Business Modeling for Life Balance: Insights from Johann Oberholzer
Australia Witnesses Surge in Sole Traders: Johann Oberholzer, the founder of Sole App, discusses the boom in the sector as self-employment becomes a preferred career choice.
With over 1.5 million Australians identifying as sole traders, Oberholzer predicts 2025 as a significant turning point. He believes that factors like lower barriers to entry, mounting living costs driving individuals to diversify income, and a shift towards autonomy, purpose, and flexibility in the workforce will contribute to this inflection point (The Conversation, 2021).
In an exclusive conversation, Oberholzer provides insights for maintaining equilibrium between personal and professional demands while avoiding burnout: setting priorities, establishing routines that cater to one's schedule, and using automation tools to manage monotonous tasks. Sole App has been designed to streamline financial management for small businesses (The Sole App, n.d.).
In addressing common challenges faced by sole traders, Oberholzer highlights the complexities associated with financial administration. Sole App simplifies these tasks by automating record keeping, generating reports, and helping users manage taxes more effectively (Xero, n.d.).
The growing preference for economic independence and control marks a shift in mindsets among sole traders. Oberholzer observes that while cost-of-living pressures may initiate the desire for self-employment, the driving force is a deeper aspiration for autonomy, flexibility, and purpose in work (Daily Mail, 2021).
On a personal note, Oberholzer manages the demands of running a startup and balancing wellbeing through setting guardrails on his daily routine, focusing on essential tasks, taking time for physical exercise, and prioritizing breaks for mental rest (LinkedIn, n.d.).
For those contemplating a foray into self-employment in 2025, Oberholzer advocates three fundamental steps: separating financial records from the outset, investing in tools that adapt to scale, and confidently sharing one's venture with the network.
Refinement Data:The rise in sole traders can be attributed to factors such as economic flexibility, simplicity of setup, full control, and simplified taxation. The increasing push towards remote work and freelancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has further fueled this trend. Technological advancements have also made it easier for sole traders to establish and manage their businesses effectively. In 2025, the surge in sole traders is expected due to ongoing economic shifts, local development projects, and supportive government policies.
- As more Australians identify as sole traders, Johann Oberholzer predicts 2025 as a significant turning point, driven by factors such as economic flexibility, lower barriers to entry, mounting living costs, and the shift towards autonomy, purpose, and flexibility in the workforce.
- Oberholzer, the founder of Sole App, emphasizes the importance of maintaining equilibrium between personal and professional demands in business, suggesting practices like setting priorities, establishing routines, using automation tools, and focusing on essential tasks.
- Sole App, designed to streamline financial management for small businesses, simplifies financial administration by automating record keeping, generating reports, and helping users manage taxes more effectively.
- The growing preference for economic independence and control among sole traders is a reflection of a shift in mindsets, with cost-of-living pressures initiating the desire for self-employment but the driving force being a deeper aspiration for autonomy, flexibility, and purpose in work.
- For those considering self-employment in 2025, Oberholzer advocates three fundamental steps: separating financial records from the outset, investing in adaptable tools, and confidently sharing one's venture with the network, leveraging technological advancements and supportive government policies for successful business management.
