23 High-Profit Solopreneur Businesses You Can Build Without Employees

Remote work transformed how we think about building businesses. The traditional path of “start small, hire employees, scale up” no longer applies to ambitious professionals who want freedom and financial success on their own terms.

I’ve helped hundreds of solopreneurs build sustainable six and seven-figure businesses without the overhead and headaches of managing a team. 

Every business model I’m about to share comes directly from successful clients in my community who are already making this work in the real world. 

The key to their success? Creating high-ticket offers that focus on high-value expertise packaged into premium offers that solve specific problems for Lighthouse clients.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through 23 proven solopreneur business ideas to show you what’s possible today.

Business ideas for solopreneurs — a comparison

18 solopreneur business ideas to try in 2025

Now, let’s explore specific solopreneur business models that members of my community have successfully built. 

Each of these can be operated as a one-person business while generating six or seven figures in annual revenue when structured correctly.

1. Go-to-market consultant

GTM consultants have emerged as highly profitable solopreneurs in my community, with several earning up to $300,000 annually.

These specialists help companies develop and execute strategies for launching new products or entering new markets. They bring expertise across product positioning, market segmentation, channel strategy, sales enablement, and marketing alignment. 

With the high cost of failed product launches and market expansions, companies are increasingly willing to invest in expert guidance before committing significant resources. GTM consultants working with B2B software companies can charge $20,000-50,000 for comprehensive strategy development and $8,000-$15,000 monthly for implementation guidance. 

By focusing on a specific industry vertical or product category, they develop pattern recognition that allows them to quickly identify the most effective approach for each client.

2. Ghostwriter or content writer

Several members of my community have built thriving businesses as specialized content writers, with some earning over $250,000 annually without hiring staff.

Every business needs content, but few have the internal resources to create it consistently and with high quality. Content writers create high-value materials for businesses lacking the time or expertise to produce them. 

The most successful writers focus on specific industries or content types where they can develop deep expertise and command premium rates. 

For instance, writers specializing in technical content for cybersecurity companies can charge $1,000-$2,500 per article while maintaining just 5-7 regular clients. Their deep technical knowledge and industry-specific language skills make them irreplaceable to clients willing to pay premium rates.

3. Personal branding strategist

Personal branding strategists help executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals develop and implement strategies to build their personal brands and thought leadership. 

As business becomes increasingly personality-driven, leaders recognize the value of a strong personal brand for attracting opportunities, building trust, and creating leverage. Also, strategists working with C-level executives and successful entrepreneurs can charge $25,000-$50,000 for comprehensive brand development and $5,000-$10,000 monthly for ongoing implementation support. 

They have the unique ability to identify authentic positioning that resonates with specific audiences while aligning with business objectives. As a result, it makes them valuable partners for professionals who want to establish a market presence.

4. Paid ads consultant

Specialized paid advertising consultants help businesses maximize return on ad spend across platforms like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok. 

Unlike generalist marketers, they develop deep expertise in specific ad platforms and particular industries, allowing them to achieve better results more quickly. 

Consultants specializing in high-ticket B2B lead generation can charge $10,000-$15,000 monthly retainers plus performance bonuses based on results. By focusing exclusively on industries with high customer values and establishing clear attribution systems, they can demonstrate direct ROI for their services.

5. Graphic designer

Specialized graphic designers are creative professionals who focus on specific design niches rather than offering general services. 

If you specialize in areas like SaaS product design, conversion-focused website design, or brand identity systems, you can position yourself as a strategic partner rather than a commoditized service provider. 

For instance, for funded startups, designers focusing on brand identity systems can charge $5,000 to $20,000 for comprehensive brand packages and $1,000-$10,000 for smaller projects. Their specialized knowledge of particular industries allows them to create more effective designs that directly impact business outcomes, justifying premium pricing.

6. Fractional COO

The fractional executive model is a relatively new business model where you offer more embedded yet focused services for a specific Lighthouse Client.

These professionals provide experienced operational leadership to companies that aren’t ready for a full-time executive, helping with:

• Strategy implementation
• Team management
• Process optimization
• Scaling challenges

Growing companies often need operational expertise but can’t justify a full-time C-level salary. Fractional COOs working with B2B SaaS companies between $2M to $10M in revenue can charge $10,000-$15,000 monthly per client for 2-3 days of work each month. 

By focusing on a specific industry segment, they can reuse strategies and frameworks across clients while delivering tailored solutions, allowing them to simultaneously work with 4-5 clients.

7. Automation consultant

Automation specialists help businesses identify, implement, and optimize automation opportunities across their operations. 

Most companies waste countless hours on repetitive tasks that could be automated, and as labor costs rise, the ROI for automation becomes increasingly compelling. For example, onboarding processes, lead generation processes, or CRM automation.

Experienced automation consultants can charge $10,000-$15,000 for complex implementations and $3,500 monthly for ongoing optimization.

8. AI consultant

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in the past few years. If you have experience in this sector, it’s time to strike the iron while it’s hot.

These specialists help businesses identify, evaluate, and implement artificial intelligence solutions to improve operations, products, and customer experiences. With the rapid evolution of AI technologies and high implementation costs, companies need expert guidance to avoid expensive mistakes and maximize return on investment. 

Consultants specializing in specific industry applications can charge $15,000-$50,000 for AI strategy development and $10,000-$20,000 monthly for implementation oversight. Their ability to translate between technical capabilities and business outcomes allows them to bridge the gap between what’s technically possible and what’s commercially valuable.

9. DevOps consultant

DevOps consultants help software companies optimize their development operations, including continuous integration/deployment pipelines, infrastructure as code, cloud resource management, and security practices. 

Quality DevOps expertise is extraordinarily valuable yet difficult to find and retain as full-time employees. Companies are increasingly willing to work with independent consultants who can deliver this expertise on a project or retainer basis. 

DevOps consultants helping Series A and B startups can charge $15,000-$25,000 for implementation projects and $7,500 monthly for ongoing management and optimization. Their expertise allows growing companies to operate with the sophistication of much larger organizations without hiring an expensive internal team.

10. Software product developer

Independent software developers who build and sell specialized software solutions that solve specific problems for particular industries or user groups. 

Unlike freelance developers working on client projects, they build intellectual property they own and monetize directly. Developers creating specialized tools for professional services industries can generate significant revenue through subscription models ranging from $50-500 monthly per user. 

Focusing on underserved niches with specific workflow challenges can create highly valuable solutions that larger software companies typically overlook. However, they can also add a service component to make the engagement more valuable for both—the customer and themselves.

11. Cybersecurity consultant

Cybersecurity consultants help businesses identify and address security vulnerabilities, implement security policies, achieve compliance requirements, and respond to incidents. 

With increasing regulatory requirements and the growing cost of breaches, companies need specialized security expertise but often can’t justify a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or security team. 

Consultants providing security audits and remediation roadmaps for mid-sized businesses can charge $20,000-30,000 for comprehensive assessments and $8,000-12,000 monthly for ongoing advisory services.

12. Product development advisor

Product development specialists guide companies through the process of creating and improving products, from initial concept and user research through design, development, testing, and launch. 

Companies increasingly recognize that poor product development processes lead to wasted resources and market failures, making expert guidance valuable. 

Consultants specializing in specific industries can charge $15,000-40,000 for product strategy engagements and $10,000-20,000 monthly for ongoing development oversight. Ultimately, they help companies avoid costly mistakes while accelerating time-to-market—making the investment valuable.

13. Acquisition advisor

Acquisition advisors (also called M&A advisors) are specialized consultants who guide companies through mergers and acquisitions.

They begin by sourcing potential acquisition targets or businesses for sale that match their client’s strategic criteria and conducting thorough market research to identify opportunities that might not be publicly available. Once potential targets are identified, advisors perform detailed valuation analyses to determine fair market value.

Advisors focusing on specific industries or transaction sizes can charge success fees of 3-7% of transaction value, with minimum engagements of $20,000-$100,000. By using deep industry networks and transaction experience, they can connect buyers and sellers while managing the complex process of completing deals successfully.

14. Regulatory affairs consultant

Regulatory affairs consultants work with companies to navigate complex regulatory requirements in heavily regulated industries like:

• Healthcare
• Finance
• Pharmaceuticals
• Food production

As regulatory landscapes keep changing frequently, there’s a risk of severe penalties due to non-compliance. That’s why companies need specialized expertise to operate effectively. 

Consultants focusing on specific regulatory frameworks can charge $15,000-$30,000 for compliance assessments and $8,000-$15,000 monthly for ongoing advisory services. If you develop expertise in particular regulatory areas and maintain relationships with regulatory bodies, you can help clients avoid costly mistakes while accelerating approvals.

15. Finance consultant

Finance experts provide specialized financial guidance to businesses, from growth strategy and cash flow management to investment analysis and funding preparation. 

Financial expertise is consistently in demand, and businesses are willing to pay premium rates for specialists who understand their specific industry challenges. For example, consultants specializing in e-commerce businesses can offer three-month financial transformation programs for $20,000, followed by quarterly check-ins at $5,000 each. 

By working with just 6-8 clients simultaneously, they can maintain seven-figure businesses while working fewer than 30 hours weekly.

16. Fractional CFO

Fractional CFOs provide high-level financial strategy and oversight to companies that need sophisticated financial management but don’t require a full-time CFO. 

Demand for fractional financial leadership has surged as growing businesses need guidance on: 

• Cash flow management
• Fundraising
• Financial reporting
• Strategic planning
• GAAP conversions

Experienced fractional CFOs working with growth-stage companies can charge $7,000-$15,000 monthly per client for 2-4 days of work each month. By maintaining a portfolio of 3-6 clients in complementary industries, they can leverage their expertise across multiple businesses while creating a significant impact.

17. Performance psychologist

Performance psychologists typically work with high-performers in business, sports, or creative fields to optimize their mental approach and overcome psychological barriers to peak performance. 

As awareness grows about the mental aspects of high achievement, demand for specialized psychological support has increased dramatically. They usually work with executives and entrepreneurs and can charge $10,000-$20,000 for three-month online coaching programs and $3,000-$7,000 monthly for ongoing support. 

If they develop proprietary frameworks and assessment methods for specific performance contexts, they can deliver measurable improvements in decision-making, stress management, and overall performance.

18. Executive coach

Executive coaches work one-on-one with senior leaders to improve their effectiveness, address challenges, and accelerate their development. As leadership demands increase in complexity, executives seek personalized support from coaches with relevant experience and specialized methodologies. 

Coaches working with C-suite executives can charge $3,000-$5,000 per monthly session with six to twelve-month commitments. Also, if they develop specific coaching frameworks for particular leadership challenges or industry contexts, they can deliver more relevant and impactful support than generalist coaches.

Alternative business ideas for solopreneurs in 2026

While service-based businesses offer the fastest path to high profits, complementary business models can create additional revenue streams that become increasingly passive over time.

Each of these models benefits from what you're already doing in your service business. Your expertise becomes content. Your processes become products. Your network becomes your initial audience.

Here are a few ideas:

19. Niche newsletter operator

Specialized newsletters have become powerful business assets for solopreneurs who consistently share insights on specific topics. Unlike broad publications, a focused newsletter targeting a particular industry challenge or interest can command premium subscription rates and open doors to additional revenue streams.

The model works by starting with a free newsletter to build audience, then adding a paid tier ($5-$20 monthly) with exclusive insights, deeper analysis, or specialized tools. This creates a predictable monthly revenue base that grows over time.

The key advantage for service providers is that your newsletter becomes both a lead generation tool and a standalone profit center. Many solopreneurs in my network use their expertise from client work to fuel weekly insights that subscribers happily pay for.

• Model: Free + paid newsletter; upsell to digital products or paid communities.
• Why it fits: Builds audience assets without heavy production requirements.
• First steps: Define a problem theme, publish weekly, add a simple lead magnet, pre-sell a $9–$15/mo tier.

20. Niche community founder

Communities have become the natural evolution for many successful solopreneurs. Once you've established expertise in a particular area, creating a space where others facing similar challenges can connect becomes a logical next step.

Unlike generic social platforms, successful communities provide structured interactions, curated resources, and focused discussions on specific challenges. Members pay $15-$99 monthly for access to peers, templates, frameworks, and direct access to your expertise through office hours or group calls.

• Model: Curated paid communities with events, templates, office hours.
• Why it fits: Leverages your client work into shared playbooks and support systems.
• First steps: Validate topic with 10 DMs, open a waitlist, run a 4-week pilot.

21. MicroSaaS developer/founder

MicroSaaS businesses are small, focused software applications that solve a specific problem. They've become increasingly accessible for non-technical solopreneurs. These are not complex platforms requiring venture capital, but targeted tools priced at $9-$49 monthly per user.

The most successful microSaaS founders identify specific friction points in their industry and create simple solutions. For example, a project management consultant might build a specialized tool for tracking complex dependencies that existing platforms handle poorly.

• Model: Tiny app solving one painful workflow; price $9–$49/mo.
• Why it fits: Compounds as semi-passive income once stable.
• First steps: Map 3 recurring client pains, prototype with no-code, layer AI tools, test pricing with 10 calls.

22. Online course developer

While the market for generic courses has become saturated, specialized expertise packaged into focused training programs still commands premium prices. The most successful solopreneur course creators teach specific methodologies they've developed through client work.

The sweet spot is creating courses that are narrow enough to solve specific problems yet broad enough to appeal to a sizeable audience. Pricing typically ranges from $99 for foundational courses to $999+ for comprehensive programs with direct access to your expertise.

• Model: Cohort or evergreen online courses ($99–$999) tied to your core service.
• Why it fits: Productizes your process; supports leads and upsells.
• First steps: Outline outcomes, record 3 cornerstone lessons, add worksheets, soft-launch to list.

23. Affiliate marketer

Successful affiliate marketing for solopreneurs isn't about plastering links everywhere. It's about thoughtfully integrating recommendations into your existing content and client processes.

Your detailed comparison posts, tool recommendations, and implementation guides provide genuine value while generating commissions of $5-$200+ per qualified referral.

The most effective approach focuses on tools with recurring revenue models, where you earn not just on the initial purchase but on ongoing subscriptions.

• Model: Recommend tools you already use; disclose, organize by use case.
• Why it fits: Low startup costs, compounds with content.
• First steps: Create a tools page, add comparison posts, track clicks, negotiate better rates.

These alternative models work best when they align with your core service offering.

How do you choose the right idea for your solopreneur business?

Picking the right business model is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a solopreneur. I’ve watched countless professionals struggle because they chose the wrong path—often following generic advice that doesn’t account for their unique strengths and circumstances.

The most successful business owners in my community didn’t just randomly select a business model. 

They made strategic choices based on five key factors that I recommend you consider before deciding:

Factor #1: Honing in on skill and expertise

The strongest foundation for a solopreneur business is built on what you already know. Take stock of your professional skills, industry knowledge, and unique experiences.

Your existing expertise gives you an immediate head start. Many of my most successful clients took skills they developed in corporate roles and repositioned them as premium standalone services.

For example, a former operations director at a SaaS company now offers fractional COO services to startups. She commands premium rates because she brings ten years of operational excellence otherwise inaccessible to early-stage companies.

Factor #2: Validating market demand

Having expertise is important, but that expertise must solve problems people are willing to pay for. You need to look for areas where businesses or individuals have urgent, expensive problems.

Don’t rely on assumptions here. Research industry trends, talk to potential clients, and look at what successful solopreneurs in adjacent fields are offering.

Before launching any solopreneur business, spend 30 minutes on these three activities:

• Pull 10 pains or desires from customer comments, forum threads, or call notes. Tag these by theme to identify the most pressing market needs. For example, if you're considering AI consulting, search relevant forums for phrases like "struggling with implementation" or "wasting budget on AI tools" to validate demand.
• Note 3 competing offers, their price bands, and identify at least one gap in the market. Create your essential branding materials: a one-liner that explains what you do, a color pair, and compelling CTA button copy.
• Define who you serve (specific industry or Small Businesses more broadly), your core offer, first revenue streams, and 3 marketing strategy moves (one social media channel, email capture mechanism, and 5 warm introduction targets).

This lightweight planning helps you execute quickly rather than getting stuck in analysis paralysis.

One of my community members pivoted from general marketing consulting to specializing in helping B2B SaaS companies improve customer acquisition through landing pages. The narrower focus allowed her to charge three times her previous rates because the problem was specific, measurable, and had a clear ROI for clients.

Factor #3: Assessing the potential for profit

Not all business models are equally profitable. The highest-earning solopreneurs in my community focus on high-ticket services where they can capture significant value relative to the results they create.

Think about these questions first:

• Can you price based on value rather than time?
• Does the business model allow for recurring revenue?
• What unique value do you offer that customers can’t get elsewhere?
• Can you scale this business beyond my personal time limitations?
• Can you create leverage through systems and processes?
• Are these offers truly scalable in the long term?

Factor #4: Understanding work-life integration

The perfect business on paper might be wrong if it doesn’t fit your desired lifestyle. Consider:

• When and how you work best
• How much client interaction energizes or drains you
• Your need for creative freedom versus structured work
• Your travel preferences and location flexibility
• Family and personal commitments

For instance, you could design an offer that requires fewer, higher-paying clients so that you can limit the number of client calls every week, get focused time for deep work, and maintain your energy as an introvert.

Factor #5: Testing and validating your offers first

Instead of spending months deliberating, many successful solopreneurs in my community take an experimental approach. They test multiple ideas in the market with minimal investment before going all-in.

A simple framework I teach:

1. Identify 3-5 potential business models aligned with your expertise
2. Create a minimal viable offer for each one
3. Have conversations with potential clients to gauge interest
4. Run small paid pilots when possible
5. Double down on what works based on market response

With this approach, you’re not guessing what will work—you’re letting the market tell you.

You’re one step closer to building a profitable solopreneur business

The beauty of modern solopreneurship is that you don’t need to get it perfect from day one.

Look at what you already know. Your existing skills and industry knowledge provide the shortest path to a profitable solopreneur business. The most successful members of my community didn’t reinvent themselves completely—they repositioned their expertise into high-value services.

The ones who succeed also position their work around outcomes rather than deliverables. They create assets—systems, frameworks, templates—that increase efficiency and business value.

You don’t need funding, a large audience, or a team to build a profitable business. Start with what you know, test your offer with a few clients, and build systems as you grow. 

At the end of the day, you can create a thriving, sustainable business without employees by focusing on high-value work and eliminating everything else. The opportunity is there—now it’s up to you to seize it.