Ever thought about starting a business but felt overwhelmed by how long it might take?
Well, what if I told you it could take just three days — or even less?

I know it sounds wild, but if you’re ready to make things happen, you really can go from zero to fully set up (and maybe even land your first client) this weekend. In this post, I’ll walk you through the exact steps you can take to start a real, money-making business in just three days.

The Easiest Type of Business to Launch in a Weekend

If you want to start a business fast, service-based businesses are the way to go. Why?

No inventory or shipping required
You don’t need to design or manufacture anything
You can start with skills you already have

That means less time preparing and more time doing (aka getting paid).

Not sure what kind of service to offer? Start by thinking about what you already know how to do. This could be:

Web or graphic design
Admin or virtual assistant work
Customer service support
Content editing (like podcasts or videos)
Social media management

Pro tip: Pick something you can do well and that people would pay good money for. Even if you think your skills aren’t “that special,” I promise — you have something valuable to offer. If you're stuck, try brainstorming with a friend or using AI tools like ChatGPT for ideas.

Right now, let’s pretend you’re starting a podcast editing service as an example for the process I’m going to walk you through. But the same steps apply to any type of service-based business!

Friday: Lay the Foundation

Step 1: Decide What You’re Selling

Choose one service you can offer confidently. It doesn’t need to be perfect — just get clear. Then ask:

What does this service include?
How long will it take to deliver to clients?
What should the price be?

This is your starter package, and the goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to say YES.

Keep it simple:
One package. One flat rate. No complicated pricing tiers or custom quotes just yet.

If you need help figuring this out, grab my free download: The Easiest Business Plan Ever

**From Idea to Income (in 72 Hours)**

Start selling your services with a simple site built on Hostinger — it's fast, affordable, and the easiest way to launch your business in only a weekend.

Step 2: Set Up a Basic Website

Now, technically, you can start a business without a website... but it’s way easier to look legit and land customers if you have one.

Your website tells people:

Who you are
What you do
How they can hire you

To keep things simple, use a tool like Hostinger’s website builder (that’s what I used in this example). It’s super affordable and lets you get online FAST — in minutes, not days.

With Hostinger’s AI builder:

Choose your domain name (it’s included free with their plans!)
Pick a template
Fill in your business name and info
Let the AI website builder design your site!

Then you can tweak the design, update the colors, add your logo, and adjust the copy (words) to really speak to your target customers.

Tip: Don’t spend hours making it perfect. Set a timer for an hour and just get version 1.0 launched.

Saturday: Set Up Operations

Now that your business is visible online, it’s time to make it functional.

Step 3: Set Up Scheduling + Payments

Use a scheduling tool like Calendly, Acuity, or TidyCal to let clients book your services. Many of these platforms also let you:

Collect payments (via PayPal or Stripe)
Send automatic confirmations
Add intake forms

That means… your scheduling software can be your checkout system! 🙌

Once this is set up, your business is ready to make sales!

Step 4: Create a Simple Client Workflow

To make sure nothing falls through the cracks:

Add an intake form (inside your scheduler or via Google Forms)
Make a simple checklist for each new client (on paper or in tools like ClickUp or Asana)

This helps you stay organized without needing fancy project management tools.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business with your state is an important step for legally getting it started. And, fortunately, it’s pretty easy to do!

Register your business name with your state (usually called a DBA or "doing business as" name)
Or file an LLC for more protection (costs ~$100 in most states)
Get an EIN from the IRS website (takes minutes and is free!)

These small steps make your business official and will enable you to open business bank account.

Step 6: Open a Business Bank Account

You’ll need that EIN to open a business bank account, but it’s worth it, because a separate bank account for your business is incredibly useful.

Keeping your personal and business finances separate:

Keeps you organized
Helps with taxes
Makes your business feel real

You can usually apply online or book an appointment at your local bank.

Sunday: Get Your First Clients

You’ve got your offer. You’ve got your website. You’ve registered with your state. And now, you’re ready to roll.

Now it’s time to get the word out.

Step 7: Announce Your New Business

Post about your new service on social media. Use your existing platforms — even if you haven’t posted in a while! Don’t expect big results, but it’s important that you start spreading the word.

Let people know:

What your business is
Why you started it
Who it helps
What you’re offering right now
A special offer for your first 3 clients

This builds awareness AND gives people a reason to act now.

Step 8: Do Direct Outreach

This step might be last, but it is the very most important, so definitely don’t skip it! Make a list of people you can personally tell about your new business.

Even if they’re not ideal clients, they might:

Know someone who needs your help
Share your post
Support you in other ways

Send them a short, personalized message. This isn’t a sales pitch — it’s just letting them know what you’re up to.

Make it friendly. Make it real. Make it YOU.

A Legit Business in 72 Hours

If you follow these steps, by Sunday night, you’ll have:

A clearly defined offer
A working website
A booking and payment system
A legit business name, registration, and bank account
Clients on the way (maybe even that first sale!)

Honestly, right now, the only thing standing between you and a real business is action.

So if you’ve been waiting for the “right time”… this weekend might just be it.

You've got this. 💥

If you're ready to get your new business online fast, Hostinger makes it incredibly simple — even if you’ve never built a website before.

Their AI website builder helps you create a professional-looking site in just minutes, no tech skills needed.

And right now, they’re offering an amazing New Year’s deal (Valid until February 17th, 2026):

💰 84% off their 48-month hosting plan — just $2.99/month
🎉 Plus, get an extra 10% off with code GILLIAN10

How to Start a Business in Just One Weekend

The Easiest Type of Business to Launch in a Weekend