🗣️ You are a solo founder company. How do you talk about yourself?

Question

When I was a student of marketing, we talked about Tone of Voice and how to talk about "ourselves".
– It sounds serious.
– And it seems like your company is a big complex entity.

These points are valid, but when I know that behind the company is only one player (yes, other people cannot know about that), it sounds like a sc4m to me.

How do you approach this?

Nancy Le · Accepted Answer

Honestly, as a solo founder, I just talk about myself in a normal, casual way. I don't try to sound like a big company. I'm just me, and I'm okay with that. I think being authentic and transparent is key. I don't want to come across as fake or trying to be something I'm not. So, I just keep it real and relatable.

Business Marketing with Nika · Answer

@nancy_autonomous I like this approach. When you will be growing, you will announce it. The growth is more appreciated more – that you offered a work opportunity to someone else. :)

Karl Mechkin · Answer

I would say it depends on the form of incorporation. If you are registered as a sole proprietorship, then singular 'I' feels more natural, but if it is a company, as a separte legal entity (LLC, Corp. or other), then there is no longer just 'you', but also this legally distinct structure, so I think you can refer to both as 'we'. Bonus points, if you get some help from others, for example accountant, lawyer or other contractors, even if you don't hire anyone full time, but use their support ocasionally.

Business Marketing with Nika · Answer

@jawad_tijani if you have real employees, it makes sense, but when someone hires people from Fiverr or so, it is not a usual employer – employee relationship. But some people present it like it was.

Business Marketing with Nika · Answer

@jamesyang8 but I suppose you have a team. But when you are a solo, do you use "We"?

Business Marketing with Nika · Answer

@jamesyang8 this is taken more from the marketing perspective (brand identity) it is fact what angle of view one uses to interpret it. I would go for "We" when you are company, but it would still feel to me very uncomfortable knowing that I am the only one on the board.

Business Marketing with Nika · Answer

@ihuzaifashoukat So hope it will be soon :)

Business Marketing with Nika · Answer

Feel free to get in touch on these social media. Twitter: https://x.com/BusMark_w_Nika LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nika...

Jawad Tijani · Answer

That's a good question. I tend to say "we" since I have a few employees, but I’m still the one driving the vision and making most decisions. It feels like a team effort even though I’m the solo founder!

Huzaifa Shoukat · Answer

@busmark_w_nika yepp, 😁

Huzaifa Shoukat · Answer

I use We Everywhere  :)) It Feels Like I am Founder of an UNICORN (SOON)...

Alex AI · Answer

@busmark_w_nika

I think what you're describing, Nika, is more of a cultural issue because in Europe (especially Eastern Europe), the idea is to be more multifunctional and able to do multiple tasks. Whereas in the U.S., everyone tends to specialize in something very, very narrowly focused, and that's why everything is more broken down into services there.

In Europe, on the other hand, general specialists tend to have more skills, and others don't. But yes, I completely agree with what you're saying.

Alex AI · Answer

The most important thing is how you perceive yourself.

If you see yourself as a company, act like a big company. If you consider yourself a solo player, then be solo. But above all, don’t hesitate, because that hesitation is noticeable.

Sometimes, when people ask you if you’re a company, and you start explaining that you’re actually one person handling the work of five, it leads to confusion. Instead, just say: “Yes, we are a company, and we have a team of 10 people doing this and that.” No one will know that you aren’t actually 10 people. It’s more about self-perception.

Of course, I’m not suggesting you lie. The most important thing is not to lie. But if you can really handle five different tasks in an excellent way and have the capacity to manage them, I don’t see a problem in presenting yourself as a company.

Answer

It depends on the context. But when I talk about a startup in general, I would always talk about "us"

Business Marketing with Nika · Answer

@byalexai One thing that I see as the reason to lie is that people are frightened of the fact they would be expected to charge less. Because why should the solo ask for 5x or 10x more when he doesn't have to pay those 5 or ten another people.

And it really happens but I do not see it as fair. Because when you skilled yourself previously into that state, no one paid you that "lost" time for upskilling yourself. So the "high amounts" of money rightfully belong to you.

🗣️ You are a solo founder company. How do you talk about yourself?

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