13 Challenges of Running a One-Person Business

Wondering whether starting a one-person business is for you, and whether it’s worth it at all? Here are the challenges and what you might go through:

What’s a One-Person Business Exactly?

That’s the simplest form of business organization there is. Its official name is sole proprietorship and we’re talking about a business run by you and for your own benefit. And while it’s still possible to employ people, now we want to focus on the kind of one-man business that really has one person in the company – you.

There is no legal difference between you and the business entity. While that can be liberating in some ways and mean you do everything your way, it also brings a very specific set of challenges that are not always easy to overcome. That’s what today’s article is all about. I know this can be one of the reasons why many of you don’t actually go ahead and start the business.

Maybe you first start the blog, maybe you start earning a bit, but then it’s time to register it, to pay taxes, to get an accountant. To do those scary things, that although you just need to set them up once and forget them, it can be scary. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why you haven’t started your business yet.

I hope to help you overcome that barrier, because it really isn’t a big one. It’s more of a mental one.

Also, if you’re not sure if you’re actually meant to be in business, if you’re ready to be self-employed, I want to share some of the hard parts about it today. I always want to keep it real with you, so you can decide if you can handle it.

I’ve been running a one-person business online for around eight years now in two different countries, and making a living solely off of it. So I have a thing or two to say about it. But ultimately, only you know if that’s for you or not.

To outsource, or not to outsource?

If you want to scale and outsource, definitely go for it. That’s how the next level is reached.

Most of my business mentors would even advise you to delegate as soon as possible by getting a VA, for example, or just freelancers that can get some of the tasks done. Usually, that’s the things that aren’t your zone of genius.

But there are also business owners who remain a team of one until they hit six figures. That’s totally possible.

In my case, I work with an accountant, but that’s usually something every business owner has. In fact, it’s the one thing we desperately need if we don’t know anything about bookkeeping.

Delegating this aspect of your business can save you a lot of costly mistakes down the road as well as a lot of stress.

So this guide is for you if you’re thinking of starting a one-person business and want to prepare for the challenges, mentally at least. It’s also for anyone wondering if they can do this by themselves. And for those who’ve been in business for some time and need some motivation to keep going.

One of my mottos in life is that happiness is having problems you chose. I also believe Mark Manson talks about this in his books.

By choosing to be in business, it’s best to take full responsibility for anything that comes with it. The good, the bad and the ugly. At the end of the day, I’m always going to choose the problems of a business over those of a day job.

So it’s up to you. But it’s not worth getting in business and then complaining about its challenges to everyone for the rest of your life. That’s not the right mindset and that’s not who you want to be.

Now, let’s get into the problems I’m talking about. Maybe for you problem is a negative word. But for me, it’s a rather neutral one and I worked on this mindset shift a long time ago.

If just the thought of getting into a new venture that might bring problems overwhelms you, you aren’t off to a good start. It’s best to change that limiting belief first so you can go in business for yourself with an open mind and a positive vision.

So here are the challenges I’ve been dealing with over the years. If they sound familiar to you, you are not alone and each of them can be overcome.

The Challenges of Running a One-Person Business

1. Lack of motivation.

It’s inevitable.

Sometimes we’re really motivated, other times we feel down. Life happens, a negative thought enters our mind. Someone tells us something and triggers us and we can be down for days.

Then we’re wondering if this whole business thing is really worth it. If we’re not crazy to even assume we would ever be financially independent thanks to it.

This can consume you for days, for weeks and in some cases, even for months.

You have to find ways to navigate that. To handle the negative emotions that come with being a business owner.

They won’t stop coming. You’ll just get better at managing them.

Over time, if you find the practices that work best for you, you’ll be able to regulate your nervous system quickly. To not get triggered or to at least not give the trigger the power to ruin your whole day.

You’ll also let yourself relax for some time when you’re in a negative spiral. You’ll know that you’re staying in business no matter what. And when you feel like it the next day or in two days, you’ll get back to work.

That’s the beauty of it. You have all the freedom to work whenever you want.

You will experience lack of motivation. Prepare for that. And please don’t leave your business behind for a few months.

I’ve definitely done it for a few weeks in the first years. I don’t remember if I ever did it for a few months. Maybe it’s possible. Maybe I still logged into my blog and did some maintenance and was reading some stuff because I always wanted to know more about personal growth and business.

But that’s the thing.

There are different ways to work on your business.

You can learn about it. You can build new skills and then that can motivate you to get back to the actual work and day-to-day business activities. So my other tip for the moments when you lack motivation is to find