Freelancer, Solopreneur, Entrepreneur: Why it matters to know the difference
Especially when you’re building a values-driven, purpose-led business in a world full of advice.
If you’ve ever tried to figure out your “next step” in business by scrolling LinkedIn or listening to podcasts, you’ve probably noticed something:
Everyone’s giving advice.
But no one’s saying who the advice is actually for.
You’re told to “scale” before you’ve even shaped your offer.
To “niche down” when you’re still hopping from contract to contract.
To “hire a team” when you’re just trying to catch your breath.
The result?
Overwhelm.
Doubt.
And a whole lot of apples vs. oranges.
That’s why one of the most clarifying moves you can make is this:
Figure out what kind of business you’re actually building.
Not in abstract terms. But practically. Structurally. Strategically.
For our community—experienced professionals building service-based businesses in climate, strategy, and social impact—this isn’t semantics. It’s orientation.
It’s the difference between choosing advice that fits…
and chasing strategies that don’t.
The shared reality: all paths come with uncertainty
Let’s be honest:
None of these paths—freelancer, solopreneur, or entrepreneur—are “safe” or linear.
You’re navigating ambiguity.
There’s no fixed roadmap. No steady paycheck. No one telling you what to do.
And yet—there’s power in that discomfort.
Because learning to move through uncertainty builds your adaptability.
It sharpens your decision-making.
It makes you more resilient.
And when you do it with others—not alone—you become something even stronger.
You become antifragile. Which, in a world of constant change, is an edge.
Freelancer (and Fractional): The Independent Specialist
You’re hired to do the work.
This is often the most familiar structure for people stepping out of a full-time role—but many stay here long term, and that’s entirely valid. You’re offering a clear skill set. You’re known for your craft. You move from project to project, or client to client.
There are two main types in this category:
Freelancers work in short- to medium-term engagements—often with project-based deliverables or fixed contracts (3–6 months).
Fractional leaders embed themselves part-time into organizations, offering strategic or leadership capacity 1–2 days a week.
What they share:
You can succeed with a strong CV and portfolio.
Business development often happens through referrals, inbound opportunities, or by responding to existing needs.
You’re still largely selling your time—even if it’s on your own terms.
Why this works:
It’s familiar and relatively predictable.
You avoid office politics while still earning well.
You can structure your time and say no when needed.
Where it gets tricky:
Income is not scalable beyond your capacity.
You’re dependent on external demand—you can’t “create” your own work.
Transitions between contracts can be stressful and destabilizing.
If you stop marketing, the pipeline often dries up.
For many in our community, this model offers breathing space after corporate life. But eventually, the question arises: Is this it? Am I building something that lasts—or just reacting to what's available?
Solopreneur: The Business of One, Built with Intention
You’re no longer waiting for work—you’re designing it.
You still work alone (or mostly alone), but here’s the shift:
You’re not just working in the business—you’re working on it.
Solopreneurs create intentional, structured offerings that move them toward consistency and clarity.
You’re no longer waiting for contracts. You’re designing services that meet a specific need—on your own terms.
This requires a different level of visibility and positioning than freelancing.
Referrals are still useful, but they’re not enough.
At this stage, most people need to:
Build a clear website (not just a CV)
Define a value proposition that resonates with the right clients
Develop content that builds trust and credibility over time
Shift to value-based pricing instead of hourly rates
Hire VAs, contractors, or advisors to help run and grow the business
You might experiment with:
Advisory retainers
Strategy intensives
Group programs or workshops
Speaking or teaching
Toolkits, templates, or digital courses
Why this works:
You create more leverage—one idea or system can serve many clients
You build brand equity—you’re known for something specific
You develop recurring revenue, not just one-off payments
You gain time freedom—not just flexibility in tasks
Where it gets tricky:
You need to build a brand, not just a reputation
You have to invest before you earn—in messaging, systems, and visibility
This is where many in the IMMA Collective are today.
They’re doing brilliant work—but they’re tired of trading time for income. They want to build something smaller, simpler, smarter—and have it work for them.
This model isn’t about scaling big. It’s about designing a business that fits your life.
Entrepreneur: Building Something Bigger Than You
You’re no longer the product—your business is.
This is where the shift becomes structural. You’re building something that can grow, evolve, and deliver value beyond your direct effort.
You might:
Hire a team or build a small agency
Develop a product, platform, or tool
Explore funding or collective ownership models
License your IP, frameworks, or methodologies
You stop asking:
“How do I get better at doing this work?”
And start asking:
“How can this business grow without relying on me? How can we solve bigger problems at scale?”
Why this works:
You build a system that outlives your hours
You can scale your impact, reach, and income
You have the capacity to address larger, more complex challenges
Where it gets tricky:
You take on more risk, coordination, and overhead
You need to get comfortable letting go of control
You spend less time doing your craft—and more time leading
It requires time and upfront investment to get it off the ground and working right
This path isn’t for everyone—but if you find yourself dreaming of wider impact or collective models, it may be where you’re headed next.
Why This Distinction Matters (Especially in impact work)
If you’re building something for people and planet—not just profit—this clarity becomes even more important.
Because purpose-led work comes with real trade-offs.
And you need a business model that can hold those trade-offs with integrity—not just copy templates from tech startups or hustle culture.
Understanding where you are helps you:
Tune out advice that isn’t meant for you
Identify what actually needs your attention right now
Set realistic goals aligned with your values and energy
Find others walking a similar path
So—where are you right now?
Not where you wish you were.
Not where your LinkedIn profile says you are.
But really—structurally, financially, energetically—what kind of business are you building today?
What Now?
This isn’t about picking the “best” path.
It’s about choosing the right one—for where you are now, and where you want to grow next.
If you’re…
👉 A freelancer ready to step into solopreneurship —
Seed can help you shape your offer, clarify your value, and start building a business that’s truly yours.
👉 A solopreneur ready to stabilize and grow —
Our Nurture Membership supports you in building your pipeline, deepening your positioning, and staying consistent—together with a peer community.
Still not sure where you land?
Take our short quiz to find out what business season you're in.
Or simply reply to this newsletter—we’d love to hear where you’re at and how we can support you in your next step.
Interesting opportunities for you
We save our members countless hours by selecting opportunities for independents from over 150 job boards. Here’s a sneak peek:
🧑💻Consultant Mainstreaming Financial Allocations - C40 Cities
🤝RFP/Tender
🗓️May 2, 2025
🧑💻Peace Fellowships - Rotary International
📍Remote
💰$25,000
🤝RFP/Tender
🧑💻Request for Proposals: Freshwater Storytelling National Geographic Society
🤝RFP/Tender
🗓️April 22, 2025
🧑💻Threshold Outreach & Engagement Manager - Threshold
📍Remote
💰$49-$55/hour
🤝Part-time
🗓️May 2, 2025
🧑💻Social media and/or comms professional - Chayn
📍Remote
💰£1,200 per month
🗓️May 4, 2025
🧑💻Senior Consultant- Adolescent Girls - UNICEF
📍Remote
🤝Contract
But what if you didn’t have to wait for the right post?
We help members create their own opportunities—strategically and sustainably. Learn more.
Behind the scenes at IMMA
We’ve kicked off regular check-ins with our community leads—Ariel, Caroline, Eliza, and Tricia. It feels good to share the load and co-create together.
Last week hit hard. I felt the tiredness from the past months catch up with me—at one point I felt physically nauseous just thinking about work. So I paused. Rested. Let things be. Given that the world is heavy. Building slowly and together feels even more important right now.
We’ve shifted our networking events to invite-only. More effort (personal invites + curated matches), but the feedback’s been beautiful:
“Loved it! What a wonderful initiative.”
“Hearing others' challenges helped me feel less alone.”
Inside the community, we’ve been:
Sharing money visions—what financial sustainability looks like for each of us
Learning from Charly Cox, co-founder of Climate Change Coaches who shared raw, honest lessons from 20+ years of entrepreneurship
Getting ready for a free workshop with Stefanie Kurse, , founder of reThink the Web, a sustainable web design studio for solopreneurs (how is behind the IMMA website redesign), on How to launch a website that actually works.
Thank you for reading, see you soon.
Lilli