The American workforce has quietly transformed. Over the past decade, millions of people have left traditional employment to build something of their own—fueled by new technology, shifting policies, and a growing desire for autonomy. Today, nearly 30 million solopreneurs—one-person businesses with no employees—make up more than 80% of all U.S. small businesses.
But here’s what’s different now: solopreneurship isn’t just a stepping stone or a side hustle. These are real, financially stable businesses run by highly skilled professionals who are all-in on working for themselves. Gusto data shows that solopreneurs earn more than $290,000 in revenue on average in their first year and over $500,000 by year five. After five years in business, they’re earning 25% more than they would in a comparable full-time role.
These entrepreneurs are taking on the complexity of taxes, compliance, and business growth alone—without the headcount or support that larger companies rely on. Many face a costly decision: invest in expensive advisors to manage compliance and S-corp elections, or risk overpaying on taxes and missing out on benefits designed for larger businesses. They’ve outgrown DIY tools and need professional-grade support to match the scale of the businesses they’re building.
From our Chief Product Officer, Tomer London: “Solopreneurs are redefining what it means to be a small business owner — they’re building serious, revenue-generating companies of one, and they deserve technology built for that ambition. Gusto Solo gives these entrepreneurs the guidance they need to unlock tax savings, stay compliant, and run their business like a pro — without needing a team behind them. It’s a smarter, simpler way to build something lasting.”
Introducing Gusto Solo
Gusto Solo is a purpose-built platform empowering solopreneurs to thrive—unlocking financial advantages and simplifying compliance, so they can focus on growing their business with confidence. This all-in-one payroll and compliance solution is designed specifically for solopreneurs at an inflection point in their business journey. Until now, there hasn’t been a simple, intuitive solution designed specifically for solopreneurs at this growth stage – they’re too big for personal finance tools, but are not looking to hire a team to help manage these tasks for them.
Gusto Solo helps solopreneurs navigate S-corp status, define and pay themselves a reasonable salary, automate compliance and more. With Gusto Solo, one-person businesses can save thousands on taxes and set themselves up for long-term success — reducing complexity or overhead.
Gusto Solo is available for customers to purchase today with the following features:
S-corp tax savings calculator – helping them identify and make sense of tax savings opportunities through S-corp election
Reasonable salary calculator – ensure they’re paying themselves a “reasonable salary” so they stay compliant with IRS policies
Automated payroll – making sure payroll is a breeze and they’re paying themselves compliantly
Compliance hub – a dedicated dashboard for S-corps to help them navigate all things compliance
Contractor payments on board and pay contractors compliantly through Gusto’s contractor payments solution
Customers will also have access to additional Gusto products through Gusto Solo such as Solo 401K, General Liability Insurance, Bill Pay, Invoicing, and more.
“As a solopreneur, you’re responsible for everything — from client work to compliance to long-term planning. It’s a lot to manage, and most tools out there just aren’t designed with businesses of one in mind. That’s why having support that’s actually built for solopreneurs is so powerful. It helps you run your business like a professional, stay compliant, and focus your time where it matters most — on delivering great work and growing sustainably.” — Darnah Mercieca, Founder & CEO of Books and Brand.
Gusto Solo for Accountants
Accountants have been a huge driver of owner-only businesses to the Gusto platform and Gusto Solo will continue to streamline the work they perform for clients. The tools and features will help accountants feel confident in their guidance and save them time to do work that really matters.
Gusto Solo benefits accountants by:
Helping them service clients more efficiently
Onboard new solopreneurs with a customized workflow
Simplify task management by keeping everything in one place with the Compliance Hub
Help solopreneurs maximize end of year 401k management
Instilling confidence in their numbers
Demystify reasonable salary calculation for S corps with the new calculator
Automate payroll tax filing, Gusto’s bread and butter
Additional tools and features to support solopreneurs will continue to roll out within Gusto Solo in the coming months. To learn more about Gusto Solo, head to gusto.com/solo.
