Did you know that 41 million Americans worked for themselves in 2023? This number keeps climbing, and it's not hard to see why. Welcome to the age of the solopreneur, where millions are leaving the 9-to-5 grind to turn their passion into profit or at least turning their passions into a side hustle. Solopreneurship offers unmatched flexibility, autonomy, and the power to pursue your dreams on your terms.
But there's a catch - you're running a business without the support of specialized resources in various departments, all working toward a common goal. You become your business's brains, arms, and legs without anyone to fall back on when things get chaotic. Being your own boss often means wearing all the hats—from CEO to marketer to customer support rep. Managing your business effectively requires more than talent or drive; it needs effective systems that enable you to increase the quantity of your input and maximize the quality of your output. Systems come with processes, and building these systems requires the right digital tools to help you simplify your workflow, save time, and increase your overall productivity.
The Solopreneur's Challenge
The multifaceted role of solopreneurship can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Our goal at DTECH Cube is to connect you to digital tools that transform how you work and create, allowing you to build a system that works for your unique needs. While we recommend a range of software tools spanning different use cases and target audiences, we will always recommend one type of software to solopreneurs above all others: single source of truth (SSOT) software.
Aside from handling multiple projects, tasks, and other activities, juggling various software tools for different tasks is the second and sometimes more frustrating challenge. Solopreneurs need to do everything in their power not to exacerbate the issue by introducing multiple apps to their workflow to handle different tasks that could otherwise be consolidated into a single system.
Companies are often forced to use various technologies and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications to operate properly, as multiple aspects of their business operations depend on specific functionalities granted to them by the technologies they use. As of 2021, 110 SaaS applications are used per organization on average. ¹
Of course, if you used nearly as many apps, you'd be drowning in subscription payments and likely a lack of clarity about which tool handles what. As a solopreneur, you should think on opposite terms here because you don't have multiple teams using different SaaS solutions to get their work done. Even then, if you had multiple teams available, ask yourself: Would you want your entire company working across different apps when work could be brought under one roof?
A common challenge solopreneurs face starting out is determining which apps will best suit their workflow. They may end up inadvertently selecting multiple tools in the discovery process. For instance, Tina is starting her freelance web design business. She selects the core application that will make or break her business: the web design tool. But what other tools will she leverage for project tracking, client relationship management, sending proofs to/from her clients, managing her tasks, and documenting her contracts?
Here's a sample list of some apps Tina could end up finding in her search for tools:
Webflow - Her core web design application
Figma -
Notion - For documenting the contracts and managing tasks
ClickUp - For managing the projects and tasks
Miro - For collaborating with clients on a visual whiteboard
Google Workspace - For setting up business email and other tools tied to her domain
Tina might feel confident that her work will be managed effectively with the tools she selected, but integrating five different apps and juggling the different features available will likely lead to an inescapable issue: setting the right conventions per app. Your software is only as powerful as the conventions you set. As a solopreneur, practicing discipline with your software is crucial. The constant switching between platforms not only drains time but also increases the risk of errors and miscommunication. The need for a streamlined, efficient system becomes apparent as you strive to maintain productivity and sanity.
Let's break down some of the common use cases each of the tools she selected can handle and reveal where they may overlap:
Software App | Use Cases | Monthly Cost |
Webflow |
| $29 / month |
Figma |
| Free version |
Notion |
| $12 / month Plus plan + $10 / month for AI |
ClickUp |
| $10 / month Unlimited plan + $5 / month for AI |
Miro |
| $10 / month Starter plan |
Google Workspace |
| $6 / month Business Starter plan |
Quickbooks |
| $35 / month |
You'll notice a few culprits in Tina's selections: Notion, ClickUp, and Miro, which are tools that overlap significantly. This overlap can lead Tina to decision fatigue when trying to set conventions for where her projects and tasks should live. The only thing Notion offers that she can't get with ClickUp or Miro is the ability to host a personal website with Notion as part of her subscription. With ClickUp, she can get whiteboarding and advanced dashboards to analyze metrics that she can't get with Notion. And with Miro, she gets advanced whiteboarding capabilities that she can't get with ClickUp.
Tina is confronted with a choice between three tools that essentially do the same thing. Her main priority as a solopreneur is to control costs and maximize her productivity. If Tina asked me what she should do, I would recommend using ClickUp if whiteboarding, advanced dashboards, and advanced project management features were important to her. If having her own Notion-hosted personal site was more important to her than whiteboarding and dashboards, I would recommend Notion.
In her case, Webflow, Figma, Quickbooks, and Google Workspace are must-haves. Even though Google Workspace comes with a variety of tools that could essentially accomplish all of her project management and administrative needs, business suites like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 can easily make matters worse with the suite of tools that accomplish different things (i.e., Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.). Regardless, Google Workspace must remain because that is how Tina will manage her business email and calendar, which the other tools do not handle.
Altogether, the total cost of this prospective tech stack ends up at $117 per month. Of course, Tina could save some money with annual plans, but she doesn't have to spend nearly as much if she decides on one tool, depending on what her priorities are. And if she chose ClickUp, for example, she would shave off $32 monthly, ending up at a more feasible total of $85 per month.
So, what's the takeaway? Identify the core applications that are must-haves for your business, and then select one application that can handle as many aspects of your work as possible. One of my most transformative decisions was adopting a single source of truth software to manage my business. This decision helped me control costs and consolidate my work into one cohesive tool, allowing me to focus on what truly matters: growing my business. It was so easy for me to get swayed by all of the fancy bells and whistles one tool offered over another, and I found myself losing track of my work and dealing with a lack of clarity on which tools would handle core aspects of daily workflow. Find a versatile tool that can handle as many aspects of work as possible.
Discovering the Single Source of Truth
A single source of truth (SSOT) tool is a centralized platform where all business data and processes are stored and managed. For solopreneurs, this means having one tool that integrates project management, communication, document storage, and more. This consolidation simplifies operations, reduces costs, and enhances decision-making by providing a unified view of the business.
Initially, I was skeptical about relying on one tool for everything. However, the benefits quickly became evident. By consolidating my work into a single platform, I eliminated the chaos of managing multiple subscriptions and significantly reduced my monthly expenses. More importantly, I gained back precious hours previously lost to navigating between different tools.
One prime example of how I managed to save a lot of money each month was moving away from Webflow. Yes, SaaSQuest.io (formerly dtechcube.com) was first built on Webflow, and I was hooked on the platform. There's no doubt that Webflow has positioned itself as one of the best visual web design tools on the market. However, the built-in functionality required integrating external tools to create the experience I wanted for site visitors. The more I wanted to build upon the site's functionality, I found myself paying for other tools like MailChimp for email marketing, Airtable for better CMS administration, WhaleSync to connect Airtable to Webflow, Jetboost for live filtering and sorting features, a separate third-party analytics tool, and MemberStack for membership management. The total cost of all those tools ended up close to $200 per month, which didn't even include my other tools like Microsoft 365 and ClickUp.
I did a TON of research and ended up finding the ideal solution that I could use to consolidate many of those needed functions into a single system. I switched to Wix Studio, which packed a more robust CMS that allowed me to skip Airtable and WhaleSync subscriptions, built-in live filtering and sorting features, analytics tools, email marketing, and membership management. I decreased my monthly spending from close to $200 to less than $50 each month, including my entire tech stack.
Of course, the transition wasn't without its challenges. It required a shift in mindset and a willingness to adapt to new workflows. But the payoff was worth it. With everything in one place, I could easily track projects, create a robust site catalog experience, and communicate with site visitors with built-in marketing and automation tools.
The Importance of Cost Control
For solopreneurs, every dollar counts. Managing costs effectively can be the difference between thriving and merely surviving. You can cut down on unnecessary expenses by using a single source of truth software. Instead of paying for multiple tools, invest in one comprehensive solution that meets all your needs. This strategic move saved money and provided a better return on investment by boosting my productivity and efficiency. SSOT software can do the same for you.
As technology continues to evolve, solopreneurs' tools will only improve. Embracing a single source of truth is not just about managing the present; it's about preparing for the future. If you consolidate your work into an SSOT solution, you position yourself to take advantage of new features and integrations as they become available, ensuring your business remains agile and competitive over the long run.
Explore Tools Tailored for Solopreneurs 🚀
If you're a solopreneur looking to streamline your operations and control costs, consider adopting single source of truth software. Start by evaluating your current tools and identifying areas where consolidation could benefit you. Remember, the goal is to simplify, not complicate. Choose a platform that aligns with your business needs and offers the flexibility to grow with you.
Thankfully, we've done much of the research for you, so you don't have to spend time endlessly searching through search engine results. When you use a search engine to search for software, you're presented with less than half of the tools available, and it's just a battle between vendors with better SEO for that given time period. We’ve curated the ultimate catalog of productivity and creativity tools made just for solopreneurs, whether you're just starting out or scaling up.
Explore the SaaS Quest catalog now and find the perfect single source of truth tool for your needs.
References
¹ Zippia. "30 SaaS Industry Statistics [2023]: Trends + Analysis" Zippia.com. Mar. 13, 2023, https://www.zippia.com/advice/saas-industry-statistics/
