From The $100 Startup
You're inspired. Now let's make it work.
The book showed you what's possible. Here are the free tools and proven frameworks to actually build your micro-business.
6 actionable guides. Instant access. Get to work right away.
You read the book. You got fired up.
Then… what?
You're stuck on "how."
You don't need more inspiration. You need a clear first step, then a second one, then a third.
You want free, proven tools.
We built a library of the exact frameworks from the book: business plans, launch checklists, promotion plans. They're free.
You want to go further, faster.
Your First Sale is a 14-day guided program. From idea to first sale. No theory. Just action.
Your path from reader to business owner
Join the community
Sign up and get instant access to the free resource library — 6 guides and checklists built from $100 Startup principles.
Pick a guide and start
Each guide produces a real result in under an hour. Start with whichever fits your stage.
Go deeper with Your First Sale
14 days from "I have an idea" to "I made my first sale." Starts at $29.
Your free starter library
Six guides built from the frameworks in The $100 Startup. Short, actionable, designed to produce a specific result.
Instant Consulting Business
Turn your existing skills into a consulting offer.
The One-Page Business Plan
Everything your micro-business needs on a single page.
The One-Page Promotion Plan
Your marketing strategy without the complexity.
Become Your Own Publisher
Create and sell information products.
Seven Steps to Market Testing
Validate your idea before you invest serious time.
The 39-Step Product Launch Checklist
Everything to check before, during, and after launch.
People you may have heard of weighed in
“The $100 Startup is a twofer: It's a kick in the pants to get started on your dream and a road map for finding your way once you begin. If you're not ready to launch your own business after reading this book, you need to go back and read it again!”Daniel H. Pink
“The money you have is enough. Chris makes it crystal clear: there are no excuses left. START. Start now, not later. Hurry.”Seth Godin
“Delivers exactly what a new entrepreneur needs: road-tested, effective and exceptionally pragmatic advice for starting a new business on a shoestring.”Pamela Slim
“Crammed with data, checklists, models, and concrete examples. Thoughtful, funny, and compulsively readable, this guide shows how ordinary people can build solid livings, with independence and purpose, on their own terms.”Gretchen Rubin
“Everything Chris Guillebeau does is in earnest. The ideas inside this book will lead you to a better place.”Chris Brogan
“Guillebeau has been in the trenches for years, and in The $100 Startup he guides you step-by-step through how he and dozens of others have turned their passions into profits. It's essential reading for the solopreneur!”Todd Henry
“In this valuable guide Chris Guillebeau shows that transforming an idea into a successful business can be easier than you think … You are in charge of which ideas deserve your time, and this book can help you wake up every morning eager to progress to the next step.”Tony Hsieh
“With traditional career doors slamming shut, it's easy to panic, but Chris Guillebeau sees opportunities everywhere. Making a career out of your passion sounds like a dream, but in this straight-forward, engaging book he shows you how to get it done, one simple step at a time.”Alan Paul
“This book is more than a “how to” guide, it's a “how they did it” guide that should persuade anyone thinking about starting a business that they don't need a fortune to make one.”John Jantsch
Frequently asked questions
Is this the book?
No. This site offers free implementation tools and a paid guided program built on the book's frameworks. Think of it as the "now go do it" companion.
Are the free resources really free?
Yes. Sign up with your email and get immediate access to all 6 guides. No credit card. No trial. They're yours.
What's the difference between the free resources and Your First Sale?
The free resources are standalone reference guides. Your First Sale is a structured 14-day step-by-step program where each day builds on the last.
Do I need the book to use these tools?
It helps, but isn't required. The tools are designed to stand on their own.
Who's behind this?
This is a project by Chris Guillebeau. See the About page for more.