Confessions of a Solo Founder: Why I Hired a VA Before I Hired Anyone Else
In the height of the 2020 pandemic, I was laid off from my job, had a baby (six days later), transformed a side hustle into my dream business, and then realized I was drowning in tasks I didn’t sign up for. That was me when I started my agency in Denver, buried under marketing, bookkeeping, deadlines, sales calls, emails, and spreadsheets. I was honestly wondering how I was ever going to actually grow my business when I was so in the weeds. I wasn’t doing what I loved anymore. I was juggling a million things until a virtual assistant gave me my life back. From the hundreds of solopreneurs I’ve talked to since, I know I wasn’t alone. If you’re a solopreneur trying to grow your business, this blog is your coffee shop chat with me. It’s packed with practical tips (that I learned the hard way) to set you up for success without the overwhelm.
Starting as a solopreneur is exhilarating, but it’s not all coffee shop vibes and freedom. You’re the CEO, marketer, accountant, and coffee runner (most important job), all at once. To help you thrive, I’m sharing five practical tips for launching your solo venture, plus a step-by-step plan to bring on the right support at the right time. We’ll also touch on 2025 trends for solopreneurs and a pro tip to keep your sanity.
1. Nail Down Your Niche and Value Proposition
When you’re a solopreneur, clarity is everything. Without a clear niche, you’re just shouting into the void. Ask yourself: What problem do I solve, and for whom? Are you a Denver-based graphic designer specializing in craft brewery logos or a life coach helping tech founders beat burnout? Your niche isn’t just what you do, it’s what makes you the go-to person for that thing.
I learned this the hard way. The temptation when you start a business is to be everything to everyone, to take on any client with cash in their hands. A VA helped me refine my messaging by researching my target audience and drafting a clear value proposition. It’s not just me, either. A Denver fitness coach we work with had her VA analyze local competitors, pinpointing that busy moms wanted 30-minute virtual workouts. That niche clarity doubled her bookings because she was able to speak to the right people.
Action Step: Write down your ideal client and the one problem you solve better than anyone. Have your VA research competitors on platforms like X or Google to sharpen your edge. For example, they can compile a list of keywords your audience searches, like “Denver life coach for entrepreneurs,” to boost your SEO.
2. Build a Lean Financial Plan (and Stick to It)
Solopreneurship means every dollar counts. Without a financial plan, you’re guessing your way to broke. Start with a simple budget: list your startup costs (website, tools, marketing), monthly expenses (subscriptions, coffee runs), and projected income. Then, track every penny, because those $5 lattes add up. Numbers aren’t every solopreneur’s strong suit, but without a financial plan, you’re guessing your way to broke. If bookkeeping feels like a foreign language, hire a bookkeeping VA who can handle tasks like tracking income, categorizing expenses, or sending invoices, so you stay on top of your cash flow without the stress.
Paying a VA only for productive hours saves you a ton compared to hiring a full-time bookkeeper. One of our clients, a Denver event planner, was losing sleep over messy QuickBooks entries until her VA took over, reconciling accounts and creating weekly reports in just 3 hours a week, saving her $1,500 a year over a part-time accountant. By focusing on tasks like invoicing or expense tracking, your VA keeps your finances tight without you wrestling with spreadsheets.
Action Step: Set up a simple tool like QuickBooks or FreshBooks. Have your VA categorize expenses and generate a monthly profit-loss report (takes about 2-3 hours a month). Pro tip: Ask your VA to flag recurring subscriptions you can cancel, like that unused software draining your budget.Action Step: Use a tool like QuickBooks or Wave to track finances. Have your VA set up monthly reports (takes about 2 hours a month) and review them with you to spot savings. Pro tip: Ask your VA to research free alternatives to pricey tools, like Canva instead of Adobe.
3. Master Your Time with Systems and Delegation
As a solopreneur, time is your most precious asset. Without systems, you’re stuck in a cycle of reacting to emails and putting out fires. Set up basic processes early, like a client intake form or a content calendar, to stay organized. Then, delegate repetitive tasks to a VA so you can focus on high-value work, like landing clients or creating your signature offer.
I used to spend 15 hours a week on emails until I finally took my own advice and hired a VA to help with inbox management. She set up Gmail filters and templates and drafted responses for me to basic emails. I now spend less than three hours a week in my inbox and feel way less stressed every day. A Denver real estate agent we work with had her VA handle client follow-ups and MLS updates, freeing 10 hours a week to close deals in Colorado’s hot market. By paying a VA only for those productive hours, you avoid the cost of a full-time employee who might be distracted by office banter.
Action Step: List your top three time-sucking tasks (e.g., scheduling, invoicing). Write a quick guide for your VA. You can say, “Use Calendly to book client calls, confirm within 24 hours.” Hand it off and watch your week open up. Bonus: Use Asana to track tasks; your VA can set it up in an hour.
4. Create a Simple Marketing Plan (and Let Your VA Run It)
You don’t need a fancy marketing team to get noticed, just a plan and a VA to execute it. Start with one or two channels, like X for networking or a blog for SEO. Focus on consistency over perfection. For example, posting one well-crafted X thread a week can build your audience faster than sporadic Instagram Reels. A VA can handle the grunt work: scheduling posts, designing graphics, or researching hashtags. This focused work costs less than a full-time marketer’s salary, keeping your budget lean.
Action Step: Pick one platform (e.g., X) and commit to posting twice a week. Have your VA use Hootsuite to schedule posts and track engagement (takes 3 hours a week). Share a brand voice guide—like “friendly, bold, Denver-proud”—to keep posts on point.
5. Prioritize Work-Life Balance to Avoid Burnout
Solopreneurship can feel like a 24/7 hustle, and burnout is real. I used to work at least 60-hour weeks while trying to raise my young kids. I would work through vacations or trips to see family because the business never stopped. When I had enough, I hired a VA with the main goal that one day I’d be able to go on vacation and not touch my laptop. Set boundaries early, like no emails after 6 p.m., and let your VA enforce them. This isn’t just about time; it’s about building a business that lets you live. By paying a VA only for productive tasks, you save money and mental energy compared to hiring staff who need constant oversight.
Action Step: Set one boundary, like “no work on Sundays.” Have your VA manage your inbox with an auto-responder and prioritize urgent emails Monday morning. Try a tool like Freedom to block distractions; your VA can set it up in 30 minutes.
2025 Solopreneur Trends to Watch
The solopreneur landscape is evolving, and VAs are at the heart of it. In 2025, 65% of solopreneurs plan to outsource more tasks, per recent surveys, focusing on high-value work like marketing and client management. Specialized VAs are in demand, up 30% from last year. AI tools are also trending, with VAs using platforms like ChatGPT to draft content or analyze data, but their human touch keeps them essential. Flexible VA subscriptions let you scale hours as your business grows, saving you from overcommitting to full-time hires.
Here’s a stat: solopreneurs using VAs report a 35% boost in productivity, per a 2024 study. That’s more time to do what’s really important: connect wtih others, use your creativity, talk a walk in the sunshine, or focus on your zone of genius.
Key Tip: Start Small with Your VA for Big Wins
Don’t try to delegate everything at once. It’s a recipe for chaos (trust me, I learned this when I dumped 20 tasks on my first VA). Pick one task, like email management, and give your VA a clear, one-page guide or, even better, a Loom video. For example: “Filter emails to ‘urgent’ and ‘non-urgent,’ respond to urgent within 24 hours using this template.” Start small, see results, and grow from there.
Your Solo Journey Starts Here
Launching as a solopreneur is a bold move, but it doesn’t have to mean burnout or chaos. By nailing your niche, building a lean financial plan, mastering time with systems, creating a simple marketing strategy, and prioritizing balance, you can thrive solo and love every step of the journey. A VA can make it all easier, handling tasks like research, project management, scheduling, customer service, or content creation while you focus on what you love. At Alpine Virtual, we’ve seen solopreneurs go from overwhelmed to unstoppable, and we’re here to help you do the same.
Ready to kickstart your solo venture with a VA? Book a free consultation to find your perfect match and hire your virtual assistant. Let’s make your solopreneur dream a reality!
