Solopreneur vs Startup: What Works Better in the Aussie Market?

Should you go solo or build a team? This guide compares solopreneurship and startup life in Australia to help you choose the right path in 2025.

by the CEO Online Research Team
April 8, 2025

Introduction

It’s 2025, and the Australian startup scene is humming more than ever. But one gigantic question remains amidst coworking spaces, LinkedIn groups, and midnight Google searches: Do you go it alone or build a startup team?

The startup model and the solopreneur model each have a different lifestyle, financial profile, and risk expectation. Whether you wish to establish a consulting practice, run an eCommerce business, or develop the next great Aussie tech product, understanding what aligns best with what you desire is the beginning.

This blog contrasts solopreneurship and startup life in Australia, with their respective pros and cons, costs, lifestyle, and long-term viability of both.

What Is a Solopreneur?

A solopreneur is someone who runs a business on their own, without co-founders, partners, or full-time employees. This model is typically lean, fast, and focused. You’re the marketer, the operator, the accountant, and the strategist.

Solopreneurship in Australia is trendy among coaches, consultants, freelancers, online store owners, and creators of digital products. Thanks to platforms like Canva, Gumroad, and Shopify, it’s easier than ever to turn a profitable venture from your laptop.

What Defines a Startup?

Australian startups tend to be high-growth, team-based, and usually externally funded businesses that are seeking to scale quickly. They’re more structured like typical businesses and are likely to involve product development, customer acquisition at scale, and a broader go-to-market strategy.

Startup founders usually raise investment, whether via angel investors, venture capital, or accelerator programs like Startmate or Antler.

Pros and Cons of Solopreneurship in Australia

Solopreneurship is booming in 2025, especially among Aussies looking for freedom, flexibility, and full ownership of their time.

Pros:

Low overheads: No staff salaries or expensive office space.
Full control: No one to argue with, your decisions, your pace.
Lifestyle freedom: Work from anywhere, choose your hours.
Easy to pivot: Change direction quickly without approval loops.

Cons:

Wearing all the hats: You’re responsible for every part of the business.
Limited scalability: Growth will hit a plateau without help.
Loneliness: With no co-founder, there is a lack of collaborative support.
Time = Money: When you stop working, revenue will also stop.

For those wanting a stable, profitable business without the hassle of managing people, solopreneurship can be ideal, especially when aided by systems and automation.

Startup Life in Australia: What to Expect

Startups are quite a different beast. It’s a longer game, with higher risk and potentially far more reward.

Pros:

Scalability: Build systems and teams to reach global audiences.
Funding opportunities: Grants, VCs, and accelerators exist in most Aussie capitals.
Team dynamic: Shared load and broader skillsets.
Potential for big impact: Startups can shift industries and solve enormous problems.

Cons:

More stress: More moving parts, larger budgets, more pressure.
Slower to get going: Product development and hiring take time.
Risk of failure: The startup failure rate remains high in Australia.
Less freedom: You’re often accountable to investors or a board.

If your goal is to build a tech platform, raise capital, or eventually sell your business, the startup model could make sense, but be prepared to play the long game.

Comparing Lifestyle and Business Models

The solopreneur lifestyle is for freedom-loving and simplicity-loving Australians. You might work from your home in Byron Bay or Melbourne co-working space, make enough money to live comfortably, and keep your calendar clear.

The startup lifestyle is a grind. Early mornings, pitch decks, constant iterating, team management, it’s a full-time job. But for many, the challenge is part of the reward.

Solopreneurship in 2025 looks like:

Selling online courses or Notion templates
Having a Substack or niche blog with affiliate income
Freelancing with premium retainers
Having a print-on-demand store with automated fulfillment

Startups in 2025 might be:

Building a SaaS tool for therapists or tradies
Launching an app for remote team management
Building AI tools exclusively for Aussie SMEs

Startup vs Solopreneur: Cost, Growth, and Exit Strategy

Startup Costs:

Development expenses
Legal fees and registrations
Team salaries
Marketing and launch campaigns

Solopreneur Costs:

Website and tools (typically <$100/month)
Freelancers or contractors as required
Software subscriptions (email, SEO, design)

Growth Strategy:

Startups seek funding, scale, and users.
Solopreneurs create high-margin, repeatable systems.

Exit Strategy:

Startups typically aim for acquisition or IPO.
Solopreneurs can sell the business, license content, or simply run it for lifestyle income.

Which One Is Right for You?

There is no single right answer, only what is best for your goals, energy, and risk tolerance.

Choose solopreneurship if:

You want control, low stress, and full autonomy.
You’re motivated by freedom, not fundraising.
You like creating at your own pace and building solo systems.

Choose a startup path if:

You want to scale a big idea with a team.
You’re comfortable with risk and external pressure.
You thrive in high-growth, collaborative environments.

Still unsure?
Start as a solopreneur and test your concept. If it gains traction and outgrows your one-person show, you can always expand into a startup model further down the line.

Final Thoughts

Australia is one of the best places in the world to start a business, either as a solo operator or with a startup. In 2025, solopreneurship and startups are not enemies. They’re just different flavours of entrepreneurship.

By understanding your lifestyle, goals, and capabilities, you can choose a model that will not only generate revenue but also benefit your wellbeing.

The Australian business environment is ready for you, solo or scaled.