How Much Do You Really Need to Get Started: A Point-by-Point Breakdown
I'm continuing my series by answering one of the most common questions I get: "How much do I need to invest to get started?" I'll give you an honest, point-by-point breakdown with no sugar-coating.
The Short Answer
In terms of money? Nothing is mandatory. That doesn't mean there are zero costs, but the barrier to entry is lower than most people think.
What You Actually Need
- A smartphone. Mine is a pretty standard model, not top-of-the-line. That's enough to get started—no special equipment is required.
- Time. This is the only resource you'll truly spend, and the only one I'd call a "mandatory investment."
- Internet. It sounds obvious, but you can't get anywhere without a stable connection.
- The willingness to figure things out on your own. You can't buy this, but without it, everything else is useless.
What's Not Essential, But Can Be Helpful
- A tripod. I didn't get one right away; I shot my first videos by literally propping my phone up with books. Is it more convenient? Yes, but it's not critical.
- Paid editing software. I still use the free DaVinci Resolve and CapCut, which I mentioned in my very first article. Paid programs haven't become a necessity for me.
- Extra lighting or a microphone. A nice bonus for quality, but definitely not where you need to start.
What I Advise Against
- Don't buy expensive equipment before you've tried the format. I've seen people splurge on gear only to quickly lose interest—the money just ends up collecting dust.
- Don't invest money you can't afford to lose in the platform itself. You're the one who should be getting paid, not the other way around. I'd consider any offer to "make a deposit to start" a red flag—not just here, but in any similar situation.
- Don't go into debt to "speed up your results." It doesn't speed anything up, but it does add a lot of unnecessary stress.
How I Spent My First Few Weeks
Honestly, for the first few weeks, I didn't spend any money at all—just my time in the evenings and in the gaps between my classes. The only "expense" was using a bit of my mobile data. Everything else came later, and not out of necessity, but for the sake of convenience.
The Main Takeaway!
The financial barrier to entry is low, but the barrier to effort is high. If someone tells you that you need to urgently buy or pay for something to get started, that's a signal to be cautious, not to rush in.
A Question for You?
Have you ever encountered a situation where you were asked to invest money "to get started"? What was your gut reaction—were you immediately suspicious, or did it take a moment to realize something was off?