alt Hacker NewsThanks for being so transparent. As a fellow solo bootstrapper, I think the thing people most often misunderstand is the relative inconsistency (income, "wins", the camaraderie, etc.) so it's nice for you to bare all.
That being said, you do get the consistency of independence and autonomy. As I watch my peers deal with crappy work environments, losing their jobs, and other bullshit, I just keep chugging along: self-directed and happy to not have to answer to anyone.
I've found it tough to talk about being a solo bootstrapper though. People don't seem all that interested in it until you catch them in the right light or perspective. Mostly they just care to know how much money you make (which to me ends up being rather shallow), or they can't relate to the process since it's so divorced from the traditional path. I mostly just keep my head down and keep working, since that's what I enjoy the most.
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This is the path I want to take too. Do you find it difficult to focus on the marketing and sales side of the business rather than the building part?
Most people start side-businesses for tax reasons, and those that seek others to solve their problems for them... usually don't last long in business.
I've witnessed many firms run the gauntlet with varying levels of success, and would suggest the following:
1. sell what the customer already wants, as people with loss aversion stick with what they already know.
2. sell what makes customers feel good buying, and reward them with actual functional utility in their life
3. Never compete, focus on service with a novel niche product. Stupid people by their nature destroy everything around them regardless of long term benefit.
4. Never hire people unless absolutely necessary, and contract with tax responsibility clauses when possible.
5. Never buy equipment unless absolutely necessary, or lease when possible
6. Never enter legal or subscription agreements even with your own legal specialists feedback
7. Never become a poser burning $170k/month on labor in a vestigial office
8. Position your firm to leverage tax and grant programs
9. Stay quiet (especially online in a sea of cons), and only talk about the distant past when people try to goad you into telling them how you make revenue
10. Avoid bums in suits as many are dangerous well practiced thieves. Never let technical staff talk with the customers, or vendors. Some people go crazy when they see a bit of money, and do not behave rationally.
11. There must only be 1 president, and all agreements must be in contract form.
12. Never risk more than 15% of annual revenue on ANY deal. Customers lie and disappear on rare occasion... Large firms can grab your firm like a dog with a rag doll, and may still stiff you on the contract knowing the legal and fiscal power asymmetry
13. Chasing customers means your business model still needs work. If people are happy with what you are providing, than growth should naturally happen every year
14. Go to trade shows to see what other people are selling, and ask yourself what else does the customer need
15. Cash is king, as long as the money flows most other problems are irrelevant
Best of luck, =3
> Thanks for being so transparent. As a fellow solo bootstrapper, I think the thing people most often misunderstand is the relative inconsistency (income, "wins", the camaraderie, etc.) so it's nice for you to bare all.
> That being said, you do get the consistency of independence and autonomy. As I watch my peers deal with crappy work environments, losing their jobs, and other bullshit, I just keep chugging along: self-directed and happy to not have to answer to anyone.
Yes, I completely agree.
Bootstrapping, you realize that employment smooths out a lot of issues for you. Like if you're sick for two weeks as an employee, maybe it hurts your OKRs, but you'll be fine. If you're sick for two weeks as a solo founder, that can be catastrophic. And if you need to do something like take parental leave for six months, the company can't just continue on without you like it could if you worked for a large company.
But as you said, you get the consistency of being your own boss and directing your own time, which more than makes up for it for me.