Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#1

Post by Im_a_throw_away » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 5:22 PM UTC

Hi HN,

Do you know any one man SaaS app that are profitable?

I'm asking this because I'm considering starting a SaaS app as a side project, and I'm looking for some inspiration.

Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#2

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 5:26 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#3

Post by wwkeyboard » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 5:53 PM UTC

I'm pretty sure https://pinboard.in is only one person. Apparently a healthy skepticism about everything is useful for running your own SaaS.

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#4

Post by earlyriser » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 5:56 PM UTC

wwkeyboard wrote: post #3

I'm pretty sure https://pinboard.in is only one person. Apparently a healthy skepticism about everything is useful for running your own SaaS.

And he's making 20K every 3 weeks, according to some previous comments.

I paid for the app before it went to a subscription model and it's perfect. Nothing more and nothing less than what I want in bookmarking app.

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#5

Post by dangrossman » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 5:58 PM UTC

I run Improvely (https://www.improvely.com) and W3Counter (https://www.w3counter.com) alone. I initially developed Improvely in 2012, and W3Counter in 2004. They, along with some other side projects, are how I have made a living for most of the past 10 years.

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#6

Post by cushychicken » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 6:00 PM UTC

dangrossman wrote: post #5

I run Improvely ( https://www.improvely.com ) and W3Counter ( https://www.w3counter.com ) alone. I initially developed Improvely in 2012, and W3Counter in 2004. They, along with some other side projects, are how I have made a living for most of the past 10 years.

I like your landing pages.

How do you monetize W3Counter? I'd imagine you compete directly with Google Analytics, which is free.

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#7

Post by thinkcomp » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 6:01 PM UTC

PlainSite http://www.plainsite.org

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#8

Post by dangrossman » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 6:01 PM UTC

cushychicken wrote: post #6

dangrossman wrote: post #5

I run Improvely ( https://www.improvely.com ) and W3Counter ( https://www.w3counter.com ) alone. I initially developed Improvely in 2012, and W3Counter in 2004. They, along with some other side projects, are how I have made a living for most of the past 10 years.

I like your landing pages. How do you monetize W3Counter? I'd imagine you compete directly with Google Analytics, which is free.

It's freemium. People pay between $5 and $50 per month for extra features. It's really not hard to compete with Google Analytics (especially when you start before GA existed). There are a ton of large companies making millions and billions in the analytics space.

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#9

Post by marsrover » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 6:06 PM UTC

dangrossman wrote: post #5

I run Improvely ( https://www.improvely.com ) and W3Counter ( https://www.w3counter.com ) alone. I initially developed Improvely in 2012, and W3Counter in 2004. They, along with some other side projects, are how I have made a living for most of the past 10 years.

Glad to see you're still around. I remember when you used to post on SitePoint often. I always looked up to your work. Just felt like saying that.

Re: Ask HN: One-person SaaS apps that are profitable?

#10

Post by davidw » Fri, Jun 17, 2016, 6:07 PM UTC

Rob Walling started out doing his stuff on his own. He's a prolific writer and podcaster - his material is well worth looking up. His book is somewhat dated, but still pretty good: http://amzn.to/1UdN0Ap