When to Hire Your First Employee

Time management is the biggest challenge. Handle emails and order follow-up in the morning. Develop new clients in the afternoon. Learn in the evening. Use a CRM — your brain isn't a database.

Finding factories as a SOHO trader is challenging. Visit in person, present your client resources and sales capability. Pay promptly after orders. Build trust one transaction at a time.

Income fluctuation is part of SOHO life. Diversify across markets and products. Maintain repeat-order clients as your base. Continuously develop new clients. Never rely on one client or market.