How to Create Systems to Support the Life You Want as a Solopreneur

When you’re made to be a solo act, your sustainability toolbox is all about systems that safeguard your autonomy.

*Please note: If you came here via our Brand Archetype Quiz, you may notice the wording in this article is slightly different from what you expected. I wrote this series on owner archetypes before deciding it would be more accurate to focus our messaging on the overall brand, which includes the habits and systems that support sales and marketing, distribution, operations, finance, and leadership of a business.

The tips and tools included in these articles remain the same, though our promotional messaging may have shifted: Your work in the world is unique and deserves a personalized approach. I hope the discovery of your brand archetype gives clarity and direction to your path and empowers your impact.

A Solo Act owner is not looking for sustainable growth — she is looking for sustainable space to live the lifestyle she wants while doing what she loves.

The Solo Act owner archetype, as modeled by one of our amazing clients.

The business tactics designed for big teams and larger businesses are not intended for solopreneurs.

Unlike the Indie Artist owner archetype, the Solo Act has no desire to grow her company beyond herself.

Local founders who identify as Solo Acts tend to share these characteristics. Does this sound like you or someone you know?

• You thrive on being able to do what you want, how you want, and when you want to do it.
• You’ve developed a wide range of skills to keep your business running smoothly, from copywriting to basic design to financial planning.
• You pour a great deal of time and energy into personally serving your customers,
• You rely on word of mouth more than general marketing because your raving fans are excited to tell their friends about your products and services.

But the freedom that motivates a Solo Act does have a downside.

When you are your business, how do you maximize your earning potential without work becoming your life?

Being a solo entrepreneur can be wonderful and draining at the same time.

On the one hand, you don’t have to answer to anyone but yourself (and your customers). You can pivot quickly to take advantage of opportunities that come your way, and cash flow management is pretty straightforward.

But on the flip side, when all the things are yours to do, no one is there to catch whatever falls through the cracks.

When your success depends solely on your efforts, it can be easy to keep moving and doing and creating until you burn out.

The perks of independence can be costly to maintain if you don’t have the right strategy and support. For a Solo Act to truly thrive, there are two major obstacles she must learn to overcome.

• Challenge #1: Avoiding overwhelm as a one-woman show by finding the right tools to support your goals.
• Challenge #2: Generating enough income for your lifestyle without overworking or burning out.

One challenge a Solo Act faces is managing everything needed to keep a business running while maintaining her autonomy as a solopreneur.

Not all companies need an on-staff team working eight-hour days. If you’re a Solo Act, you know that’s just not your jam.

(And that may be why you started working for yourself in the first place!)

But even Ariana Grande has a stage crew and does regular collaborations.

Ariana Grande being a boss in the White House in her music video “Positions.”

Have you ever been so engrossed in what must be done at the moment that you’ve pushed vital tasks to the back burner until they become emergencies?

When you’re truly overwhelmed, it can feel like all you’re ever doing is putting out fires.

This is why systems and support tools are so vital for the Solo Act owner.

To find sustainability, the Solo Act must be strategic with her primary capital — her own energy.

Most Solo Acts (and most entrepreneurs in general) make the mistake of trying to mange their time when what they should be doing is managing their energy.

The first step to reclaiming space for rest is to spend a week analyzing where you are spending your time.

What is eating up most of your time, and is it being spent on things that bring you joy?

What is an energy drain that could feasibly be replaced by a system or contracted out to someone else?

Sample pie chart showing the results of an energy tracking analysis with a clear imbalance of how this Solo Act wants to be using her energy.

As a Solo Act, it is critical to find the automations, contractors, and support networks that make everything on your plate easier to carry.

There is a world of DIY business tools you can use to get your time back and build ease into the way you work.

These include…

• Clockify Time Tracker to help you better understand where your time is going (consider tagging each task with the energy it required),
• Square, or a similar tool, to integrate booking and payment into one simple system,
• Calendly to reduce the constant flow of emails by automating your scheduling process,
• Workflowy to help you stay organized even when you have to do all the things,
• And so much more!

Plus, finding reliable contractors for specific projects and tasks can go a long way toward lifting the weight off your shoulders.

What areas of your business could you simplify with the right tools?

The Solo Act’s second challenge is developing products that bring in revenue without sacrificing time or hiring a team.

Before you have flashbacks to selling candy or t-shirts for your school fundraiser, keep in mind that any products a Solo Act develops should add value to the premium services she already offers.

This may include productizing some services to allow you to make income while you’re doing other things.

It can also provide access points for clients who cannot necessarily afford your premium services but who still want to benefit from what you have to offer.

An example of productizing services could be the owner of local yoga studio who primarily does private training. She could also offer pre-recorded classes and even sell her artwork through the site. These lower cost point tools allow greater access to her work as well as additional income while maintaining and sustaining her lifestyle.

For many solopreneurs, a great way to add additional income is also to be an affiliate for products and services that you use and love. If you’re already making recommendations to your clients, why not seize the opportunity to supplement your income?

Productized services do more than provide an additional revenue stream — they also support the Solo Act’s referral network to attract new clients.

When your clients rave about you to their friends and family, easy-to-access products and services can give them a lower-risk way to interact with your brand, build trust, and maybe turn into raving fans themselves.

What products can you offer to finance the space you are looking for in your business?

When I began working with local businesses, my motivation was to help other founders become Local Rockstars — the default in their communities for their particular industries.

Over the years, I’ve seen a pattern in the types of owners I’ve encountered. I’ve mentally categorized them into five general archetypes, each with a unique path toward sustainability.

The Local Business Owner Archetypes, based on our incredible clients. Each has her own business-generating style and a joy-filled path toward sustainable growth.

When these archetypes understand and build on their business-generating styles, they can achieve Local Rockstar status with ease and joy as their foundation.

What owner archetype do you most resonate with?

Are there steps you can take today to make your growth more sustainable and fun?

*Click here to learn more about how knowing your owner archetype can help guide your business on a path of sustainability and joy.