Staying Solo | Business Strategy for Service Providers, Creatives and Consultants

Systems can be powerful for a solo business owner, but unfortunately, they can also totally derail you.

In the final installment of the Staying Solo series, we're looking at systems and their crucial role in helping you stay solo by ditching the busy work.

Learn more at: bsfreebusiness.com/ditching-busywork-with-systems

One of the biggest frustrations faced by service business owners who want to stay solo is that they feel like they're eventually going to hit an income ceiling. If you're not familiar with the concept of an income ceiling, it's essentially when you can't make any more money because you've hit the maximum pricing you can charge and the number of clients you can serve.

So the real question we need to explore is if there's really an income ceiling for service business owners. The truth? The answer is complicated, and that's what we're going to dive into in this essay and episode, along with some specific and proven ways to break the income ceiling.

Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/income-ceiling

Solo doesn't mean alone. You don't need to go it alone with your service business. In fact, you shouldn't. But what kind of support do you need, and when? In this episode, we're diving into just what kinds of support you need as a solo business owner…and it's about way more than simply hiring a random coach or taking yet another course.

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/solo-support

Most of us start our businesses for more flexibility and freedom, but somewhere along the way find that we're trapped in a cycle of hustling. To stay solo, you need a realistic planning process that works for you and keeps you from chasing things that simply don't matter to you. In this episode of the Staying Solo series, we're talking about planning with a focus on how to do it in a way that actually works not just for your business but your brain and your life.

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/rethinking-planning

Service business owners often think that the "service" part of the business model means they have to run themselves ragged serving their clients. Or that they need to work around the clock to reach their goals. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In this episode, we're digging into the need for "space" as a solopreneur, what that really means, and why it matters more than most of us realize.

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/staying-solo-by-creating-space.

Too many solo business owners are underpaid (or not paid at all) as they fall into the trap of overinvesting in the business or pricing their services too low. And I'm not here for it. In this episode, we're looking at the nuts and bolts of paying yourself a salary as a solo business owner as part of our Staying Solo series.

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/getting-paid

Have you ever been told you're playing small? Or that for you to have a legit business, you need a team? Or that you must have a mindset issue if you're not wanting to constantly grow? I definitely have, and in this episode, we're having a heart-to-heart about the idea that "staying solo" means you're playing small because nothing could be further from the truth.

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/staying-solo

It's the most wonderful time of the year…summer! It's time for fun in the sun, beach reads, being by the water, and living it up. And now's the time to prepare for the summer slowdown so you can make the most of it.

In this episode, I'm sharing practical ideas for ensuring you have a summer slowdown, including getting your priorities in order, taking time off, downgrading your marketing, and more.

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/summer-slow-down

In this episode, we're exploring the world of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and its use in the online business and coaching world, with a focus on what you, as a consumer, need to be aware of.

I'm joined by Kathleen Oh, a coach trained as a Master Practitioner in NLP, to get her perspective on its problems and the potential for harm.

Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/neuro-linguistic-programming

Does selling your services stress you out? Do you wish you could skip it entirely and focus on doing what you do best? You're not alone in that I know many of you hate making sales because it sucks up so much time and energy.

In this episode, we will ditch the stress and get your time back by diving into simple sales for every service business.

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/simple-sales