How to get clients in Bogotá: offer your services and publish your business for free (no commission)

Bogotá is Colombia's services hub: it concentrates nearly a quarter of national GDP and most of its business fabric consists of tiny businesses. Around 99% of newly created companies are microenterprises and many people work for themselves. Translation: if you offer a service or have a small business in Bogotá, your challenge isn't lack of market, it's getting customers to find you. This guide shows you how to get customers in Bogotá by publishing your services free and with no commission, what you need legally, and how to write an ad that actually converts.

How to get customers in Bogotá as a freelancer or independent

The strategies that work locally in Bogotá are simple but you have to be consistent:

• Have a presence where people search. Word of mouth is still king, but new customers search for you on Google, social media and marketplaces. You need at least one public and permanent place where your service, your area and how to contact you appear.
• Make direct contact easy. A customer who has to fill out forms or wait for a response goes to the next one. Direct WhatsApp is the norm in Colombia.
• Show real work. Photos of your work, your location or your team generate more trust than a thousand adjectives.
• Define your coverage area. "Graphic design in Bogotá" competes with the whole country; "product photography in Chapinero and Usaquén" attracts the right customer.
• Ask for reviews and referrals. Every satisfied customer is your best salesperson.

On Colombia Move you can create a service ad or business profile in minutes, with your area, your photos and your WhatsApp visible. If you want the general version for the whole country, also read our guide on how to get customers for your services in Colombia; this one you're reading is the specific version for Bogotá.

Publish your services free and with no commission: why it's worth it

Here's the difference that matters. Publishing your service or business on Colombia Move is free, fast and with no commission: the customer contacts you directly (via WhatsApp, phone, email or in person) and you keep 100% of what you charge. There's no percentage deducted from each sale.

Compare it with platforms that charge per transaction. "Free to publish" is not the same as "free to sell":

• MercadoLibre Colombia doesn't charge to publish, but it does deduct a commission from each sale (varies quite a bit depending on the category and if you offer installments).
• Fiverr deducts 20% from the seller on each order.
• Workana charges the freelancer a commission that starts high and goes down depending on how much that client has paid you, plus a fee to the client.

The exact percentages change, so check the official simulator on each platform before deciding. The point is simple: on a recurring service, those commissions add up a lot over the year. Publishing your service free and closing the deal on your own keeps that money in your pocket.

Services and businesses most offered in Bogotá (be among the first)

These are the categories where Bogotá freelancers and businesses are publishing — and where there's still room to be among the first in your area:

• Graphic design, 3D and content — logos, renders, social media (see category).
• Legal advice and procedures — visas, SAS incorporation, contracts, real estate (procedures and legal in Bogotá).
• Beauty and barbershop — at home or at location (beauty and barbershop in Bogotá).
• Events, catering and entertainment — from private chef to shows at home (see category).
• Trades and home repairs — plumbing, electrical, moving, cleaning.
• Local businesses and shops — materials, decoration, home products and more.

Since supply is just growing in many of these categories in Bogotá, opening yours today gives you an advantage: you appear first when someone searches for that service in the city.

How to write a service ad that converts

A good ad gets contacted; a weak one gets ignored. These are the elements the form asks for and that matter most:

• Clear and specific title (max. 120 characters): include the service + the area. Ex.: "Certified electrician — home service in north Bogotá".
• Complete description (minimum 50 characters, up to 3,000): tell your experience, the format (in-person, home service, remote), your availability, the prices and your coverage area.
• Price or quote: in services the price is optional. You can set "per hour", "per project" or leave it as negotiable / to be agreed if you prefer to quote.
• Minimum one photo or video: previous work, your location or your equipment. Visual proof sells.
• At least one contact method: direct WhatsApp is what generates the most responses.

On Colombia Move managing your ad doesn't require a password — you log in with WhatsApp, Telegram, Google or email — so it's easy even if you're not very technical. Your profile stays verifiable, with direct contact and no commissions.

Reach customers by neighborhood and zone in Bogotá

Bogotá is huge, and customers prefer someone nearby. Posting with your neighborhood or zone (Chapinero, Usaquén, Suba, Kennedy, downtown and surroundings) helps you appear in local searches and close faster because you reduce travel time. Explore how ads look by city and zone on Bogotá's page.

Do I need RUT, invoice or SAS to offer services in Bogotá?

Good news: you can start getting clients before fully formalizing, and the first step is free.

• RUT (free and online): as a natural person or freelancer, the DIAN RUT is all you need to invoice and contract formally. Registration is 100% free and online (with your digitized document and an email) and must be done before starting economic activity. We leave you the step by step to get your RUT.
• Is invoice mandatory? A natural person not responsible for VAT is normally not required to issue a sales invoice; the business customer who needs to support the expense uses the "support document". Note: those who practice liberal professions (lawyers, accountants, engineers, etc.) and those who enter the Simple Regime must issue electronic invoices.
• Commercial registration (for businesses/merchants): if you sell products or have a business, you must register with the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce within the first month of activity and renew registration every year between January 1 and March 31.
• SAS (optional, for a formal company): if you want limited liability, you can incorporate a SAS — created by one person, by private document and online through the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce; first verify the name in the RUES. For those who only provide personal services, the RUT is almost always enough.
• Simple Regime (RST): an optional path that unifies several taxes into a single annual declaration. It has limits (measured in UVT, not in pesos, because the value changes each year) and requires electronic signature and electronic invoice, so it's not "zero paperwork".

And if you want free help to formalize in Bogotá, Bogotá Emprende (from the Mayor's Office and the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce) and the Entrepreneurship Route from the CCB offer free advice, workshops and support.

Protect yourself from scams (and protect your customers)

Keep the entire transaction under your control:

• Never pay for "signing up", "activating" or a "membership" to get a client or job. Publishing on Colombia Move is free; whoever charges you to let you work is scamming you.
• Meet in public or verifiable places and be suspicious of anyone who insists on paying or advancing money outside the platform before any work or meeting.
• Watch out for "overpayment" and fake receipts: the classic is transferring too much and asking for the "refund".
• Verify the other person before sharing your ID or documents.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to publish my service or business? Yes. Publishing and receiving contacts is free and with no commission; the customer writes to you directly.

Do I need RUT to start? To invoice and contract formally, yes — and getting it is free and online. A natural person not responsible for VAT can offer services and charge without issuing an invoice in many cases.

How do customers contact me? By the method you choose: WhatsApp, phone, email, Telegram or in person. You manage the conversation and closing.

Do I need a SAS? Not to offer personal services. SAS is a later step if you want a formal company with limited liability.