Finance Tips for Solopreneurs
Being a solopreneur grants you the freedom to carve out your dream path and become your boss. Just ask Pierre Omidyar, founder of the leading selling site eBay. While Omidyar’s path to success may have been accidental, as he was helping his then-girlfriend connect with other sellers, he chose to continue riding the wave of success.
Whether you are an aspiring solopreneur or want to take your business venture to the next level, consider these financial tips as they may help you build your future empire.
- Distinguish personal and business expenses
A solo entrepreneur’s most influential personal money management method is keeping confidential and business accounts separate. Segregating these funds allows you to manage both accounts based on their specific purpose effectively.
In particular, separating personal and business expenses allows you to plan, organize, and budget your finances. Knowing your expense threshold for private or enterprise use leads to well-informed and practical decisions that make you accountable.
- Formulate measurable goals
As a solo business owner, you must set measurable and realistic goals, starting with how much your business will have to earn monthly to keep it operational.
Once you’ve settled on a number, it will be easier to create a strategy that can help keep you on track with your vision for the business. Meanwhile, you also need to consider whether your target monthly earnings can adequately support your lifestyle and saving goals.
- Generate recurring income monthly
One of the more challenging aspects of being a solopreneur is the unpredictable nature of income every month. Uncertain income can lead to an unstable cash flow, making it crucial to cultivate as many income sources as possible for your business to generate revenue consistently.
If your business venture provides a service-based product, you could get monthly income by acquiring and retaining clients—the more, the better. Providing a subscription-based offering is another viable way to create predictable income.
- Track business income and expenses
Establishing a system that tracks your income and expenses can significantly help your solo endeavor’s finances. It can give you a clear picture of the venture’s financial state, which can be especially helpful when paying your annual and quarterly taxes. You might think it’s insignificant, but avoiding tax penalties is one way to save money and pay off your loans faster.
- Understand your business entity type’s requirements
Running a business on your own is a significant undertaking, and as a solopreneur, you need to ensure the viability and security of your venture. Most new business ideas begin as sole proprietorships, which entail no legal distinction between the business entity and its owner.
While you’re the sole recipient of all business earnings, you’re also responsible for the lawsuits, liabilities, and debt your business might be subjected to, putting you at a significant financial and legal disadvantage.
You could reduce risks and liabilities by complying with business laws. These include duly registering your company with relevant local and national agencies and enrolling your employees in social security and other employee welfare programs.
Succeeding Solo
Being a solopreneur has its share of wins and challenges. You can be your boss and execute original ideas, just like Pierre Omidyar and others in the league of successful solopreneurs.
However, being a solopreneur also involves risks. Every positive and negative aspect of the business, especially finances, falls on your shoulders. With the actionable and measurable finance tips mentioned here, you should find it easier to navigate the world of solopreneurship.
