Raising Rates, Reclaiming Time: Tina Bar-On’s Staying Solo Success Story

Tina Bar-On, eCommerce Strategist and founder of TinaBar.com, looked like she had it all together in August 2024—plenty of clients, steady work, and a booked-out calendar. But behind the scenes? Total overwhelm. She was stretched too thin, drowning in client demands, and stuck trying to scale without burning herself out.

Explains Tina, “I was just getting too spread thin with too many clients. It sounds like a good problem, but it's not when you do too many different things for different people. I was feeling frazzled.”

Tina knew the traditional agency model wasn’t for her. What she really wanted was to stay solo and still achieve the next level in income and freedom. That’s when she discovered the Staying Solo Squad.

Came for the Strategy, Stayed for the Community

When Tina came across the Staying Solo Squad, something clicked.

Says Tina, “Even the name—Staying Solo—just encapsulated exactly what I wanted. I was like, okay, somebody figured this out. They know how to stay solo but still grow. I wanted that life freedom. I have two kids and a family—I just wasn’t figuring it out alone.”

She was already a fan of the Staying Solo podcast, so she had a good feeling about the content and resources she could access in The Squad, but what surprised her most was the community.

“I didn’t expect the calibre of people in the community. I’m not usually a big Slack user, but that Slack group is so much fun to go into every morning. You’re finally among your peers. And that’s very hard to find—even in paid communities.”

The Results: More Revenue, Better Clients, and a Clearer Path

In just eight months of being part of the Squad and making use of the support and resources, Tina started seeing fundamental changes in her business:

• Revenue growth
• Higher-paying clients
• Clearer boundaries
• A stronger strategy-first offer

“I’ve already seen my revenue grow, and that’s just from being better at saying no to the wrong opportunities and starting to charge more. Selling the Strategy piece was huge for me. I used to give away the value for free, which is embarrassing but true. Now I’m packaging and selling strategy, and I’ve seen the difference in my bottom line.”

And this shift wasn’t just theoretical—it was modelled in real time by her peers.

“Before I joined The Squad, I didn’t have the right circle of people to show me how it was done. I needed it modelled for me, which this group provided. Whether it’s a copywriter or a designer, seeing how they sell strategy, not just deliverables—it clicked.”

Where Collaboration and Real Connection Happen Naturally

For Tina, the Staying Solo Squad wasn’t just about frameworks and trainings (though she loves those too). It was about finally finding her people.

“You find a lot of cheerleaders in other communities, but not a lot of substance. I just love the substance that’s in this group. We’re all in different industries, but we approach business the same way. That’s the real value.”

She also found unexpected collaborations and friendships.

“There’s one person in the group whose services complement mine, and we’ve sent each other clients. It’s this community of really cool people.”

“Show Up Consistently and Do the Work” 

Tina is clear when asked if she had any advice for future members of The Staying Solo Squad: the Squad isn’t magic. You have to show up.

“If you’re serious about staying solo, definitely join. But also be prepared to do the work. I printed out the calendar, blocked off the time, and made it a priority. That’s why I’ve seen results.”