A solo-prenuer is someone who work for themselves and pretty much by themselves. They are the Chief Everything Officer in their company. They may have up to three people on their team who are more than likely all independent contractors or subcontractors. There is a high chance that they have not established their business as a legal entity with the government.
A business owner is someone who could be working for themselves but are never by themselves. They have a team of people who are employees of their company. There company is established as a legal entity.
Now you may be saying – “I have a team of contractors but I am not a solo-preneur; I’m a business owner.” Or you could be saying – “I have established my business as a legal entity but it’s just me so I think I am a solo-prenuer.”
There are quite a few characteristics that can flip flop between the two but the key difference is mindset. You cannot be a business owner as long as you are a solo-prenuer. If you want to take you company to the next leave you have to advance your thinking.
Solo-prenuers trudge along working day in and day out as the laborer of their company. They create a job for themselves. Their primary goal is to survive and provide for themselves and their family. They operate in haphazardly ways with the sole purpose of being able to pay their personal bills while simultaneously avoiding payments to Uncle Sam.
Business owners may start out working day in and day out as the laborer of their company but they never plan on staying there. They development systems along the way so that as they grow they can hire other people to do those task. They implement strategies that will help them grow. Their primary goal is to develop a profitable business that can support their life but has a much bigger purpose. They understand that by striving for profit they will achieve far more than they could imagine. They realize that the services they offer can have a major impact on their community and beyond.
You can be a solo-preneur or a small business owner. One is not better than the other. Just know that the one you decide to be will determine the fate of your company and the lifestyle you live.