My Plan to Run a Solo Professional Business

I discovered a truth as a creative professional: I have a marketable skill, but that is separate from running a business well. The fact that I’m skilled at a trade or profession, whether it’s carpentry or internal medicine, doesn’t mean that I know how to run a business.

Solo professionals in any industry can be great at their primary skill whether it’s health care, management consulting, or landscaping. Understanding specializations like taxes, marketing, and having the discipline to track expenses and pay bills on time is different than one’s skill.

I’ve been writing my entire career ranging from a radio host and journalist to managing the program of a and writing marketing materials to guide volunteers. I received my master’s degree in communication management to further develop my creative bent with an understanding of how corporations set goals.

But for the past several months, I’ve grown aware how I’m not running a business as a writer. Instead, I’m reacting and responding to requests as I’m able.