By Courtney Rosenfeld
Are you starting a new business? Are you starting that business completely on your own? If so, you are what is known as a solopreneur. As you may have already guessed, solopreneurs are entrepreneurs or business owners who work alone, but being a solopreneur shouldn’t mean turning down tools and resources that can help your new business succeed. It also shouldn’t mean taking on every aspect of your new startup alone. Thankfully, there are numerous tech tools and online resources that can solve both of these dilemmas for solopreneurs, such as:
Reliable Devices to Boost Communications and Productivity
If you only invest in one tech tool for your new business, it needs to be a reliable smartphone. You should start by looking for wireless plans that will fit the needs of your startup, since paying for phone service can often be a major expense. To make sure you are getting all the services you need to succeed without paying too much, think about how you will use your new smartphone each day. Will you be texting back and forth with clients or consultants? Do you plan on using your smartphone as a mobile hotspot? The answers to these questions can help you pick essential features for your plan, like unlimited data and text messages. When you are working solo to get a new business off the ground, having a powerful, reliable smartphone can make a world of difference. Not only can you stay connected to customers, but you can also take advantage of the latest business apps to maximize your productivity, make your operations more efficient, and possibly even increase profits, all of which can lead to long-term success.
Online Recording Tools and Tech Resources to Save Time
Having a simple, efficient way to take down information is important. A voice recording service can provide just the sort of tech tool that solopreneurs need to make taking notes, recording meetings, or relaying information via email virtually effortless. With online recording tools, like the ones offered by Rev, your audio is quickly converted into an MP3 file, which you can easily save to your phone, or even share with appropriate people via email. Many services also offer transcription services that can turn your recordings into readable text. Transcribed audio can then be added to your website or other communications. While having this sort of tool can be a valuable asset for your new business, you should know the rules of recording audio, and you should also know about other tech tools that can save you time and effort. If you want to take your business to the next level, you should also consider hiring freelance help to tackle tech projects and other business needs that would otherwise take you more time to complete on your own.
Co-Working Spaces to Access Tech and Other Business Tools
If you’re a true solopreneur, you’re likely working from home. While working from a home office can be a great way to get your business off the ground with minimal expenses, you should know that staying productive can be a major challenge. You may need to block dedicated chunks of time for work projects, designate certain home spaces for business, and set boundaries for yourself and other household members. While these steps may sound simple, adhering to them every day can actually be quite stressful. That’s why more and more entrepreneurs are turning to co-working spaces instead of home offices. Co-working benefits are numerous and include helping you avoid the challenges listed above, but you also gain access to helpful tech that you would otherwise need to include in your own business budget. On top of those perks, coworking can also help you network with other professionals.
Being a solopreneur takes some serious focus and self-discipline, and you should be proud of creating a new business on your own. Just try to avoid unnecessary effort, time, or costs for your small business by knowing when to turn to tech tools and online resources. Being a successful solopreneur doesn’t have to always mean doing everything all on your own.
Photo Credit: Rawpixel