Get Your First 5 Paying Clients..... #137
- Adrian Dionisio - business737 owner
- May 27
- 4 min read
If you're starting out as a solopreneur, entrepreneur or founder, you've probably got one big question that needs to be answered:
"How do I get paying clients?"
There are so many business strategies out there—funnels, lead magnets, webinars, ads, and complex sales systems. But the truth is, when you’re just starting, you don’t need complexity. You need clarity, confidence, and a clear system to take action.
As a business consultant who helps solopreneurs, founders, and service-based professionals build real momentum, I’ve seen one thing over and over again:
Your first 5 clients don’t come from a marketing agency or a $10,000 website.
They come from people you already know—if you reach out the right way.
Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Build Your Warm Contact List
This is where most solopreneurs skip a goldmine. Before thinking about cold outreach or paid ads, start with people already in your life. These are your warm leads.
Start with:
Email Contacts – export your Gmail/Outlook list
Social Media Followers – make a list of people you’ve messaged or interacted with
Phone Contacts – your phonebook is full of past connections
Even if you think “these people won’t be interested,” remember: they might not buy, but they could refer someone who will.
This is a low-cost, high-return business strategy that every new entrepreneur should implement in the first 30 days.
Step 2: Pick One Platform to Start With
You don’t need to be everywhere at once.
Pick one platform where you already have attention or connections:
LinkedIn: Perfect for consultants, coaches, and B2B professionals
Instagram: Great if you’ve already built some personal following
WhatsApp/DMs: Ideal for personal, direct outreach
Focus helps. Scattered marketing = scattered results.
As a business consultant, I often remind new founders that trying to dominate every platform at once is a recipe for burnout, not business growth.
Step 3: Personalize Your Outreach (Don’t Copy-Paste)
Most people ignore salesy messages. But they’ll respond to real humans who care.
Before you reach out, take a few seconds to create your message:
Relationship-based marketing is the best kind of small business advice I can give anyone just starting out. It leads to authentic conversations, not pushy sales pitches.
Step 4: Send 100 Messages a Day
This is where most solopreneurs hesitate. "That feels like too much!"
But think about it:
If you send 100 messages
And get a 10% reply rate
That’s 10 conversations
Which could lead to 2–3 client calls
And possibly 1–2 paying clients
That’s real business growth without spending a dime on marketing.
One of my entrepreneur clients—a life coach—did exactly this. She reached out to 100 people a day for 5 days. She booked 7 calls and signed 3 clients that week.
Step 5: Warm Up the Conversation with ACA
When someone responds, don’t jump into your offer. Use this simple conversation framework:
Acknowledge something about them
Compliment their effort or achievement
Ask a question that relates to your offer
This opens the door to real, valuable connection.
And connection drives client conversion—especially in service-based businesses where trust is everything.
Step 6: Ask for Referrals, Not Sales
One of the smartest business strategies is not to ask directly for a sale—but for a referral.
Try saying:
“I’ve started offering [your service] and helping people [solve problem]. Do you know anyone who might be struggling with that?”
This creates zero pressure. And it activates a powerful psychological trigger: people want to help.
Referrals are often easier than direct sales—especially when you’re new.
Step 7: Offer a Free Trial to Build Proof & Confidence
Once someone shows interest, offer your service for free to a few people—but with conditions:
They give honest feedback
They provide a testimonial
They refer you to others if they’re happy
Solopreneurs need proof—and this is how you build it from day one.
Step 8: Go Back and Reconnect
Your first round of messages? Some people won’t respond.
That’s okay.
Follow up in a few days. Something like:
“Hey! Just circling back in case this slipped through the cracks. Would love your thoughts on what I mentioned!”
Follow-ups are where many new entrepreneurs get results—because most people are busy, not uninterested.
Step 9: Start Charging—Gradually
After a few successful free sessions, move to:
Each client builds your confidence, reputation, and business growth momentum.
Don’t wait until you “feel ready” to charge. Start small and increase over time. This is one of the best pieces of small business advice I can give.
Step 10: Keep Showing Up and Providing Value
Now that you’ve got your first few clients, your real job begins:
Keep checking in
Share helpful tips
Post valuable content
Stay top of mind
Clients come back. Clients refer. But only if you stay visible.
This is how solopreneurs become booked-out professionals. This is how entrepreneurs evolve into trusted brands.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait—Start Now
Getting your first 5 paying clients isn’t about having a perfect funnel or viral content. It’s about starting conversations, building trust, and delivering real value.
You have the skill. You have the network. Now, all you need is the plan.
This 10-step strategy has helped countless founders, solopreneurs, and small business owners go from “stuck” to signing their first clients—without wasting time or money.
🚀 Ready to Grow Your Business with Expert Guidance?
You don’t need another course. You need a plan. You need a partner. You need progress.
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