Overwhelming Optimism: Why 8 in 10 Solopreneurs Say 2026 Will Be Better

Most solopreneurs believe 2026 will top 2025, and that confidence rests on a growing solo economy and practical plans to keep building.

Eight in 10 solopreneurs say 2026 will be better than 2025. That finding comes from Lettuce's 2026 Solopreneur Perspective survey of 603 one-person businesses, and the optimism holds up across every group we surveyed, from people in their first year to veterans with a decade or more behind them.

The confidence stands out given how much lands on a solopreneur's plate. Income can swing from month to month, and decisions about finances and healthcare often fall on one person. Even so, the outlook stays bright. This guide looks at what's fueling that optimism and the practical moves that can help turn a hopeful outlook into a stronger year.

Lettuce helps businesses-of-one put that optimism to work by automating the financial admin behind growth.

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Why Optimism Holds Up Through the Hard Parts

Solopreneurs know the challenges firsthand. In our survey, 38% said finances and taxes turned out harder than expected, and healthcare was one of the biggest hesitations before going solo for 36% of respondents.

Those hurdles haven't dimmed the overall picture. Two-thirds of solopreneurs said going solo met or exceeded their expectations. The freedom to pick your clients and shape your own schedule carries real weight, and for most people who've made the leap, it outweighs the friction.

Experience helps, too. The longer solopreneurs stay in business, the less pipeline anxiety tends to weigh on them. So the optimism in this year's data comes from people who understand the trade-offs and still expect the year ahead to be better.

What's Fueling the Confidence

Several shifts are working in solopreneurs' favor heading into 2026:

• AI is acting like an in-house team. In our 2026 survey, 89% of solopreneurs said they're using or planning to use AI, with content creation and administrative work among the most common uses. That leverage lets one person cover more ground without hiring.
• Infrastructure is catching up. Tools built specifically for businesses-of-one can now bring banking, bookkeeping, payroll, and taxes into one place, which once took a patchwork of providers.
• Independent work is mainstream. Going solo has become an established career path, and remote collaboration makes it easier to serve clients wherever they are.
• Multiple income streams add stability. Our survey also found that 74% of solopreneurs have more than one paid engagement, so a single project ending rarely means starting from zero.

Each of these shifts gives solopreneurs more control over how their business grows. You can explore more on each topic in our resource library.

The Scale of the Solo Shift

This optimism sits inside a much bigger trend. Independent work has grown into a major part of the US workforce, and a growing share of it pays well.

Many solopreneurs run established businesses with diversified clients and serious revenue. That maturity helps explain why so many are betting on a strong year.

Where Solopreneurs Are Putting That Optimism to Work

Confidence goes further with a plan behind it. When we asked how solopreneurs intend to drive growth in 2026, their answers centered on people and visibility.

Relationships Lead the Way

Networking and relationship building are the top growth strategies, cited by 75% of solopreneurs. Referrals and repeat clients remain a reliable source of new work for many businesses-of-one. For ideas on building those connections, the Solo Summit video library is a great place to start.

Sharing Expertise Builds Trust

Content creation and thought leadership came in second. Publishing your insights gives potential clients a feel for your expertise before the first conversation even happens.

Face Time Still Counts

In-person meetings also made the list, even for people who work remotely most of the time. The full report breaks down how solopreneurs divide their growth efforts and how established six-figure solos approach theirs.

How to Turn a Good Outlook Into a Great Year

A positive outlook is a strong starting point. A few structural moves can make a better year more likely to happen:

1. Spread your income across clients. Successful solos rarely depend on a single engagement. Adding a second or third steady client can make a slow month much easier to absorb.
2. Review your business structure. Once your solo business consistently earns $80,000 or more a year, an S Corp may reduce your self-employment taxes. Established six-figure solos in our survey were about twice as likely to have one.
3. Put a retirement plan in place. One in four solopreneurs has no retirement plan at all. A Solo 401(k) lets you contribute as both employer and employee, and contributions may help reduce taxable income depending on your circumstances.
4. Make room for relationships every week. Block recurring time for outreach and networking so your pipeline keeps moving during busy stretches.
5. Hand off the repetitive admin. Let AI and automation handle routine tasks so more of your hours go to client work and growth.

Lettuce automates bookkeeping, payroll, tax payments, and compliance for businesses-of-one, and provides access to a Solo 401(k) on Carry. The Lettuce-Back Guarantee means that if Lettuce doesn't save you more in taxes than your Lettuce Pro subscription costs, your fees are refunded.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Solopreneur Outlook

Curious how solopreneurs feel about the road ahead? Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the future of self-employment.

Are solopreneurs optimistic about the future?

Yes, overwhelmingly so. In our 2026 survey, 8 in 10 solopreneurs said they expect 2026 to be better than 2025. That optimism shows up across every group we surveyed.

Is self-employment growing in the US?

It is. A record 74.9 million Americans now earn income independently, according to MBO Partners' 2026 State of Independence report, and almost 6 million of them earn more than $100,000 a year. Solo work has moved from an emerging trend to an established part of the workforce.

Do newer solopreneurs feel more optimistic than experienced ones?

Newer solopreneurs tend to be the most enthusiastic. In our survey, 52% of those in their first year expect 2026 to be much better than 2025, compared with 40% of veterans with 10 or more years in business. Optimism remains high across the board, suggesting that experience sharpens expectations without dampening them.

Is now a good time to become a solopreneur?

Many signs point to yes. Independent work is more established than ever, and tools designed for businesses-of-one now cover much of what larger companies rely on. Success still depends on planning for the realities of solo work, such as a variable income and the need to manage your own taxes.

How are solopreneurs planning to grow their businesses in 2026?

Relationships are the top priority. Our survey found that 75% of solopreneurs plan to drive growth through networking and relationship building, with content creation and thought leadership coming in next. Many are also using AI to free up time for that kind of client-facing work.

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See How Your Outlook Compares

Solopreneurs have good reason to feel confident about 2026. The solo economy keeps growing, and the people running businesses-of-one have clear plans for what comes next. Putting some structure behind that optimism can help make the year ahead your strongest yet.

Our full Solopreneur Perspective 2026 report goes deeper into how optimism shifts with experience and the habits that set established six-figure solos apart. Read the full report to see how your outlook compares with more than 600 other solopreneurs.

Lettuce helps businesses-of-one keep more of what they earn with automated bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and compliance.

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