What to Automate and What to Keep Human in Your Solopreneurship

Spending five or more hours a month on invoicing makes you nearly three times more likely to face cash flow problems. That’s just one of the eye-opening stats Faye Pang of FreshBooks brings to this episode of The Life-First Solopreneur. Faye grew up watching her immigrant parents run a small wholesale meat business, tracking every dollar in a blue ledger book at the kitchen table at midnight.  Today she spends her career helping solopreneurs and small business owners adopt technology that gives them time back. She joins Carly Ries and Joe Rando to talk cash flow, automation, AI, and why she believes we’re entering the era of the solopreneur. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why admin tasks like invoicing and chasing payments act as a handbrake on your cash flow - The first thing solopreneurs should automate to win back hours every month - Where AI genuinely helps and where it’s still overhyped - Why AI output is only as good as the context you give it - How to start with AI when you feel behind (spoiler: everyone feels behind) - Why 86% of solopreneurs turn to AI before hiring a person - What to automate and what should always stay human - What solopreneurs really want to do with five extra hours a week Connect with Faye Pang on LinkedIn Learn more about FreshBooks Enjoyed this episode? Leave a five-star review, share it with a fellow solopreneur who is wrestling with AI and automation, and subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Life-First Solopreneur. 🌟 **Featured Resource: LifeStarr Intro for Solopreneurs** Are you building a business on your own and feeling like you’re going it alone? That stops today. **LifeStarr Intro** is a **free, forever membership** built especially for solopreneurs who want real support, real resources, and real community. When you join LifeStarr Intro, you unlock: - A **vibrant community** of like-minded solopreneurs for feedback, encouragement, and connection - The **LifeStarr productivity app (coming soon)**, built to support your workflow using GTD principles (that’s Tasks, Projects, Inbox that works) - **Live problem-solving meetups**, expert sessions and strategies...and you don’t pay a thing Total value: $65/month. Your cost? **Zero**. 👉 Ready to stop struggling solo and build a business that works *for* you? Join LifeStarr Intro for Free