Workplace culture has come a long way thanks to various social, technological, and digital trends. Nowadays, the way we work bears little resemblance to the traditional workplace. Since the recent rise of the solopreneur, this is especially true and is likely to change in the next decade or so! Due to the remote working trend, many new technologies can help business owners to build their companies from anywhere in the world at any time.
But this begs the question, what is a solopreneur? And how do you become one? From using applications like KioskBuddy to streamline sales to the benefits of becoming a solopreneur, there’s a lot to cover. Here’s a guide on what it means to be a solopreneur and how you can become one.
What is a solopreneur?
Before you become a solopreneur, you’ll first need a base understanding of what one is. Unlike an entrepreneur, a solopreneur handles all aspects of business by themselves. They are solely responsible for their business’s success, keep all the revenue their company makes, and are responsible for any of the costs the business demands.
Unlike a traditional business, where all responsibility, revenue, and costs are shared equally, solopreneurs typically understand their business goals, aims, and intended outcomes better, which is why they’ve gone about achieving them by themselves. They may also want more flexibility in their work schedule or are bored of working for someone else and now desire to be their own boss.
How do you become a solopreneur?
Now that you know the difference between a solopreneur and an entrepreneur, let’s discuss how to become one. Typically, if you want to become a successful solopreneur, you should focus on the following areas.
1. Devise a good business idea
All household names started as an idea; now, what’s yours? When thinking of a business idea, it might be useful to base it on what you’re passionate about. Another way of brainstorming is thinking of a problem in your life that you can find a solution to. Figure that out and see if there’s a spot in the market for it.
2. Test your business idea in the real world
Once you’ve found your niche, test your thesis in the real world, on real people, and see how they react to it. See if your business is a service or product people are interested in. Do they find it useful, fun, or intriguing? If they do, great! If not, reconsider your idea and try adjusting it to appeal to more people.
When your business idea draws people in then you know your idea has some promise. Your business must appeal to a target audience.
3. Build your brand
After you’ve tested your idea, you can start building your brand. What is going to make people want to buy from you? How are you going to make yourself recognizable?
Everything from your brand name, slogan, website, marketing, and logo is part of your brand identity and communicates to others what your business is really about. This means that every aspect should be carefully considered and chosen to appeal to your target audience.
4. Analyze how your business is performing
As you get your business off the ground, you must stop and take stock of how it’s going so that you can assure yourself it’s going well. If your business is not going as well as you were hoping, evaluate what you can do differently to ensure success.
5. Be open to growth opportunities
Successful business owners aren’t afraid to take risks and grow when things aren’t going as they want them to. Don’t be afraid to switch things that aren’t working.
There are various things you can do to make your business continue to grow. You can try new marketing techniques and partnerships. Additionally, you create a blog section of your website, which allows you to share information that is relevant to your business. You can create engaging content such as videos, tutorials, and fun articles, to increase engagement on your site and interest in your brand
6. Maintain a good work-life balance
Like any profession, you must juggle a good work-life balance to avoid mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, or, worse, burnout.
A good work-life balance prevents you from being overwhelmed and stressed. When work-life balance is prioritized it will you to do your job better, and it increases the drive and enjoyment you find in your role.
7. Attend networking events
Networking is one of the best things you can do as a solopreneur, as it allows you to connect/collaborate with like-minded individuals who can put you in contact with others in your chosen industry.
Networking helps you to get valuable advice and insights from others in the business. It also allows you to spread your business’s name, and gain more visibility.
8. Don’t be scared to ask for help
Work can become overwhelming for all of us, so if you ever struggle, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask others for help. You’re not expected to do everything on your own!
Many people are more eager to help than you think, as they have had help along the way as well and are looking to do the same.
9. Don’t forget about automatization
Automation is a valuable tool for solopreneurs trying to juggle all business areas, so use it! From accounting software to self-ordering kiosk applications like KioskBuddy, there are loads of software on the market to help automate time-consuming tasks for solopreneurs. It is worth looking at if you are hoping interested in investing in automatization.
What options are available for solopreneurs?
Like other hybrid or remote working opportunities, there are tons of options available for solopreneurs. In 2020, over 36% of the U.S. workforce was represented by independent freelancers since many solopreneurs started freelancing before branching out independently. Due to this, just about anything can be turned into a business opportunity for solopreneurs.
Yet, if you’re completely stuck as to what you could do. Some of the most famous avenues for solopreneurs are writing, website building, software development, digital marketing, e-commerce, blogging, and more.
However, these are not just the only opportunities for solopreneurs; anything can be turned into a business opportunity if you’re willing to put the effort in. For those struggling to get something off the ground, the above options are an excellent starting point. This is because they don’t require many resources to build a business out of, and are relatively low-level entries to start in.
Get started
Becoming a solopreneur is an increasingly popular career choice, as it allows people to be their own boss and make a career out of their passions. While it is exciting, it can be overwhelming to know exactly where to start. There’s no need to panic, however, as with careful planning it’s possible to become a successful solopreneur. Start your business now by following the above guide.
Additional articles you might be interested in:
- 5 Ways To Network With Successful People
- Why Mentorship Is Crucial For Your Success
- 5 Ways To Get Paid More As A Freelancer
- How To Discover And Engage Your Target Audience
- 5 Ways For Entrepreneurs To Better Manage Their Stress Levels
- How To Establish Good Work-Life Balance
- How To Make S.M.A.R.T. Goals As Entrepreneurs With Strides
- How To Design The Perfect Home Office As An Entrepreneur
- 3 Amazing Webinars to Start, Grow, And Monetize Your Business Via Email
- How To Set Yourself Up For Work From Home Success
- 5 Simple Ways Entrepreneurs Can Excel In Negotiations
- How To Write An Effective E-commerce Business Plan
- How To Effectively Execute Your Goals
- How To Build Your Brand With Twitter Chats
Alaine Meier is a blogger at LadyBossBlogger. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a BA in Economics and a minor in Environmental Studies.
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