A lady sitting on a desktop in front of her computer, ready to make money as a solopreneur

8 ways to make money as a solopreneur in 2025

A lady sitting on a desktop in front of her computer, ready to make money as a solopreneur

How To Make Money as a Solopreneur: Your Path to Freedom & Full Control

💡TL;DR

Here’s how to make money as a solopreneur in 2025:

  • 💻 Freelance Specialization: Charge premium rates for niche skills
  • 📦 Digital Products: Create scalable assets like templates & courses
  • 🤝 1:1 Coaching: Leverage expertise for high-ticket services
  • 🔄 Affiliate Marketing: Earn commissions promoting curated tools
  • 🚀 Micro-SaaS: Build small software solving specific pains
  • 📢 Content Monetization: Turn followers into revenue streams
  • 🛍️ E-commerce: Dropship or create signature products
  • 🔁 Hybrid Models: Combine multiple income streams strategically

Tool Tip: Use Proolance to automate marketing ($20/month unlimited scheduling). Try Free →

2025 is the Golden Age of Solopreneurship

The traditional 9-to-5 is gasping its last breath.

With 72% of professionals now considering independent work and AI tools slashing startup costs, there’s never been a better time to make money as a solopreneur.

But here’s the twist – the game has changed.

The solopreneurs thriving today aren’t hustling 80-hour weeks; they’re building scalable systemsleveraging AI, and specializing ruthlessly.

After many experiences and analysis, I’ve discovered the 8 most effective ways to make money as a solopreneur in 2025.

These aren’t theoretical – they’re battle-tested by people earning $5k-$50k/month solo:

1. Freelance Specialization: The $200+/Hour Path

Gone are the days of generic “social media manager” gigs. 2025’s winners niche down hard:

  • Example: “ClickUp automation specialist for e-commerce brands”
  • Why it works: Reduces competition while increasing rates
  • Tools to Start: Upwork (premium tier), LinkedIn specialist groups

2025 Pricing Strategy:

  • Beginner: $50-75/hour
  • Specialist: $125-200/hour
  • Premium: $300+/hour (retainers only)

2. Digital Products: Your Scalable Income Engine

Create once → sell forever. The top performers focus on:

  • Problem-Specific Templates: “Notion CRM for freelance writers”
  • Micro-Courses: “21-day ChatGPT prompt mastery” ($47-$197)
  • Resource Libraries: “Legal templates for online creators”

Launch Strategy That Works:

  1. Build audience solving micro-problems (free content)
  2. Survey followers about biggest frustration
  3. Create product solving THAT specific pain
  4. Beta launch to 10 superfans at 50% discount

Example: “TikTok Hook Swipe File” (sold 1,200+ copies at $27)

3. 1:1 Coaching: The High-Ticket Relationship Model

Despite AI, personalized guidance still commands premium prices:

Coaching TypeAvg. Price PointClient Commitment
Strategy Sessions$500-1,50090 minutes
90-Day Programs$3k-8kWeekly calls + Voxer
Elite Masterminds$10k-25kQuarterly retreats

Pro Tip: Package deliverables (e.g., “3 customized systems + implementation support”) to justify premium fees .

Your Secret Weapon: Consistency Without Burnout

Posting 3-5x/week on social media while engaging daily? That’s 8+ hours/week most solopreneurs waste on:

  • Juggling 5+ apps
  • Designing graphics manually
  • Guessing optimal post times

Proolance fixes this:

  • Unlimited scheduling for LinkedIn + other platforms → $20/month flat.
  • Useful and no fluff analytics: Get insights on what works for you so that you can grow fast.
  • Golden Hour Suggestions: Proposes you best posting times based on your timezone

4. Affiliate Marketing: The Curated Toolkit Approach

Forget spammy links. 2025’s ethical affiliate model:

  1. Build genuine expertise with 3-5 core tools
  2. Create valuable content showing real results
  3. Share personalized discounts (“Use code YOURNAME20 for 20% off”)

Top-Performing Niches:

  • Business software (CRM, email tools)
  • Premium courses ($500+ value)
  • Creator hardware (mics, lighting)

Income Potential: Top solopreneurs earn $10k+/month from just 2-3 strategic partnerships .

5. Micro-SaaS: Solve One Pain Point Perfectly

You don’t need to build the next Shopify. Profitable micro-SaaS examples:

  • Chrome Extensions: “Instagram engagement calculator”
  • Niche Plugins: “WooCommerce subscription scheduler”
  • AI Tools: “LinkedIn headline optimizer”

Startup Costs & Timeline:

Idea → No-code MVP: $500-$2,000 (2-4 weeks)  
First 100 users: Free beta access  
Monetization: $5-$20/month subscription  

Example: Proolance is a social media scheduler that is designed for one person operations.

6. Content Monetization: Turn Followers Into Revenue

Stop trading time for money. Monetize audiences through:

  • Sponsorships: $500-$5k/post (5k+ engaged followers)
  • Community Building: Paid Discord groups ($20-$100/month)
  • Exclusive Content: Substack paid newsletters

2025’s Winning Formula:

  1. Grow niche audience (5k > 500k)
  2. Survey members about needs
  3. Create paid offering solving top need

Tool Stack: ConvertKit (email), Skool (community), Proolance (content scheduling)

7. E-commerce: The Hands-Off Product Model

Solopreneurs are winning with:

  • Print-on-Demand: Unique designs + Printful integration
  • Digital-Physical Bundles: “Recipe book + specialty spice kit”
  • Signature Products: “Solo founder’s productivity tea blend”

Automation Essentials:

  • Oberlo for dropshipping
  • Canva for design
  • Proolance for social media promotion

8. Hybrid Models: The $20k/Month Solopreneur Stack

Top earners combine 3-4 streams:

Example Monthly Breakdown:  
1. Freelance specialization: $8,000 (20 hrs/week)  
2. Digital products: $6,000 (automated)  
3. Affiliate income: $3,000  
4. Micro-SaaS subscriptions: $3,000  

The Key: Dedicate 70% of time to scalable income streams 

Solopreneur Income Comparison Table (2025)

Income StreamStartup CostTime to First $1kScalabilitySkill Floor
Freelance Specialization$0-$5001-3 weeksMediumBeginner
Digital Products$100-$1k4-8 weeksHighIntermediate
1:1 Coaching$02-4 weeksLowAdvanced
Affiliate Marketing$0-$1008-12 weeksHighBeginner
Micro-SaaS$500-$5k12-20 weeksHighAdvanced
Content Monetization$0-$30010-16 weeksMediumIntermediate
E-commerce$500-$3k6-10 weeksMediumIntermediate
Hybrid Models$1k+4-6 weeksVery HighAdvanced

3 Solopreneur Money Traps to Avoid

  1. Shiny Object Syndrome: Jumping between unproven trends
  2. Underpricing Services: Charging hourly instead of value-based pricing
  3. Ignoring Automation: Manual work that could be systematized

Time-Saving Essential: Use Proolance to automate social media (saves 8+ hours/week).

Your First Step: The 72-Hour Launch Plan

  1. Day 1: Choose ONE income stream matching your skills
  2. Day 2: Create minimum viable offer (MVO)
    • Freelancers: Simple service package
    • Product creators: Basic template/guide
  3. Day 3: Pitch 10 ideal clients (friends/network) at 50% discount for feedback

“The goal isn’t perfection – it’s proving people will pay.” – Marie Forleo

Final Truth: Profit Follows Specialization

The riches are in the niches. Start where you are – your first $1k is closer than you think.

Your Next Move

Social media is the N°1 tool to promote their products But it takes way too much time to manage everything manually as a solopreneur

Hopefully, Proolance solves this:

  • Unlimited scheduling for all platforms
  • Flat $20/month (no surprises)
  • Designed for zero learning curve

Additional Ressources