What’s a Solopreneur? One Solopreneur’s Guide to Going Solo (Losing Your Mind) and Loving It

The modern workforce has plenty of labels — entrepreneur, small business owner, freelancer — but one of the fastest-growing (and most misunderstood) is solopreneur. 

If you’re out here hustling solo, running your own operation without employees, wearing every possible business hat, or feeding stuffed cheetahs gummy worms with chopsticks in a tikki-house photo shoot, congratulations.

Or condolences?

You’re likely a solopreneur — like me. 

But what does that actually mean? And is it the dream or just glorified overwork?

Solopreneur vs. entrepreneur vs. small business owner

Before we go any further, let’s clear up the biggest source of confusion: how solopreneurs differ from entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs dream big, go for scale, and often build companies that require teams, funding, and massive growth. 

Think Jeff Bezos, the serial entrepreneur behind Amazon, Arrived Homes, and Blue Origin. Entrepreneurs start with an idea and then turn it into a money machine that other people help run. Entrepreneurs aren’t in the trenches alone; they need employees, investors, and often a roadmap for a big exit. 

Small business owners

Small business owners usually run more traditional businesses, like local bakeries, boutiques, or car repair shops. They might start with a single location, but leveraging family members and hiring employees is usually part of the plan. These businesses are crucial to local economies and often thrive on in-person interactions and a steady customer base.

Solopreneurs

Solopreneurs, on the other hand, are one-person shows. I jokingly tell my (potential) clients, “Welcome to the freak show.” 

We start, run, and grow our businesses without bringing on full-time employees. As solopreneurs, we may hire freelancers or use automation tools, but we don’t manage a staff. 

The goal isn’t necessarily to scale to infinity, rather it’s to run a business on my own terms, maintaining control, flexibility, and profits without the added headache of having to manage a team and supporting day-to-day business operations.

In my relatively short solopreneur career (just shy of the two-year mark), I’ve hired three freelance designers, five freelance writers, a business attorney, an accountant, and a business coach to provide additional resources on an as-needed basis.  

What kinds of businesses do solopreneurs run?

Solopreneurs thrive in businesses that don’t require a physical storefront or large staff. Some of the most common solopreneur business ideas include:

Freelance writing & content creation – If you can sling words like a pro, and have complementary skills like SEO, data analytics, and project management, you can make a solid living as a freelance writer. 

Consulting & coaching – Experts in marketing, finance, career growth, or life coaching can monetize their knowledge with one-on-one consulting or courses. 

Many solopreneur coaches can help you navigate the world of solopreneurship, with advice on how to find clients, structure agreements, and build a viable career. 

E-commerce & dropshipping – Solopreneurs can run online stores selling digital products, merch, or dropshipped goods without handling inventory. 

Graphic design & web development – Designers and developers often build personal brands and take on clients worldwide. 32-year-old mom Cassidy Johnson, featured in CNBC Make It, earns up to $101,000 a month for her solo business. Using Canva, she creates trendy designs that she then sells as print-on-demand T-shirts on Etsy.  

Online courses & digital products – Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, and Gumroad let you package your expertise into a product that can continually drive revenue. 

Podcasting & YouTube channels – Content creators can earn through sponsorships, ad revenue, and memberships while building a loyal audience.

Virtual assistance (VA) – Remote administrative support, social media management, and customer service gigs are exploding. Top VAs can earn six figures and manage a roster of several clients at once.

There are plenty more roles than the ones we’ve listed. I know people who make a full-time living walking dogs with Rover or assembling IKEA furniture. 

The key theme for any solopreneur role is you are selling your own individual skills rather than managing a large team or physical business operations. 

Tip: Positioning is everything. Successful solopreneurs sell the benefits of their service, not the features. As an example, well-paid freelance writers don’t “sell” the pretty way they can put together words. They sell their ability to build a content strategy, externally benchmark competition, and increase revenue.  

Pros & cons of being a solopreneur

Like anything in business, solopreneurship has perks and pitfalls. Let’s break it down.

Pros:

✅ Full control – You don’t answer to a boss, investors, or employees. The business lives or dies by your decisions (and your caffeine intake). 

✅ Low overhead – With the ability to work from your home using just a laptop, the overhead can be quite low. Many solopreneurs, however, may rent a dedicated office space. 

✅ Flexibility – Work from anywhere, set your own schedule, and pivot when needed without running through layers of approvals. 

✅ No office drama – No weird co-workers microwaving fish, no passive-aggressive emails, no pointless meetings.

Cons:

❌ It’s all on you – No team means no backup when things go sideways. You’re handling everything—from marketing to customer service to taxes. 

❌ Limited scalability – Growth is capped by your bandwidth unless you automate, outsource, or shift into digital products. 

❌ Inconsistent Income – Feast-or-famine cycles can be rough, especially in the beginning. 

❌ Loneliness & burnout – Being your own boss sounds great until you realize you haven’t spoken to another human in 48 hours.

Tools & strategies for solopreneur success

Since solopreneurs do everything themselves, having the right tools is key. Here are some lifesavers:

Productivity & automation

• Trello, Worksuite, Asana – Project management made easy.
• Zapier – Connects apps to automate tasks.
• Grammarly, Hemingway, Writer – For as-you-go spellcheck and editing. 

Marketing & branding

• Canva – Design visuals without hiring a designer.
• Mailchimp / ConvertKit – Email marketing made simple.
• Buffer / Hootsuite – Schedule social media like a boss.

Finance & admin

• QuickBooks / Wave – Track expenses and send invoices.
• PayPal / Stripe – Get paid without hassle.
• Google Workspace – Email, docs, and storage in one place.

Should you become a solopreneur?

Solopreneurship isn’t for everyone. If you love the idea of working independently, managing your own time, and keeping things simple, it could be a great fit. But if you want rapid growth, employees, and an empire, you might be better off embracing full entrepreneurship.

The key is understanding what you actually want out of your business. If freedom, flexibility, and control are at the top of your list, solopreneurship might be the perfect path.

I stumbled into solopreneurship 

I stumbled into solopreneurship, and so have other solopreneurs I’ve talked to. Few people set out with the goal of becoming a solopreneur and achieving success. 

I got “laid off” at my last job, ending a decade-long run working in digital marketing. While looking for full-time work, I found freelance writing and editing projects. Within a couple of months, I realized the demand was there for me to go full-time. 

Amber H., 29, has a similar story. During the Great Resignation of early 2021, she quit her job in customer service. Luckily, Amber had enough savings to keep her afloat. To start generating some income while figuring out her next move, she started walking dogs on Rover. While it was a slow start, within six months Amber was earning a full-time income. 

Every origin story is unique, but generally, it’s tied to a traumatic life event like job loss. Personally, I think the need to make your solopreneurship work is what fuels success. Without that drive, you’re likely to get bored and quit when you’re not reaping immediate, early rewards. 

Final thoughts

Solopreneurship isn’t a one-size-fits-all path. Most people stumble into it after a job loss or major life change, while some intentionally build their solo empire from the ground up. Either way, it’s a business model that offers control, flexibility, and a chance to make a living on your own terms.

It’s not for everyone. Anyone who tells you anyone can be a solopreneur is lying. You need to have the right skills, the ability to market them, and the grits and guts to stay the course. 

It’s not always easy when you’re a one-person show. Business setbacks are far more devastating when you’re self-employed, but the business wins are that much sweeter. 

Want to get some money flowing in without going full-blown solopreneur? Try a side hustle stack where you can string together multiple gigs to bring in a flow of extra money. Here are 11 side hustle stack ideas to get you started.