The startup scene is not for the faint of heart, especially if you’re heading into the game flat broke. Packing up and moving to San Francisco or Silicon Valley to get your startup running, funded, and thriving is the new American Dream. But anywhere tech thrives isn’t cheap for long and San Francisco is now one of the most expensive cities in the world thanks to high rents. At $4.95/square foot, rent in San Francisco is higher than even NYC and Hong Kong. Despite all that, there’s no replacing the innovative edge you get when you’re surrounded by talented, motivated people. So, wondering how to get your startup off the ground when you’re flat broke?

If you’re broke but committed to bringing your startup to life, there’s only one thing you need: time. Time to get your idea off the ground, time to find funding, and time to get your product to market. When you’re broke, time means stretching the little money you have as far as possible. With all of your time and resources going into your startup, here’s how you can live cheap and keep yourself afloat.

How To Get Your Startup Off The Ground When You’re Flat Broke

#1 Cheap Rent

How are you supposed to find cheap rent in a city like San Francisco, New York, or D.C., where tech talent is plentiful? Start doubling up. Live with your coworkers. Rent a house and sublet the bedrooms while you and your team hunker down in the living room. Make your home your office. You can also seek out cheaper neighbourhoods in those expensive metros. They may feel a bit further out than you’d like, but if you’re committed to this startup, you won’t be focused on the nightlife for now. If you’re going to bunk up with your coworkers, make sure you know them really well.

#2 Cook for Yourself

It’s going to be tough not to opt for takeout every night when you’re up late scrambling to meet deadlines and get more work out of your limited time. But your money will stretch a lot further if you learn how to cook for yourself instead of always getting takeout. You can eat well and save money if you find out where you can get the best deals on meat, produce, and all the necessities.

#3 Emergency Plans

The time will come when a crisis stretches your finances. Maybe you had to sink the last of your money into the business or someone rear-ended your car. A loan is your obvious solution, but thanks to your career choice, it can be tough getting traditional banking services as a startup founder. When you’re down to zero but not ready to give up, fast payday loans online can bail you out of a personal crisis. Online direct lenders like MoneyKey do it all online, quickly and simply. Because they remove many of the complexities and barriers that can stop you from getting help from conventional sources, these lenders can be your lifeline in personal emergencies. Get yourself out of a crisis and get back to work A.S.A.P. with an online payday loan.

You can make your startup work if you know how to survive. As you get on your feet, it’s going to be all about making what little money you have stretch as long as possible. The only thing you really need to buy yourself is time.