10 Things I Learned in 2024 As A Solopreneur

What Worked, What Didn't, and What I'll Take Into 2025

2024 was a fantastic year – full of wins and disappointments. But more importantly, it was a year of learnings. SOAPNoteAI.com grew significantly in both revenue and customers this year, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the progress. SOAPNoteAI now supports hundreds of paying customers in 7 countries, helping them collectively reclaim over thousands of hours of valuable time in 2024.

Below is a snapshot of SOAPNoteAI’s growth over the year. While I’ve chosen not to share exact numbers to keep the focus on the journey and lessons rather than the specifics, I hope this gives you a sense of the steady progress made. What matters most to me is not just the results but the steps and insights that got me here.

But here are top 10 things I learned.

1. Perfection isn’t the goal - progress is

Lesson: The biggest barrier to progress is overthinking. I learned that launching quickly and iterating based on feedback is far more valuable than chasing perfection.

Reflection: When I started SOAPNoteAI, it was a simple application designed to turn shorthand notes into structured SOAP Notes for Physical Therapists. That’s it. It didn’t allow users to edit their notes, support audio features, or support anyone outside of PTs.

(Different types of healthcare providers that SOAPNoteAI now supports)

If I had waited to build all features or expand support to other healthcare providers, I might not have launched as quickly or would have built the wrong features. Starting small allowed me to gather user feedback, prioritize what mattered, and build a product that solved real needs.

2. Act fast on what matters most

Lesson: Listening to your users is important, but if you truly want to grow and delight them, you need to act with urgency.

(customer email requesting for an unlimited plan which led to the subscription plan)

Reflection: Users will tell you what they want – if you’re paying attention. For example, with SOAPNoteAI, users asked for subscription plans and support for different healthcare specialties. Acting on these requests was critical to the product’s growth, but what really mattered was acting quickly.

Customers have endless options, and if they tell you what they need, it shows they care. Acting quickly prevents dissatisfaction or churn.

That said, it’s not about saying yes to every feature request. The key is to prioritize the suggestions that align with your vision and roadmap and implement them promptly. Acting quickly on the right opportunities can turn feedback into retention, satisfaction, and even advocacy.

3. Free yourself to focus on growth.

Lesson: As a solopreneur, it’s essential to identify where your bandwidth is stretched and proactively address those constraints. Ignoring them can slow you down and cause you to focus on the wrong priorities.

Reflection: When you’re responsible for coding, maintaining, selling, supporting customers, and marketing your product, it’s inevitable that you’ll hit a limit – especially as your product grows. One hard lesson I learned in 2024 is that failing to address these bandwidth constraints can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

By year-end, I realized I was constrained in marketing and customer education. SOAPNoteAI has immense potential, but I wasn’t communicating its value effectively. Hiring an agency for educational videos helped, but in 2025, I’ll need to automate more and build a team.

(I asked a marketing agency to help with educational content for SOAPNoteAI)

To support SOAPNoteAI’s growth, I’ll focus on automating processes, outsourcing non-core tasks, and building a team. Delegating thoughtfully will help me maintain quality while unlocking the potential for even greater impact.

4. Tech is No Longer a Moat

Lesson: With the progress in LLM-based AI, technology has become a commodity. The real differentiators in today’s market are understanding customer insights, building relationships, delivering a seamless user experience, and establishing strong distribution channels.

Reflection: SOAPNoteAI has given me firsthand experience of this shift. Within just a year and a half of launching, I’ve seen numerous look-a-like products enter the market. In fact, many of these competitors have accounts on SOAPNoteAI, likely studying it for inspiration.

This underscores a hard truth: when tech can be replicated so easily, building a sustainable business becomes much harder. The way I’ve chosen to address this challenge is by doubling down on customer relationships and running a lean operation.

(Competitors bidding for soap note ai keyword with similar tech offerings)

Engaging with customers has been critical – whether it’s thanking them for their support, addressing concerns, or apologizing for any bad experiences. Maintaining that personal connection builds trust and loyalty, which are much harder to replicate than software. I do that through calls and emails.

I’ve also focused on keeping customer acquisition costs (CAC) near zero by relying heavily on organic channels like Google. While this strategy makes growth slower, it’s intentional. I’m not in a rush, and running the business lean allows me to focus on delivering value to existing customers without overextending resources.

5. Building Alone is Hard, But You Don’t Have to Be Alone

Lesson: Building by yourself can feel isolating, but having a strong support system can make all the difference during tough times.

Reflection: Building SOAPNoteAI as a solopreneur has taught me that doing it alone can be challenging. There are moments when things don’t go as planned, and it’s easy to feel stuck or discouraged. To navigate these moments, I’ve leaned on the support of others to gain insights and stay motivated.

I’ve actively collaborated with subject matter experts in different healthcare professions, holding weekly meetings to learn directly from them and solicit feedback. These sessions have been invaluable in ensuring the product addresses real-world needs and continues to provide value to its users.

Additionally, engaging with like-minded individuals on X (Twitter), participating in bi-weekly meetings with AI enthusiasts, and following other solopreneurs have provided fresh perspectives and encouragement. These connections remind me that while I may be building solo, the insights and support of others enhance the journey and strengthen the product.

6. The Trade-Offs of Bootstrapping vs. Funding

Lesson: Bootstrapping forces resourcefulness and long-term thinking but comes with challenges.

Reflection: SOAPNoteAI is fully bootstrapped, which has shaped how I allocate resources and run a lean operation.

• I’ve prioritized optimizing organic channels over paid ads.

• I’ve focused on understanding user needs before hiring additional developers.

This approach allows me to build a strong foundation while retaining full control over the business’s vision and values.

Bootstrapping lets me set the vision, build a strong foundation, and grow sustainably. While funding could accelerate growth, it risks losing touch with the product and customers. I’m willing to trade quick wins for intentional, steady progress.

7. The Importance of Operational Excellence

Lesson: Operational excellence is non-negotiable when your product is used by hundreds of customers daily.

Reflection: Once SOAPNoteAI gained traction, maintaining a seamless experience for users became a top priority. Every error or exception logged needed to be resolved with the right level of urgency. This became even more critical with the AI component, as LLMs can occasionally produce unpredictable responses, requiring constant monitoring and adjustments.

However, much of this work remains manual, and I haven’t yet automated many aspects of operational excellence. This has consumed a significant portion of my bandwidth, pulling me away from other areas like product development and growth.

In 2025, my goal is to automate more of these operational tasks—whether through better monitoring tools, streamlined workflows, or additional processes. Doing so will free up time to focus on scaling and innovation while ensuring that the customer experience remains seamless and reliable.

8. The Hard Reality of Being a Solopreneur

Lesson: Being a solopreneur means not just working alone but working hard—often harder than ever before.

Reflection: As a solopreneur, every day is packed with tasks that require constant prioritization. Inevitably, some tasks get pushed to the backburner and remain unfinished. I’ve found myself working longer hours than I ever did at Amazon, yet for a fraction of the financial outcome. While this forces me to focus on what truly matters, it also highlights the need for a team to handle tasks that don’t require my direct involvement.

The reality of wearing all hats - coding, customer support, sales demos - extends even to vacations, where work doesn’t stop. And as the product scales or new features are launched, the same cycles repeat, adding to the workload.

Balancing this lifestyle with excellent customer care is challenging, but it’s a rewarding journey. As SOAPNoteAI scales, building a team with shared values will become a key step to sustaining growth while continuing to deliver outstanding customer experiences.

9. Embracing the Unpredictability of Business

Lesson: Running a business means accepting uncertainty and focusing on the fundamentals.

Reflection: One of the biggest shifts for me after leaving 15 years in a corporate setup was adjusting to the unpredictable nature of revenue. Unlike a steady bi-weekly paycheck, some days bring no sales, while others can surpass an entire month's expectations. Early on, this unpredictability made me nervous, and I often worried that no new customers would ever sign up again.

Over time, I’ve learned to embrace the unpredictability of running a business. It’s a lesson in patience and trust. Business may be uncertain, but staying focused on the fundamentals - serving customers, improving the product, and building consistently -turns small actions into meaningful progress.

10. Balance and Joy: The Heart of the Journey

Lesson: Success means nothing without health, joy, and the people you cherish.

Reflection: One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to prioritize what truly matters - my health, my kids, my partner, and my family. Without them, everything else loses its meaning.

2024 was the first year I consistently exercised, going to the gym 3–4 times a week. It’s no longer just about staying fit but feeling good about myself and maintaining the energy needed to tackle each day. My mornings now start with preparing lunch for my kids, dropping them off at school, working during the day, and sharing dinner with my family every evening. My kids, now 6 and 4, are growing up fast, and I cherish every moment I get to spend with them.

This journey cannot be seen in isolation - every factor, from family time to self-care, contributes to its success. There are days when I’m heads down, fully immersed in work, and others when I can take the entire day off to join Halloween parades and trick-or-treating. This balance of hard work and joy is what keeps me motivated and moving forward. It reminds me why I started this journey in the first place.

(Family photo from earlier this year.)

That's a wrap for 2024. Thank you for following along and being part of it. Wishing you all a very happy holiday season and a fantastic 2025 ahead.