Fractional CMO Reveals: Why 90% of Solopreneurs Underprice Their Services

Carly Ries, Fractional CMO at LifeStarr and co-author of Solopreneur Business for Dummies, joins the EO Visionary Voices Podcast to share the unfiltered truth about building a sustainable solopreneur business.

In this episode, Carly explains why most solopreneurs don’t need 50 clients to succeed—and why 3–5 well-priced, well-aligned clients can create more income, stability, and freedom. Drawing from her own corporate escape (yes, an RV was involved) and years of advising solo business owners, she breaks down the three core challenges that hold solopreneurs back and the mindset shifts required to move from nonstop busy work to intentional, profitable growth.

Carly also dives into why relationship-driven marketing consistently outperforms SEO for solopreneurs, how to think strategically about virtual assistant support, and what it really takes to design a business that supports your life instead of consuming it.

This conversation is especially relevant for:

• Solopreneurs stuck at an income ceiling

• Professionals planning a corporate exit

• Founders who want fewer clients, better pricing, and more freedom

The episode is hosted by Brent Peterson and produced in cooperation with Talk Commerce, as part of EO Visionary Voices—where entrepreneurs share the strategies, pivots, and endurance required to build businesses that go the distance.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.