Start here
Running a business alone is difficult. Start with the problem that matters most.
There is a lot of material on this site. Rather than browsing it, pick the pathway that describes your situation. Each one leads to a curated sequence of guides, a tool and a checklist.
Hayley Duster — writer and solo business owner
My business is growing too quickly
For founders facing workload and operational pressure.
Open this pathwayMy business is not financially stable
For cash-flow uncertainty or income that does not cover the essentials.
Open this pathwayI am exhausted
For excessive hours, sustained stress or early signs of burnout.
Open this pathwayI have too much to do
For prioritising, simplifying and building systems.
Open this pathwayI am facing a business crisis
For client losses, supplier failures, cash emergencies or reputational problems.
Open this pathwayI do not know whether to continue
For founders considering a pivot, pause, sale or closure.
Open this pathwayIf you only have thirty minutes
Three things move the needle faster than anything else in a one-person business. In order:
- Write down your three essential monthly costs and the minimum you must draw personally. That number is your survival budget.
- Work out what percentage of your revenue comes from your largest client. Anything above 40% is a single point of failure.
- Note who could access your invoicing, email and customer list if you were unavailable for a month. If the answer is nobody, that is your first project.
Then take the assessment
The Business Resilience Assessment turns those instincts into a score with a ranked list of risks and a 30-day plan.
Five articles worth reading first
Recommended for solo business owners
Two financial offers worth claiming
If you run a business alone, having the right banking and credit tools matters. These are the two offers we recommend most.
Business bank account
Use Tide referral code HAYLEY200 to get up to £200
A digital business account for UK businesses. Use the authorised HAYLEY200 offer link and meet the current card-spend and Instant Saver conditions to receive up to £200.
Authorised offer: up to £200. £75 requires at least £100 of Tide card spend within 30 days. A further £125 requires an eligible Instant Saver, at least £5,000 deposited within seven days, and at least £5,000 kept deposited for 30 days. T&Cs and eligibility apply. Affiliate link.
Business credit card
Get 7,500 Capital on Tap points with SETTINGUP
An active UK director or majority shareholder (25%+) of an active UK Ltd, LLP or PLC can use the referral link to qualify for 7,500 points after a qualifying transaction within 30 days of card activation, subject to the current terms.
T&Cs and eligibility apply. If approved, activate the card and complete a qualifying transaction within 30 days of activation. The official referral terms include card spend or drawing down funds. 7,500 points, worth £75 under the current redemption, should be credited within one month of the first transaction if the account remains open, in good standing and all terms are met. Affiliate link.
Referral links. How these offers work and why they are here.
The Resilient Founder
One practical idea each week for building a stronger business.
Every email contains one reality, one risk worth checking, one action you can finish in under fifteen minutes, one question to sit with, and one guide or tool. No hustle culture.