Many dream of building a business, yet few are truly prepared for the setbacks and heartaches that come with managing a team.

To have a team is an achievement in itself, but your vision will rarely resonate with others as intensively as it does with you. Subsequently your great challenges come not from the wider world, but from your greatest supporters.

Here are 10 compelling reasons to embrace self-reliance and to work alone in the car wrapping field.

1. You can scale your business without staff.

Long gone are the days where you needed human resources to facilitate client interactions, manage production and promote your business. In the digital age, you can leverage powerful AI platforms to perform tasks without the emotional unpredictability that are a natural part of team dynamics.

These tools don’t just cover the day-to-day operations of your business, but they also take on creative duties. From building my website to designing new products for my online store, you can substitute the work of 10 employees with the click of a button.

2. You can out-source your non-core tasks.

Outsourcing enables you to focus on your core competencies without getting bogged down in the daily operational difficulties faced by large companies. There are suppliers for every aspect of the job, from wholesale printers to contract installers.

I personally output most of my creative tasks to freelance designers and use local trade printers so that I can focus on client acquisition, promotional activities and installation.

3. You can safeguard your intellectual property.

In this competitive field, your most significant asset is your intellectual property, not your staff. We've all experienced the disappointment of a valued team member departing to start a rival business, armed with our operational secrets and client lists.

By working solo, or keeping your team small, you maintain closer control over your invaluable industry secrets. While customers certainly value competitive pricing, they also respect and appreciate measures taken to safeguard both your business's proprietary information and their client data.

4. Your personality is your brand.

When you work without a team, your own personality naturally fills the space. It's often easier for customers who might get lost in the shuffle of a bigger company, where internal communication issues can lead to mistakes.

When customers reach out to me, they find immediate reassurance in speaking directly with the designer, the printer, and the installer all at once. This direct communications fosters a level of trust and reliability that is rarely seen in a big companies.

5. You will have an accelerated learning curve.

As a business owner, you're well aware that stress can trigger a fight-or-flight response, pushing you to adapt swiftly. This reaction is especially sharp when you’re navigating solo. Each challenge demands a solution, and finding those solutions deepens your expertise.

Embracing these pressures has helped me to learn design software, master accounting, build websites, develop sales strategies, and perfect the art of car wrapping. At its best, this journey has sharpened my business acumen, making me a more adept operator. At bare minimum, it has boosted my employability and subsequent bargaining power.

6. You will have greater creative control.

Having the freedom to experiment and innovate without external constraints can keep your business agile and responsive. This capability allows you to adapt quickly to new trends and meet client needs effectively.

By rapidly incorporating new tools and materials into my work has set my business apart, ensuring that I always offer the most advanced and thoughtful solutions to my clients.

7. You will have increased market agility.

As a solo operator, you possess the unique ability to rapidly pivot and adapt to industry trends and innovations. This agility enables you to stay ahead of competitors by incorporating the latest materials, tools, and techniques into your business seamlessly.

For example, when a new eco-friendly digital wrap film hit the market, I was immediately able to offer it to my clients. Without restrictive supplier agreements, resistance from a team set in their ways, or administrative hurdles to clear for approval, I seamlessly integrated this new product into my offerings.

8. You will eliminate legal issues that arise from staff.

Running your business solo or with minimal staff reduces the potential for legal complications related to employment. This streamlined approach allows you to focus more on your craft and less on navigating the complexities of workplace laws and contractor agreements, ensuring smoother operations.

I've encountered significant challenges with contractors in the past, from punctuality to the quality of work. These experiences taught me the value of self-reliance. By taking on more roles myself, I've not only enhanced the quality and consistency of my work but also eliminated the stress and legal concerns of managing a team.

9. You can target a niche and charge a premium.

Specialising isn't a controversial idea; it's broadly understood that focusing on a niche allows for premium pricing of services. Yet, surprisingly few businesses adopt this model, despite its benefits for skill enhancement and building public trust.

I've chosen fleet branding as my core focus, attracted by its higher entry barriers that naturally thin out the competition. By specialising in this field, it lowers my overheads by reducing the need for diverse facilities and prevents skill decay from frequently switching between disciplines.

10. You will have an unparalleled sense of fulfilment.

Nikola Tesla said, "the mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude." This rings true in the world of entrepreneurship. It's one thing to be part of a team, but it's another to see your own ideas come to life and know every success is down to you.

This is by no means intended to belittle people who have found fulfilling roles in companies and prefer to celebrate their successes with others, not unlike how a sports team celebrates a win. But for those of us who are so made that we can't function in a team, fret not, for there is another path rarely taken to a treasure that is uniquely yours to claim