Solopreneur Life

What if the business we started to create more freedom is actually taking that freedom away? As solopreneurs, we dream of escaping the 9-to-5, setting our own schedules, and having more time for the people and experiences that matter most. But without boundaries, we can end up working longer hours, earning less, and feeling more trapped than we did in our corporate jobs. In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we sit down with Allan Ngo, a former corporate professional turned digital entrepreneur who's generated over $250,000 in digital product sales, to explore how we can build profitable one-person businesses without sacrificing our personal lives. We discuss Allan's concept of the "Minimum Viable Day," a simple approach to identifying the two or three most important tasks that keep our businesses moving forward while giving us permission to enjoy life outside of work. We also explore how to set meaningful boundaries, identify revenue-generating activities, use email and affiliate marketing to create income, and recognize when it's time to pivot away from a business that no longer brings us fulfillment. In this episode, we discuss: Why we sometimes trade our 9-to-5 jobs for businesses that demand even more of our time How to create a "Minimum Viable Day" focused on the activities that actually generate revenue Why defining what time freedom means to us is essential before growing our businesses How Allan used a pre-sold workshop with 100 sign-ups to validate a new business direction How email marketing, affiliate marketing, and digital products can support a flexible solopreneur lifestyle Why pursuing hobbies, spending time with family, and setting limitations can actually make us better entrepreneurs How we can forgive our past business mistakes and make changes that better support the lives we want Whether we're just starting our solopreneur journey or feeling overwhelmed by a business we've already built, this conversation reminds us that the goal isn't simply to make more money. It's to create a business that supports the life we want to live. Connect with Allan Ngo: Digital Solopreneur: https://digitalsolopreneur.com/ Connect with Allan on LinkedIn and Facebook Solopreneur Life Resources: Connect with Andy Hill and explore more episodes: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ Andy's book, Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book If this conversation helps us rethink how we're running our businesses, we can support Solopreneur Life by subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing this episode with a fellow solopreneur who could use a little more freedom in their life. Credits: Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered personalized financial, investment, legal, tax, or business advice. The experiences, strategies, and results discussed are specific to the individuals sharing them and are not guarantees of future outcomes. Business ownership and entrepreneurship involve financial risks, and results will vary based on individual circumstances. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making significant financial or business decisions.

Should You Hire a Bookkeeper or Accountant for Your Small Business? Should you hire a bookkeeper, an accountant, both, or neither for your small business? As solopreneurs, we want to keep our finances organized, make smart tax decisions, and grow our businesses without adding unnecessary expenses. But knowing when to outsource financial tasks and how much to spend on professional help isn't always easy. In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we break down the differences between bookkeepers and accountants, what each professional can do for your business, and how to decide which services are actually worth the investment. We also explore real-world bookkeeping and accounting costs, when it makes sense to handle things ourselves, and why regularly evaluating our business expenses is so important. Plus, we share our personal experience managing the finances of Hill Media, including our decision to move from QuickBooks to Wave Accounting and reconsider a $275 monthly accounting expense. In this episode, we discuss: The key differences between a bookkeeper and an accountant When outsourcing bookkeeping can save us valuable time How much bookkeeping and accounting services typically cost When professional tax guidance becomes especially important Why Andy is simplifying his business finances with Wave Accounting How to determine whether we need a bookkeeper, accountant, both, or neither The goal isn't to build the biggest team or pay for the most services. It's to create a profitable, efficient business that gives us more freedom to enjoy life outside of work. Resources: One-on-One Solopreneur Coaching with Andy Hill:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/solopreneurcoaching Get Andy's Book, Own Your Time:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Leave a Voicemail for the Show:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail Wave Accounting:marriagekidsandmoney.com/wave QuickBooks:marriagekidsandmoney.com/quickbooks Credits: Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

Are you spending too much time managing your small business finances instead of growing your business or enjoying your life? As solopreneurs, we're used to doing everything ourselves. But just because we can handle every task doesn't mean we should. In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we explore why outsourcing your bookkeeping could be one of the smartest investments you make in your business. Andy shares his experience of hiring an accountant seven years ago, how that decision helped him reclaim valuable time, and why buying back your freedom can be just as important as increasing your revenue. We'll discuss how to calculate the value of your time, three signs you're ready to outsource your bookkeeping, and why it's important to stay involved in your business finances even when someone else is managing the numbers. Whether you're just starting out or running a profitable one-person business, this episode will help you think differently about outsourcing, profitability, and building a business that supports your life. Because the goal isn't to do everything yourself. It's to build a business that gives you the freedom to live life on your terms. Resources: Solopreneur Coaching (One-on-One):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/solopreneurcoaching Free Solopreneur Scorecard (Measure Your Business and Life Freedom):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/solopreneur-scorecard Own Your Time Book:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Leave a Voicemail for the Show:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail Credits: Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

How many business bank accounts does a solopreneur actually need? Two, three, or even five? When we're building a profitable one-person business, managing our money shouldn't become another full-time job. While popular strategies like Profit First recommend multiple bank accounts, a simpler approach might work just as well. In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we're exploring five checkpoints to help us determine how many business bank accounts we really need. We'll look at how to separate business and personal finances, build a business emergency fund, create a monthly budget, and decide when additional accounts make sense. We'll also share how Hill Media manages hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual revenue using just two business bank accounts, one checking and one savings, along with budgeting tools like Monarch Money and QuickBooks. Whether we're just starting our solopreneur journey or looking to simplify an established business, we'll discover how to create a financial system that supports profitability, reduces stress, and helps us work toward a 20–25 hour workweek. Because the goal isn't to have the most bank accounts. It's to build a business that supports our life, not the other way around. Resources: One-on-One Solopreneur Coaching:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/solopreneurcoaching Own Your Time (Book):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Leave a Voicemail for the Show:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail Live Oak Bank (Business Emergency Fund):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/liveoakbank Monarch Money (Business Budgeting):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney Credits: Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

What if building a million-dollar business isn't actually the best measure of success? As solopreneurs, we often celebrate revenue milestones, but how much of that money are we actually keeping? And more importantly, how much time, energy, and freedom are we sacrificing to earn it? In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we challenge the idea that bigger revenue automatically means a better business. We explore four important checkpoints for measuring business success, including profitability, time freedom, lifestyle, and what we're truly optimizing for. We'll also share how we've grown Hill Media to around $300,000 in annual revenue while intentionally moving toward a three-day, 20–25 hour workweek. Plus, we'll discuss the challenge of pursuing a million-dollar business without sacrificing the family time, health, and freedom that inspired us to become solopreneurs in the first place. If we're building a business to create more freedom, shouldn't we measure success by more than just revenue? One-on-One Solopreneur Coaching with Andy Hill:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/solopreneurcoaching Own Your Time: 10 Financial Steps to Put Your Family First and Escape the Corporate Grind:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Leave a Voicemail for the Show:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail Free Solopreneur Scorecard (Measure Your Success Beyond Revenue):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/solopreneur-scorecard/ Live Oak Bank (Business Emergency Fund):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/liveoakbank Credits: Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

When our businesses start making consistent money, it can be tempting to put every available dollar back into growth. We have taxes, software, contractors, marketing, operating expenses, and plenty of new opportunities competing for our cash. But if we're doing meaningful work inside our businesses, we shouldn't always be the last people getting paid. In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we walk through five steps for figuring out how much to pay ourselves without relying on a one-size-fits-all percentage. We discuss how to treat ourselves as part of the team, understand the true cost of running our businesses, determine the right way to compensate ourselves, and allow our businesses to create wealth for our families. We also explore how to decide which dollars should stay in the business for reserves and reinvestment and which dollars may have a better job outside of it. We'll also look at Andy's current Hill Media goal budget, including how he thinks about team compensation, operating expenses, family wealth, reserves, and reinvestment. Because ultimately, our businesses shouldn't exist just to pay our software companies, contractors, vendors, and everyone else around us. They should support our lives too. Resources: 💰 GustoPayroll software Andy uses to pay himself through Hill Media:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/gusto (referral link) 📘 Own Your Time10 Financial Steps to Put Your Family First and Escape the Corporate Grind:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book 🎙️ Leave a Voicemail for the ShowHave a solopreneur question you'd like us to answer on a future episode?https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail Credits: Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we spoke with Kate Johnson, owner of Heritage Business Services, about building a flexible and profitable bookkeeping business around family life. Kate started her business in 2018 after looking for work that could move with her military family. What began with an $800 first client grew into $119,000 in client service revenue in 2025. She shares how bookkeepers can build recurring revenue, why she prefers value-based pricing, and how a bookkeeping business can operate with very low overhead and strong profit margins. We also discuss earning more through cleanup projects, training, memberships and affiliate income, why AI is pushing bookkeepers toward higher-value advisory work, and what it really takes to find your first 10 to 15 clients. Resources Mentioned: Bookkeeping Side Hustle: https://www.bookkeepingsidehustle.com/ Bookkeeping Side Hustle on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BookkeepingSideHustle Credits Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

What does a successful business actually look like? For a long time, we tend to measure success with one number: money. More revenue, more profit, a bigger business. But if growing our businesses requires sacrificing our health, relationships, or all of our available time, are we really winning? In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we introduce the Solopreneur Scorecard, a new way for us to measure business success beyond just profit. The scorecard looks at six important areas: owning our time, money, business, health, relationships, and contribution. We’ll walk through each category, including where things are going well and where there may be room to improve. We also explore the "14-day test" for determining whether we truly own our businesses, why finding our "enough number" can help us stop endlessly chasing more revenue, and how improving one area of our lives can create a positive ripple effect across the others. If we’re trying to build profitable one-person businesses without turning them into another demanding 50 or 60-hour-per-week job, this episode can help us redefine what success really looks like. RESOURCES & NOTES: 📊 Take the Free Solopreneur Scorecard:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/solopreneur-scorecard/ 💼 Solopreneur Coaching with Andy Hill (One-on-One):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/solopreneurcoaching 📘 Own Your Time:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book 🎙️ Leave a Voicemail for the Show:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail CREDITS Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

The Art of Pacing by Elizabeth Svoboda: ⁠https://amzn.to/43PQFBk (Amazon affiliate) As solopreneurs, it can feel like we always need to be pushing harder, working longer, and giving 110%. But what if slowing down at the right moments actually helps us accomplish more? In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we sit down with award-winning science writer Elizabeth Svoboda, author of The Art of Pacing, to explore how we can find a healthier middle ground between the endless sprint and complete disengagement. Elizabeth shares what entrepreneurs can learn from elite athletes about balancing intense effort with meaningful recovery. We discuss why the cycle of overworking and crashing is so difficult to break, how chronic stress can affect our health, and why working more hours doesn't necessarily mean getting more done. We also explore the idea of "rigid flexibility," how to build real recovery into our workweeks, why scrolling social media isn't necessarily rest, and how pacing ourselves can help us build businesses we actually have the energy to enjoy for years to come. If we're trying to build a one-person business that supports our life, not the other way around, learning when to push and when to recover may be one of the most important skills we can develop. RESOURCES: Elizabeth Svoboda: https://elizabethsvoboda.com/ The Art of Pacing by Elizabeth Svoboda: https://amzn.to/43PQFBk Freedom App: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/freedomapp Own Your Time by Andy Hill: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book CREDITS: Host: Andy HillGuest: Elizabeth SvobodaEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

How much cash should we keep in our business? As our businesses grow, it can feel reassuring to watch that business bank balance get bigger. But at some point, we need to ask an important question: What job is this additional dollar doing by staying in the business? In this episode of Solopreneur Life, we break down a simple framework for deciding how much cash to keep in a small business. We look at four important buckets: operating cash, taxes, a business emergency fund, and money set aside for growth opportunities. We also discuss why keeping three to six months of necessary business expenses in an emergency fund can provide more than financial security. It can give us the time and flexibility to make better decisions when revenue drops, a major client leaves, or our business needs to pivot. Finally, we explore what to do when all of those needs are covered and we still have excess cash. Because our goal isn't just to build a business with a big bank account. We want to build profitable businesses that help us grow our wealth, own more of our time, and create the lives we actually want to live. RESOURCES & NOTES: Solopreneur Coaching (One-on-One):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/solopreneurcoaching Own Your Time:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Gusto (Payroll Service):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/gusto Live Oak (Business Savings Account):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/liveoakbank Chase (Business Checking Account):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/chasebusinesschecking Leave a Voicemail for the Show:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail CREDITS: Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny SohlPodcast Support: Michelle Ahmed