Creator Money Playbooks

Creator Money Playbooks

How to Start a Business with $0 (Using Customer Money)

The framework I used to start and build 3 businesses with no money

Terrence Porter's avatar
Terrence Porter
Sep 06, 2025
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Welcome to Creator Money Playbooks, where I help creators take control of their money without jargon, overwhelm, or shame.

Creators earn, spend, save, and grow money differently than 9–5ers. That's why they need a different playbook.

Every Saturday morning, paid subscribers get a playbook to help them understand their money, make smarter decisions, and build a business that pays them back—with freedom, not stress.


Customer money is the only validation that matters.

Yet most creators never start because they think they need money first.

That belief traps more people than any skill gap or market challenge. While you wait for money, customers with real problems are searching for solutions you could deliver today.

Today, I’ll show you how to flip this and use customer money to fund your business.

A single mom and teacher on Reddit nailed it: "I keep watching money gurus say stuff I already know. But I don't have money to do it. When I follow their plan, here's another thing I have to spend money on—but I don't have it.”

Starting a business used to mean convincing banks. Now it means convincing customers. What once required capital1 now just requires clarity and persistence.

My method is different. It starts with nothing and uses customer money to fund everything. No pitch decks. No loans. No waiting for the ‘right time.

I used this exact approach to build three businesses. Amazon does this at scale. And you can do the same thing starting today.

Inside today’s playbook, you’ll discover:

  • The framework that makes starting from $0 possible

  • Why broke creators out-innovate funded competitors

  • How to get your first “yes” in under 60 minutes

  • The billion-dollar cash flow trick anyone can copy

  • The playbook to launch your pilot this week

  • The 7-day challenge to turn that yes into your first paying customer

Most creators never see this—but once you do, you’ll never build the old way again.

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