SOHO in 2025: My Personal Journey & One Tool That Made a Big Difference — BlockATM

Background:

I come from a B2B operations background, with years of experience managing Alibaba International Station accounts. I’ve also built and run independent sites supported by Google Ads, and I have about 4–5 years of experience in project-based development work. Around two to three years ago, my full-time job was clearly hitting a dead end — the company was cutting back on bonuses, promotions were out of reach, and growth opportunities had stalled. That’s when I seriously considered going solo.

From the start, I focused on building a business through Alibaba International. Now, after some ups and downs, things are running relatively smoothly. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

1. Confidence is key — but stay realistic

Don’t let the noise get to you — every year people say “this is the worst year to start.” But honestly, if you want to do it, just start. There’s always a way forward. I set aside about 150,000 RMB as my startup capital, and that’s how I got off the ground.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend quitting your job cold turkey unless you have at least 3 years of hands-on experience running International Station accounts. Try running things on the side first. Once it’s stable, then consider making the jump.

2. Use the right tools — they save time, money, and stress

Take payment handling, for example. A lot of SOHO operators still rely on agents to help receive international payments. Typically, your overseas client pays an agent in USDT or foreign currency, and the agent converts and wires it back to you in RMB. This process is slow, expensive, and frankly, not always reliable.

I’ve switched to using BlockATM, a direct USDT payment gateway that allows me to transact directly with clients. The fees are low (1 USDT per outgoing payment, 2 USDT per incoming), and the integration took just one day. That’s a huge improvement compared to waiting two weeks for funds via a third-party agent.

3. Think critically — optimize every part of your workflow

Web3 has been a big buzzword over the past few years, but it’s not just hype. Tools like BlockATM are powered by Web3 smart contracts, and they’ve already become practical solutions for individual operators like me.

Whether it’s payment, marketing, customer service, or sourcing — if you're starting your own SOHO business, don’t just copy-paste what your old company did. If that company is struggling, it’s probably because their systems were flawed. Think deeply about every part of your workflow: where can you simplify? Where can you automate? Where can you reduce risk?

Going solo isn’t easy, but with the right mindset and tools, it’s absolutely possible — even in a year people call “the worst.” Just start smart, stay flexible, and think long-term.