Howdy solopreneurs and welcome to episode 327 of The Solopreneur Hour.

This is our weekly Friday Q&A. You send in a question, I answer it on the mic. It can be about anything from relationships to business to cars, and anything else you can think of!

Want to join in the fun? Join us in the Proudly Unemployable Facebook group, look for my post and submit your question there. I’ll answer it on one of these Q&A episodes.

Enjoy, and please text “Solohour” to 33444 to get my 8 3/4 steps to becoming a successful solopreneur. Now let’s get to this Q&A on The Solopreneur Hour!

More About Your Questions and Sir Richard Branson

Ashley

Q: Hi Michael, I discovered your podcast a few months ago and absolutely love it! I know you sometimes answer listener questions, and I’ve been wondering if it’s possible to create a successful business with a traditional store front?

I know your tag line is all about location freedom and time freedom, and everything is digital now, but my dream involves not just selling items, but creating a local community based around it. I’m having a terribly difficult time finding resources that support the idea of being able to excel in a business that also has a traditional brick and mortar store. Any thoughts/advice/resources would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

A: 1. Focus on getting people on your mailing list. Have a physical clipboard where they sign up or an iPad where they sign up. Or try Square. 2. Depending on the type of the store start holding free clinics. If you are a bike shop hold free bike clinics.

Miranda

Q: Well I have an income problem. I make $20,000 a year before taxes. I thankfully have no bills but I would like to not live with my parents some day. I’ve also recently started a business on Amazon but it hasn’t really taken off yet.

I’m having trouble deciding if I should devote money and time to get some more education for a job I don’t really want and but would give me more money and allow me to work from home (which I do want).

Or if I should just stay at my current job, keep working on my Amazon business and see where I am in like a year. Which seems like a very long time to live at such a low income and 9 to 5. (I’m not known for my patience.)

A: Split the difference: is there something that can work with the knowledge you have and you spend money on an online course so you become really, really good at that thing. I don’t know your niche or what you do or what you want to do I could give you more suggestions. Look at the trends: are their things you can do and learn really, really well? Try your hand at copywriting, it is the Holy Grail!

pipmckay_rawfirelife

Q: Hello Michael! I have really been enjoying your Q&A sessions for a while now, so I am hoping to participate finally. I have a couple web businesses that I am slowly getting in order. The first one I put up was emulating an already existing business so I could learn from that business model and try to get a little income flow.

Another one that I started is called waterpluscoffee.com and has taken a backseat due to not really knowing how I was able to monetize the concept and going down a bit of the wrong website rabbit hole. Started as a fan site for people that take their gourmet coffee black and wanting to promote the aeropress and other preferred methods to achieve the most delicious cup of coffee. But I don’t necessarily have the time to blog as a priority.

These two sites I am wanting to work toward semi-passive income so that I can eventually stop working as a freelance photographer and devote my time towards my true love and brainchild a site ca...