The idea
I think solo work is becoming a real career path, with AI letting one person run what used to take a small team. So instead of guessing which solo businesses win, I own the plumbing they'll all need: back office and tax tools, payment rails, storefronts, and the software that keeps customers and projects organized. Most of the weight sits in established platforms, with smaller slices in faster growing names, plus 8% in cash to add on weakness. This is a slow-moving bet on business formation, so I'm judging it over years, not quarters.
What will be bought
- Software that handles the administrative work solo owners need done: taxes, bookkeeping, payroll, and compliance. · IntuitIt owns QuickBooks for bookkeeping, TurboTax for taxes, and Mailchimp for marketing, touching a solo business at key moments in the year., Bill HoldingsIt automates the invoicing and payment workflows that solo owners spend significant time managing by hand., PaychexIt handles payroll and HR for very small businesses, including solo owners who pay only themselves or one employee., H&R BlockIt serves self-employed tax filers and operates Wave, bookkeeping software designed for solo business owners., VertexIt automates sales tax calculations, which becomes complicated quickly when a solo seller ships to multiple states or countries.33%
- Platforms that process payments and move money for solo sellers and freelancers, especially across borders. · BlockIts Square service processes payments for small sellers while Cash App reaches individuals who often become solo merchants., PayPalIt enables freelancers and small online sellers to receive payments, especially from international clients and marketplaces., PayoneerIt moves money across borders for freelancers and small sellers working with clients and platforms in other countries., ToastIt handles payments and operations for small restaurants, the classic owner-operator business model.24%
- Software that helps solo owners manage customers, projects, marketing, and contracts without hiring staff. · HubSpotIt sells customer management and marketing software with starter tiers built to fit solos and smaller teams., monday.comIt provides work and project tracking software that a solo owner can use to manage their entire operation., KlaviyoIt powers email and text marketing for online stores, especially those built on Shopify, growing as solo sellers grow., DocusignIt handles digital contracts and signatures, paperwork every freelancer and small business regularly deals with.20%
- Tools that let one person build and run an online store or website without hiring designers or developers. · ShopifyIt powers online storefronts for one-person brands and continuously adds AI tools that replace tasks a solo owner would otherwise hire out., Wix.comIt lets one person build a professional website and booking page with AI design tools instead of hiring a designer.14%
- Cash8%