The number of entrepreneurs starting their one-person businesses, or solopreneurs, has increased rapidly. I've been a remote solopreneur since 2005, so I understand the appeal. I've been able to not follow the traditional model of the 9 - 5, commuting in traffic, missing kids and family events, or working 50+ hour weeks while growing multiple 7-figure businesses.
But it's not always easy, despite what the online business gurus will tell you. Especially if you have a one-person business.
Most of the gurus out there have never actually scaled to seven figures. The ones that have made money talking about making money and have millions of followers. Instead, I've done it myself and for 400+ solopreneurs, founders, and other business owners. These are experts who are providing professional services in marketing, sales, operations, engineering, accountants, and more. Each week I help dozens of people like you grow without big payrolls. All without a huge following, AI, digital products, or strategies that just make those other guys rich.
While no longer being part of the 9-5 can be incredibly rewarding, doing it the wrong way can also be a challenging and lonely experience. That's where having the right community of expert peers, mentors, or using coaching can help.
In this article, I'll share my own experiences, explain what solopreneur coaching is, why it matters, and how it can help you succeed in your one-person business.
What is a Solopreneur and Why Coaching Matters?
A solopreneur is an entrepreneur who operates their business alone, without employees or partners. This means that solopreneurs take on all aspects of their business, from product or service development to marketing and customer service.
While solopreneurship can be liberating, it also presents unique challenges. Without a team to rely on, solopreneurs face the risk of burnout, the challenge of staying motivated, and the difficulty of developing a growth mindset. I’ve written about that in the past as it relates to how to succeed in a one-person business. That's where coaching can make all the difference. A coach can help solopreneurs navigate these challenges and identify opportunities for growth that they might otherwise miss.
Now, I do not recommend to jump straight into coaching. In fact, even though I offer solopreneur and business coaching myself, most business coaches are career coaches. They’ve often not actually built a business like yours. So if you’re typically below the $20,000 a month range as a solopreneur, you may want to start with a solopreneur community first instead.
As a step beyond a community, coaching can provide solopreneurs with business accountability and strategic support. Even with an expert community of peers, it can be easy to lose focus or become overwhelmed by the many tasks that need to be accomplished. A coach can help solopreneurs stay on track and provide guidance on prioritizing tasks and setting achievable goals. Additionally, coaching can provide solopreneurs with a sounding board for ideas and strategies, helping them to make more informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. That’s exactly what I do in my own coaching for solopreneurs.
The Benefits of Hiring a Coach for Your One-Person Business
Proven coaches provide solopreneurs with the support, accountability, and business guidance that they need to succeed. Solopreneur coaching can help entrepreneurs to:
- Develop a clearer future roadmap after establishing their business
- Identify and overcome limiting beliefs and self-doubt
- Develop a growth mindset and overcome obstacles
- Stay accountable and motivated to reach their goals
- Develop strategies for time management and productivity
- Improve communication skills
- Develop an expert network of peers
- Scale their business and achieve long-term success
Additionally, coaches can provide solopreneurs with valuable feedback and insights on their business strategies and operations. They can help entrepreneurs to identify areas for improvement and provide guidance on how to optimize their business processes. Coaches can also offer a fresh perspective on business challenges and provide creative solutions to overcome them. By working with a coach, solopreneurs can gain a competitive edge and achieve their business goals more efficiently and effectively.
The Challenges of Running a One-Person Business and How Coaching Can Help
One of the biggest challenges of running a one-person business is the isolation that can come with working alone. Without colleagues to bounce ideas off of or to provide support, solopreneurs can sometimes feel disconnected and overwhelmed. That’s why I’ve written in the past about the importance of having a community of peers in a solopreneur community.
Coaches alone can’t solve isolation can help solopreneurs combat it. By providing a sounding board and a source of support, coaches can help solopreneurs to stay motivated and focused. Coaches can also help solopreneurs to develop strategies for managing their time effectively and staying productive, which can be particularly challenging when there's no one else around to keep you on track.
Another challenge of running a one-person business is the need to wear multiple hats. As a solopreneur, you are responsible for everything from marketing and sales to accounting and to customer or client delivery This can be overwhelming and can lead to burnout if not managed properly.
Coaches can help solopreneurs to prioritize their tasks and delegate responsibilities when possible. As an example, I have frameworks such as Document → Template → Automate, to show how to build scale into your business. Coaches like me can also provide guidance on how to streamline processes and automate tasks to save time and reduce stress. By working with a coach, solopreneurs can learn to focus on their strengths and outsource tasks that are not in their wheelhouse, allowing them to grow their business and achieve their goals.
Developing a Clear Vision and Strategy for Your Solopreneurship with Coaching
One of the most important roles that a coach can play is helping solopreneurs to develop a clear vision and strategy for their business. This point is essential for success in the long run. Where most solopreneurs succeed initially, they don’t know what to do next. A coach that knows what they are doing—not just a career coach—has “been there, done that. They allow solopreneurs to set goals and make a plan for achieving them.
A coach can help solopreneurs go deeper on where to go next. Many times that includes identifying their ideal customer profile or what I call a Lighthouse Client when building scalable service offers for solopreneurs. A good coach can help provide pointers on your unique selling proposition, and to develop marketing and sales strategies that will help them to reach their target audience.
Time Management and Productivity Tips for Solopreneurs from Coaches
One of the biggest challenges that solopreneurs face is managing their time effectively. Without anyone else to delegate tasks to, solopreneurs need to be extremely disciplined and efficient with their time. For example, I highlight strategies like Day Themes to ground those I coach as solopreneurs.
Coaches can help solopreneurs to develop effective time management and productivity strategies. They can recommend tools and techniques for managing tasks, prioritizing work, and avoiding distractions. In my solopreneur community called The Club, I have an entire section of tools for solopreneurs. I also share specific tech stacks such as what I’ve used to close more than $50M in sales as a solopreneur. This approach helps solopreneurs to identify time-wasting tools and habits, along with develop strategies for breaking them.
Balancing Work and Life as a Solo Entrepreneur with Coaching Support
One of the benefits of running a one-person business is the flexibility it provides. Solopreneurs can set their own schedule and work from anywhere, which can be liberating. It's also important, however, to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
It’s an area I regularly help solopreneurs to strike a balance. My guidance as a solopreneur coach is to help them set realistic goals and avoid overcommitting themselves. Good coaches—there are plenty of bad ones—can also provide support and guidance when solopreneurs are facing challenging times, and help them to avoid falling into the trap of working all the time.
Building Effective Communication Skills as a Solopreneur with the Help of a Coach
Another benefit of coaching for solopreneurs is the opportunity to develop strong communication skills. Solopreneurs need to be able to communicate effectively with clients, suppliers, and partners, as well as with themselves. I provide entire frameworks on how to better interact with clients in a streamlined way (which is not using Slack!).
A coach can help solopreneurs to develop clear, concise, and compelling communication skills. They can also help solopreneurs to develop the ability to listen actively and empathetically, which is essential for building strong relationships with clients and other stakeholders.
Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome with Coaching for Solopreneurs
One of the biggest challenges that solopreneurs face is overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Without colleagues to provide feedback and support, solopreneurs can sometimes feel like they're not good enough or don't have what it takes to succeed. I’m a coach today—or what I say is an “uncoach”—because I needed someone like me 10+ years ago as I scaled into the multi-seven-figure annual revenue range.
Coaches can help solopreneurs to overcome these limiting beliefs and develop a growth mindset. They can provide support and encouragement, and help solopreneurs to recognize their accomplishments and strengths. With the help of a coach, solopreneurs can become more confident and focused, and ultimately achieve greater success in their business.
Networking and Building Relationships as a One-Person Business: How Coaching Can Help
Networking and building relationships is essential for any entrepreneur, but it can be particularly challenging for solopreneurs who don't have colleagues or partners to rely on. Coaches can help solopreneurs to develop strong networking and relationship-building skills. That’s why I also recommend to start in a solopreneur community because you get that built in more immediately.
Coaches can help solopreneurs to identify potential collaborators and partners, and develop strategies for building relationships with them. They can also help solopreneurs to develop a strong personal brand and a compelling pitch, which is essential for making a good first impression on potential clients and partners.
Scaling Your One-Person Business with the Help of Coaching and Strategies
Finally, coaches can help solopreneurs to scale their businesses and achieve long-term success. This involves developing strategies for growth and expansion, and identifying opportunities for diversification and expansion. Today, you can grow to seven figures as a one-person business using a remote solopreneur mentality.
A coach can help solopreneurs to set ambitious yet achievable goals for their business, and develop a roadmap for achieving them. But don’t stick with coaches that want you to become reliant on them. The right coach equips you with frameworks and mentality shifts. They don’t tell you what you should do. They need to help solopreneurs identify potential obstacles but should not be the one to develop strategies for overcoming them.
Conclusion: The Importance of Coaching for Solopreneurs to Succeed in the Long Run
In summary, coaching is a powerful tool for solopreneurs who want to achieve success in their one-person businesses. Again, don’t jump straight to coaching. I see that regularly. Instead, get moving, find a solopreneur community first, and then consider solopreneur coaching next.
The right coach provides support, guidance, and accountability, helping solopreneurs to overcome challenges and identify opportunities for growth. When you’re looking to figure out what’s next or scale your business (which is not just about size or revenue), a coach can make a significant difference in helping you to achieve your goals and succeed in the long run.
