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- How to Build a Profitable Online Business
Most online business owners overcomplicate their operations, burning through cash on unnecessary expenses, chasing overdue payments, and hiring full-time employees before they’re truly needed.
Building a lean, scalable, and profitable online business isn’t about having more tools, staff, or office space—it’s about focusing on cash flow, efficiency, and client success.
This framework, inspired by insights from Hannah Larsson’s article, breaks down the key strategies for running a profitable online business with minimal overhead.
1. Charge Upfront – Stop Chasing Payments
One of the biggest mistakes online business owners make is waiting until after the work is done to get paid.
If you work globally or provide direct client services, there’s no reason to invoice after delivery.
Why Charging Upfront Works:
It improves cash flow and ensures you’re paid before investing your time.
It eliminates the stress of chasing payments and following up on invoices.
It sets professional expectations with clients from the beginning.
Action Step: If you currently invoice after delivery, transition to upfront payments by requiring at least 50% down or full payment before starting work.
2. Skip Full-Time Hires – Use Contractors Instead
Many solopreneurs assume they need full-time employees to scale. In reality, hiring contractors or freelancers allows you to stay lean, flexible, and profitable.
Why You Should Hire Contractors Instead of Employees:
No payroll obligations – You pay only for the work needed.
Specialized expertise – Contractors are often experts in their field, requiring less training.
Scalability – You can scale your team up or down depending on workload.
Who to Hire:
Freelancers who already run their own business (writers, designers, strategists, developers).
Specialists on a per-project basis instead of hiring generalists full-time.
Action Step: Identify one area where you can outsource instead of hiring a full-time employee.
3. Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions – Focus on Sales
Too many business owners think they need more tools to succeed. The reality? You need more sales, not software.
What to Keep vs. What to Cut:
✅ Essential Tools:
Notion for playbooks and SOPs.
Onboarding manuals to streamline client processes.
Templates to systematize work.
❌ Skip These:
Slack and other clunky communication tools that slow you down.
Expensive, complicated CRMs (use simple tracking systems instead).
Any tool you haven’t actively used in the last 60 days.
Action Step: Audit your subscriptions and cancel anything that isn’t directly contributing to revenue growth.
4. Never Let a Dollar Walk Out the Door – Offer Multiple Price Points
Your business should have offers for different levels and budgets so potential clients always have a way to work with you.
The Tiered Pricing Approach:
Free Resources – Blog posts, newsletters, step-by-step guides.
Low-Ticket Offers – Digital products, mini-courses, templates.
Mid-Ticket Offers – Group coaching, workshops, online courses.
High-Ticket Offers – 1-on-1 consulting, done-for-you services.
Why This Works:
Some clients need to see value before committing to a high-ticket offer.
A free resource or low-ticket entry point builds trust and leads to bigger sales.
It keeps money flowing into your business from various sources.
Action Step: Create one new offer at a different price point that helps your audience move up your value ladder.
5. Make More of Your Content Free – It Will Sell More
The more value you give away, the easier it is to sell premium offers.
Great businesses grow through trust, and the fastest way to build trust at scale is through free, high-quality content.
What to Focus On:
Consistent LinkedIn content highlighting your expertise.
Newsletters packed with actionable insights.
Step-by-step guides that help your audience solve real problems.
Why This Works:
People buy from those who have already helped them for free.
Free content acts as a lead generator, positioning you as an authority.
It creates recurring inbound leads, so you don’t have to chase sales.
Action Step: Pick one high-value piece of content and offer it for free in exchange for an email signup.
6. Take Care of Your Clients – Growth Comes Inbound
Most business owners waste time chasing new clients when they should focus on keeping and upselling existing ones.
100% of my business growth comes from:
Inbound leads from my content on LinkedIn.
Referrals from existing clients.
Returning clients who continue to work with me.
Instead of constantly hunting for new business, obsess over serving your current clients better.
How to Maximize Client Lifetime Value:
Plan for upsells and cross-sells – Offer additional services that complement their current needs.
Follow up regularly – Don’t let past clients go cold; check in and see how you can help.
Make onboarding seamless – The easier it is for clients to collaborate with you, the more likely they’ll stay.
Action Step: Identify one way to increase retention or referrals from your existing clients this month.
7. Skip Having an Office – Work from Anywhere
If you’re building an online business, there’s no reason to waste money on office space.
Let your team work from anywhere, and you’ll:
Save on overhead costs.
Have more flexibility in how you structure your business.
Improve profitability by reinvesting in growth instead of rent.
Action Step: If you currently rent an office, evaluate whether you need it—or if you can downsize it to a more remote-friendly setup.
Final Thoughts
Building a lean, profitable online business isn’t about having the biggest team, the most expensive tools, or an office in a prime location.
It’s about smart strategies that maximize revenue, efficiency, and client retention.
Here’s What to Do Next:
1️. Charge upfront—stop chasing invoices.
2️. Outsource instead of hiring full-time employees.
3️. Cut unnecessary tools and subscriptions.
4️. Create offers for every budget so you never lose a sale.
5️. Give away free value—trust leads to conversions.
6️. Take care of your clients so they keep coming back.
7️. Skip the office—build a location-independent business.
By following these steps, you’ll create a highly profitable online business that runs efficiently and scales without unnecessary stress.
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