Generating sales when you are a startup can seem like a daunting task. However, with creativity, strategic planning, and leveraging available resources, you can build a sales operation that's both effective and lean. Here are some suggestions on how:

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1. Understand Your Market and Product

• Know Your Audience: Before you can sell, you need to understand who your customers are.  Try to figure this out by using some free tools like Google Trends, social media insights, or even some basic surveys to gather data about your target market's needs, preferences, and pain points.
• Product-Market Fit: Ensure your product or service genuinely meets the needs of the market. Gathering feedback from some of your early adopters or beta testers can be invaluable here, potentially costing you nothing but time.

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2. Leverage Your Network

• Personal Connections: Start with your existing network. Friends, family and past colleagues, can be your first customers or refer you to others. Personal recommendations carry weight, especially in the initial stages.
• Networking Events: Attend industry meetups, local business events, or online webinars. These can be low-cost or free ways to meet potential clients or partners. Platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite are great for finding such events.
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3. DIY Sales Strategy

• Everyone sells! Get everyone on your team to sell. Make sure you have a good ‘elevator pitch.’   A quick paragraph that describes what the company does and the benefits it will provide to the user of the product or service.   This approach not only saves money but also allows you and your team to learn directly from customer interactions.  
• Email Marketing: Tools like Mailchimp or even Gmail with some automation can help you reach out to potential sales leads without much cost.
• Social media: Platforms like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram can be used for direct messaging or posting content that attracts your target audience.
• Cold Calling/Emailing: Though time-consuming, this can be effective. Use tools like Hunter.io for finding email addresses or LinkedIn for direct connection.

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4. Build a Lean Sales Team

• Commission-Based Sales: If you cannot afford salaries, consider hiring salespeople on a commission-only basis. This aligns their interests with your business's success.
• Interns or Part-Timers: Look for students or individuals looking for part-time work who might be willing to work for lower wages or even for experience if you're offering something innovative or educational.
• Volunteers or Founders' Network: Sometimes, passionate supporters or friends in the industry might help for equity or just for the love of your project.

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5. Utilize Free or Low-Cost Tools

• CRM Software: Use free versions of CRM tools like HubSpot or Zoho CRM to manage leads, sales activities, and follow-ups.
• Digital Platforms: Websites like Canva for creating marketing materials, or free versions of project management tools like Trello for managing sales tasks.
• SEO and Content Marketing: Blogging, SEO, and content marketing can drive organic traffic to your site. Use free SEO tools like Google Analytics or Moz's Beginner's Guide to SEO to start.

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6. Strategic Partnerships

• Barter Services: Offer your services in exchange for another company's marketing, PR, or even sales support.
• Affiliate Marketing: Set up an affiliate program where others can earn commissions for referring customers to you. This can be set up with minimal upfront costs.

7. Measure, Iterate, and Scale

• Track Everything: Use the free tools mentioned to monitor which strategies bring in sales.  
• Adapt Quickly: Being lean means you can pivot or adjust your strategies faster than larger entities. Learn from what does not work and double down on what does.
• Scale Wisely: As you begin to see consistent revenue, reinvest in your sales operations, by hiring a dedicated salesperson or expanding marketing efforts.

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Conclusion

Generating sales on a limited budget requires creativity, hustle, and a willingness to wear many hats. By focusing on understanding your market, leveraging your network, and using cost-effective tools and strategies, you can kick-start your sales engine without breaking the bank. Remember, every big company started small; your challenge is to grow smartly within your means.  

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