A solopreneur is an individual building and running a business on their own without any employees. They handle every aspect of the business, including delivering the work, marketing, and customer service. Solopreneurship comes with a lot of control, but it can be challenging to manage everything on your own.
[Read more: Sole Proprietorship vs. LLC: Which Structure Should You Choose?]
Common types of solopreneur businesses
Solopreneurship continues to grow in popularity, largely because there are so many options to choose from. The possibilities are nearly endless, but here are some common types of solopreneur businesses to pick from:
- Freelancing.
- Graphic design.
- Virtual assistant.
- Affiliate marketing.
- Photography.
- Dropshipping.
- Tutoring.
- Pet sitting.
- Business consulting.
[Read more: How to Choose the Right Business Entity: Sole Proprietorship]
Solopreneur vs. entrepreneur: What’s the difference?
Solopreneurs and entrepreneurs both start and run businesses, but there are some key differences in how they run their businesses. A solopreneur essentially manages their business on their own—they may occasionally outsource work to freelancers, but they don’t have employees or a formal team. This independence gives solopreneurs a lot of control over how the business is run, but to some extent, it also limits its growth.
In comparison, an entrepreneur focuses on building a business that can grow beyond their own efforts by developing partnerships and hiring team members. While solopreneurs focus on building a business that meets their lifestyle and allows them to maintain a manageable workload, entrepreneurs focus on scaling their operations and expanding into new markets.
Both business models can work well and lead to long-term success—the option you choose really comes down to your personal goals and values. If you value independence and stability, solopreneurship may be a better fit for you. If you want to build something that scales, you’re probably an entrepreneur.
[Read more: 8 Types of Organizational Structures for Small Business]
Pros and cons of being a solopreneur
There are a lot of advantages to being a solopreneur and working on your own. For many people, the biggest appeal is the low level of financial risk. Since you aren’t bringing on employees, you don’t have to worry about meeting payroll each month. And since solopreneurs typically have low expenses, they get to keep a greater share of the earnings.
Solopreneurs have a high level of control over their business. You don’t have to consult with investors or other partners, and you get to decide on your hours and working environment.
However, it can be stressful to run a business on your own. Since you’re in charge of running all aspects of the business, it can be difficult to take time off. There are no employees to offload some of the work to. And it can get lonely working by yourself—some people find that they miss the camaraderie of an office environment.
[Read more: How to Register Your New Startup]
There are a lot of advantages to being a solopreneur and working on your own. For many people, the biggest appeal is the low level of financial risk.
How to be successful as a solopreneur
The good news is that it’s pretty easy to get your business up and running as a solopreneur. Here are some ways you can set yourself up for success.
Identify a need in the marketplace
For your business to work, there has to be a demand for what you’re offering in the marketplace. Are there other people operating successful businesses that are similar to yours? If so, what are you going to do to make your business stand out against the competition?
Register your business
Technically, you could operate your business as a sole proprietor, but it’s worth it to take the extra step and register your business as an LLC. LLCs provide legal protection, so your personal assets won’t be at risk if you're ever sued.
To get started, you’ll need to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS. From there, you’ll set up a business bank account and register your business with the Secretary of State. You may have to pay a small filing fee to get started.
[Read more: How to Calculate a Business Owner’s Salary]
Figure out how you’ll find clients and customers
Once you have a business idea, you’ll need to figure out how to find customers or clients. In other words, you need a marketing strategy, and this can take a lot of trial and error to figure out.
Whatever marketing strategy you decide to try, make sure you stick with it for at least 90 days. After 90 days, you should know whether your plan is working. If not, you can try something else out.
Expect ups and downs along the way
Running a business isn’t easy, and you should expect a lot of ups and downs along the way. For instance, you may hit a slow season in your business—this is normal and not necessarily a sign you should give up.
It’s helpful to network with other business owners. Not only will they understand what you’re going through, but they may be able to offer helpful suggestions along the way.
[Read more: How to Start an LLC]
Tools and platforms to streamline your solopreneur workflow
When you’re running a business on your own, you’ll need tools that will save you time and keep you organized. Here are the best tools and platforms to improve your workflow as a solopreneur:
- Organization: Platforms like Trello, Asana, and Notion can help you plan tasks, set deadlines, and track progress on projects. You can also use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to create documents and collaborate with clients.
- Accounting: QuickBooks and FreshBooks are two of the best accounting options for solopreneurs. You can use these tools to automate invoicing, track expenses, and generate financial reports. If you’re looking for a free option to meet basic accounting needs, you can also consider Wave.
- Marketing: Canva makes it easy to design professional graphics for social media, websites, or presentations. You can then use Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule and manage social media posts across multiple platforms.
- Scheduling: Calendly allows clients to book a meeting with you without getting sucked into back-and-forth emails. You can then use Slack or Zoom for virtual meetings with clients.
[Read more: 20 Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read in 2025]
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