Solo Entrepreneurship | Complete Guide for Solopreneurs

Wage portage

To start as a solopreneur, you can consider the alternative of wage portage. This option allows you to launch alone without losing your standard of living. You maintain the security of salaried employment while enjoying the autonomy of an independent worker.

Wage portage is based on the principle of a tripartite relationship between the solopreneur (salaried ported), an umbrella company, and the client. As an entrepreneur salaried ported, you are responsible for finding your clients and executing your mission while your umbrella company takes care of billing. You delegate all your administrative management and focus on the core of your profession.

However, wage portage may not be suitable for all activities or for true business creation projects. Furthermore, you will have to bear the management fees charged by your umbrella company.

💡Good to know: by choosing the umbrella company Weepo, you benefit from its zero hidden fees label for a completely transparent pricing policy.

The micro-enterprise

The micro-enterprise is ideal for starting alone without initial investment. The creation and management processes are simplified, as is its tax and social regime. In a micro-enterprise, you do not pay contributions in the absence of revenue and are not subject to VAT.

However, you also cannot recover VAT on your purchases, and you cannot deduct your expenses from your revenue. The revenue of the micro-enterprise is also capped, limiting your business’s development.

🔔REMINDER: the revenue caps for micro-enterprises in 2025 are €188,700 for commercial activities and €77,000 for service provisions.

The sole proprietorship (EI)

Just like the micro-enterprise, the creation and management formalities of sole proprietorship are simplified. The advantage over a micro-enterprise is that the EI allows for the separation of your personal and professional assets since the reform of 2022. It requires little to no initial investment and offers eligibility for the independent worker's allowance (ATI) in case of loss of activity.

However, with the EI, social contributions are due even in the absence of revenue.

The EURL

As a solopreneur, you also have the option to create an EURL (limited liability single-member company). It is a form of commercial company with a single partner. In an EURL, your personal assets are protected, and the structure is easily adaptable for transitioning to an SARL. The social contributions are lower than for sole proprietorship.

With the EURL, you do not receive unemployment benefits in the case of loss of activity, and fixed social contributions are due even in the absence of profits.

The SASU

Just like the EURL, the SASU (simplified unipersonal joint-stock company) constitutes another form of commercial company with a single partner. It is appreciated for its operational flexibility and its easy transformation into SAS in cases of growth. It offers a great statutory freedom and its image is more credible in the eyes of your external partners. The remunerated manager is affiliated to the general regime of the social security, which ensures them comprehensive social coverage.

However, the SASU has its share of drawbacks:

• Complex creation processes;
• Higher management fees;
• Heavier accounting obligations.

Comparative table of legal statuses for a solopreneur (2025):

Choosing the right tools to work solo

As stated at the beginning of the article, as a solopreneur, you are alone at the helm of your business. Therefore, consider improving your productivity through the use of smart tools:

• Billing tools (Tiime, Henrri…);
• Project management tools (Notion, Trello, Asana…);
• Marketing automation tools (Sendinblue…);
• Management tools for your social networks (Hootsuite…)

Develop your network

Being a solopreneur does not mean you have to isolate yourself from the rest of the world. Thus, consider sharing your experience with other entrepreneurs and take the opportunity to ask for advice. Frequent coworking spaces, join entrepreneur networks, or participate in events around entrepreneurship. You will develop new skills to better master the intricacies of entrepreneurship.

Example of the entrepreneur network “Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants (CJD)”:
Founded in 1938, the CJD brings together, each year, more and more leaders seeking development through exchange, training, and collective action. The network integrates a training organism, “ETAPE”, which teaches the necessary know-how for leaders to build a responsible and sustainable business.

Getting support to start alone

When you start alone without experience, mastering all the subtleties of your activity can be challenging. Investing in coaching can be helpful to improve your skills on a specific point or learn to manage your entire business. It will provide you more clarity to learn to manage your priorities and organize yourself as a business owner. The CCI, for example, offers tailored support to help you mobilize the necessary skills for business creation through its network of 450 advisors.

💡Good to know: if you launch in wage portage with Weepo, you benefit from a responsive and attentive team ready to assist you at every step of your project.

Work on your entrepreneurial mindset

In addition to your main activity, being a solopreneur involves managing your marketing and client relations. This involves persuasive sales pitches as well as the ability to reassure your clients and be proactive. To excel, you must therefore overcome your limiting beliefs through in-depth self-work.