First Steps to Starting a Solopreneur Service-Based Business

Don’t build a website yet!

When starting a business, many people think that one of the first tasks is to build a website.

The more experienced I get in helping new businesses get traction, the more my perspective on this has shifted — I now believe that a website is useless for most new businesses… possibly even harmful.

If you are working to become a coach, consultant, mentor, healer, or other type of solopreneur service-based business, I recommend that you don’t build a website yet. (The exception is for business/marketing services — clients will expect a website.)

Trying to build a website will delay your business for months. It’s too easy to fall into the perfectionistic mode of figuring out your niche, your message, your brand, etc.

You don’t need any of those things to get your first batch of clients and to really validate where the market wants you to go with your business (and brand). Most prospective clients don’t care whether you have a website, unless you’re billing yourself as a marketing expert.

What they do care about is whether they know you (or have heard good things about your services), and whether they like your presence (by talking to you), and whether you can help them with their specific needs.

All of that can be communicated through social media (e.g. a Facebook Page, Instagram Profile, a Linkedin profile), or a zoom…