(For Studying Levels SL 0–3, SL 4–8, and SL 9–10)
Finding your first real business to work with is the moment everything changes. Once you understand how to identify a business with real demand—and how to approach them the right way—you unlock the fastest path to earning money, building experience, and developing skills that pay for the rest of your life.
Most young people never get real momentum because they wait for opportunities to come to them. The truth is the opposite: opportunities appear when you intentionally put yourself in the path of businesses that already need help getting customers.
This guide walks you through the exact strategy for spotting the right businesses, approaching them professionally, and sending simple messages that get responses.
Step 1: How to Spot Businesses Worth Working With
Not every business is a good first opportunity. You’re looking for a few specific types:
1. Businesses With Constant Customer Demand
These businesses get new customers every week and lose customers every week—meaning they always need more.
Examples:
• gyms
• restaurants
• dental clinics
• salons/barbers
• tutoring centers
• real estate agents
• repair shops
• local clothing boutiques
• home service businesses
2. Businesses That Sell Something Customers Already Want
Avoid convincing people to want something. Instead, choose businesses where customers already buy consistently.
Examples:
• hosting companies
• insurance brokers
• plumbers
• HVAC services
• cleaning services
• fitness coaches
• e-commerce stores
• baby products
• event planners
3. Businesses With Predictable LTV (lifetime value)
Meaning: a customer is worth a lot of money over time.
These businesses love anyone who can bring new customers.
Examples:
• clinics
• coaching programs
• subscription businesses
• real estate brokers
• B2B SaaS tools
• accounting firms
• marketing agencies
4. Businesses That Look Active
You can scan for signs of life very quickly:
• They post on Instagram sometimes
• Their Google Business Profile is active
• People walk in and out
• They run ads
• Their website is updated
• They respond to comments
Active = hungry for growth.
Step 2: Where to Find These Businesses (Online + Offline)
Offline (in your city)
Walk through commercial areas and look for:
• crowded places
• places with foot traffic but poor marketing
• businesses with old or weak online presence
• businesses with printed flyers or posters (means they want customers)
• small chains (1–5 branches)
Go to malls, markets, plazas, community centers, sports centers, and business clusters.
Online
Use:
• Google Maps → search “near me”
• Instagram → your city + business type
• TikTok → local businesses posting content
• Facebook Marketplace → small service providers
• Yelp → businesses with new reviews
• LinkedIn → B2B companies posting occasionally
• Upwork → agencies or small companies looking for growth help
• Crunchbase → small startups in your area
Best online method:
Search:
“city name + marketing internship”
Then message the businesses—not to intern, but to help with customer growth.
These companies are already asking for help.
Step 3: What to Look for Before Messaging Them
Before pitching yourself, check three things:
1. Do they have something to fix immediately?
• bad photos
• no videos
• weak Google profile
• no customer reviews
• poor website
• no content
• weak offer
This gives you something concrete to help them with.
2. Is the owner visible?
A business where the owner is reachable is 100× easier to close.
Check:
• owner listed on Google Maps
• owner’s Instagram
• owner replies to comments
• owner shows up in videos
3. Can you create a quick “proof piece”?
A small sample of value that shows what you can do.
Examples:
• a better version of their top photo
• a sample short-form video
• a cleaned-up Google profile
• a mini list of 20 potential customers
• a rewritten offer
• a sample ad creative
• a sample blog post or social media caption
Proof pieces get replies immediately.
Step 4: How to Approach Them Professionally
There are only three things you need:
- A simple intro
- A sample of value (your “proof piece”)
- A low-pressure offer for a short test
Keep it calm, confident, and professional.
Templates You Can Use (Email, DM, Text Message)
Below are plug-and-play templates for approaching your first business.
Template 1 — Short DM (Instagram/TikTok/Facebook)
Version for Local Businesses
“Hi [Name], I made a quick sample showing how your business could get [X] more [customers/leads/signups] in [Y days]. No charge for the test. Want me to send it?”
Version for B2B
“Hi [Name], I built a small list of prospects who match your ideal customer profile. I can run a short outreach test for free. Want to see the list?”
Version for Technical/AI
“Hi [Name], I wrote a sample technical piece showing how your product solves [specific pain]. It’s designed to get the attention of engineering teams. Want me to send it?”
Template 2 — Longer DM
“Hey [Name], I noticed a few simple opportunities your business could use to bring in more customers this month. I created a small sample to show you what it looks like. It’s free—if it works, we can discuss a simple weekly plan. Can I send it here?”
Template 3 — Email Subject Lines
• “Quick idea to get 25 more customers this month”
• “Small improvement that could boost your leads fast”
• “Free sample that might help your business grow”
• “Short test that could increase your bookings”
Template 4 — Email Body (Short & Professional)
Hi [Name],
I put together a small sample showing how your business could generate [X] more [leads/customers/signups] in [Y days]. No charge for the initial test—if it works, we can talk about a small weekly plan.
Want me to send it?
—[Your Name], [1-line credibility]
Examples of credibility lines:
• “I help local businesses grow with simple marketing”
• “I help B2B companies get more leads with targeted outreach”
• “I create technical content that drives demo requests”
Step 5: How This Applies to All SL Levels
SL 0–3:
Focus on simple, high-demand local businesses.
Gyms, salons, dentists, restaurants, repair shops, clothing boutiques.
Your strength = real-world doing + communication.
Your path = content + customer growth + simple offers.
SL 4–8:
Mix practical customer work + some studying.
Target small B2B companies, hosting services, agencies, e-commerce brands.
This gives you skills + knowledge + income + resume strength.
SL 9–10:
Combine:
• customer growth
• technical study
• content creation in your field
Pick technical industries with high revenue impact:
AI, engineering, software, robotics, biotech, infrastructure.
You become the rare person who can grow customers and understand the technical product—this leads to extremely high earning potential.