase, gives them an extra reason to spread the word.
11. Follow up
A quick thank-you message or a check-in a week later leaves a lasting impression. It shows you care, gives you a chance to fix any problems, and keeps your business top of mind when they or someone they know needs you again.
Keep it simple: Pick three or four of these ideas and do them consistently instead of trying everything at once. A few steady conversations every day will add up faster than you think.
What to skip for now
Save the paid ads, the expensive printed materials, and the big marketing packages until later. Once you have your first ten customers, you'll know who they are, how they found you, and what they value most. That knowledge will make every future marketing dollar work much harder.
We're here to help you grow
The Achievers Entrepreneurial Hub at the Community Cornerstone Project supports Erie's small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs at every stage. If you'd like help figuring out where your first customers are or how to reach them, reach out. We'd love to cheer you on as you land your first ten, and the next ten after that.
This post is for general information and isn't legal, tax, or financial advice.