This is a guest post from Pixels and Pieces
(Member since 2023)
Even before COVID, solopreneurship was trending. Many people realized that they could still service clients in their industry, work from home, and make their own schedules. Sure, it's more responsibility and risk, but for many, it's worth it to avoid a lengthy commute, rigid working hours, or a salary gap. Solopreneurs have also found big benefits for their clients, like high quality service without large agency prices. Solopreneurs are making big contributions in many different areas, and we deserve to be recognized and celebrated in the business community.
A solopreneur is a portmanteau of solo (single) + entrepreneur. We're a company of one. Solopreneurs are owner-operators, the founder and the force, typically spending half our time doing client work and the other half on business development. We could hire contractors — like a virtual assistant, a designer, or a sales coach — but we don't have employees. There are many solopreneurs who provide services like graphic design, marketing consulting, or social media management.
Big service from one person
Solopreneurs can provide personalized, quality service with a range of expertise. We don’t have the same overhead as traditional agencies, so our prices aren’t as steep, which is a plus for startups and growing companies. We are experts in our field but also have developed skills such as project management, finance, and marketing; skills we’ve learned to promote and run our own business, which also help us with your projects.
Our small size means our clients get 1:1 access to an expert, no middle management meddling. Our service is efficient, and clients receive our full attention. We take our business seriously and care deeply about our client’s success.
Big contributions in business and at home
Many solopreneurs started out on a traditional career trajectory. We got degrees and worked for governments, large corporations, and nonprofits. Some had children and realized that long commutes just didn't jive with daycare pickups, or that traditional employment wasn't as accommodating to neurodiverse folks as they'd hoped. Becoming a soloentrepreneur means that we can balance business development and putting our laundry in on our lunch break on our own terms.
Our business development has resulted in some big clients and partnerships. Companies like Google, Nokia, and even a small cafe in Japan, have hired an illustrator and soloentrepreneur from Newfoundland to do work for them. As a graphic designer and soloentrepreneur in Dartmouth, I spent this past summer teaching Canva classes in a partnership with Staples.
We need big recognition and support
A lot of large corporations hire soloentrepreneurs because they recognize the direct value (high quality service and expert access), but they also trust that we’ll get the job done on time and on budget. Governments haven’t caught up, setting benchmarks (like having to have an employee) for grants and other benefits that exclude us arbitrarily. Many of us are pulling in revenue that will support more than the average household income — on our own — while serving growing businesses that can’t afford agencies. We play a necessary role in the business ecosystem and need some recognition that we are valid members of the business community.
Solopreneurship isn’t for everyone but many of us are thriving. Size doesn’t matter. We matter and we have a big bold future ahead.
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