Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#1

Post by leslyn » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 3:43 AM UTC

Startup community: I am wondering how much of a budget is considered 'bootstrapped'? And, I am curious to know how much personal capital (or debt) it took to generate something profitable. Of course I understand that the product/service can make all the difference in the world but your experience and numbers will still offer a valuable perspective.

I know there are no guarantees and that past performance is not indicative of future results! I also realize that everyone's risk tolerance starting financial situation is different. Just laying that out so that the comments can focus on individual experiences.

Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#2

Post by ohashi » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 4:19 AM UTC

I don't meet your profitable metric yet (hell, I haven't even launched it yet), but I've been working for a year.

The biggest question is what do you consider spent on the startup? Do living costs count or just direct expenses?

I'd say most of the cost has definitely been in the living costs. My total bill for direct costs (not living costs) so far is probably under <5k.

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#3

Post by nalidixic » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 4:28 AM UTC

I was able to profitably launch http://www.committeebox.com for around 500 dollars. That cost includes hosting and such while testing. If I counted all the hours that I've put in we'd have a whole different story :P

What have you been working on for a year without launching?

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#4

Post by AznHisoka » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 5:32 AM UTC

I've spent over $20,000 of my own money and have yet to launched officially. I'm able to afford it because of a lifestyle business I set up years ago (that has closed down since).

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#5

Post by zht » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 8:11 AM UTC

nalidixic wrote: post #3

I was able to profitably launch http://www.committeebox.com for around 500 dollars. That cost includes hosting and such while testing. If I counted all the hours that I've put in we'd have a whole different story :P What have you been working on for a year without launching?

How much do you charge?

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#6

Post by ecaroth » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 8:22 AM UTC

Been working on FitBolt (fitbolt.com) for about a year, spent ~$200 setting up credit card processing & recurring payments, $50 on business cards, and about $150 on legal fees. LOTS of optimization has kept my appengine costs well within the free quotas, and everything else has only been my time.

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#7

Post by leslyn » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 12:09 PM UTC

ohashi wrote: post #2

I don't meet your profitable metric yet (hell, I haven't even launched it yet), but I've been working for a year. The biggest question is what do you consider spent on the startup? Do living costs count or just direct expenses? I'd say most of the cost has definitely been in the living costs. My total bill for direct costs (not living costs) so far is probably under <5k.

Thanks. I did mean above and beyond living costs; expenses such as hosting, legal, advertising, etc. Next question - how much money AFTER launch will you be committing to your startup and what is the amount (in your mind) that you see yourself spending in order to make it happen?

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#8

Post by leslyn » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 12:12 PM UTC

nalidixic wrote: post #3

I was able to profitably launch http://www.committeebox.com for around 500 dollars. That cost includes hosting and such while testing. If I counted all the hours that I've put in we'd have a whole different story :P What have you been working on for a year without launching?

Nalidxic: I really like the simplicity and design of your site - it is really inviting! How have you advertised this?

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#9

Post by revorad » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 2:10 PM UTC

ecaroth wrote: post #6

Been working on FitBolt (fitbolt.com) for about a year, spent ~$200 setting up credit card processing & recurring payments, $50 on business cards, and about $150 on legal fees. LOTS of optimization has kept my appengine costs well within the free quotas, and everything else has only been my time.

Filbolt looks interesting. I know it's not nice to get unwarranted design criticism, but I found the text on your site quite hard to read. You should consider making the text of the main value proposition (The problem and The solution) much bigger and more prominent. Right now, it's just lost in a sea of other similar looking text.

Re: Ask HN: How much have you spent on your 'bootstrapped' startup

#10

Post by leslyn » Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 5:48 PM UTC

revorad wrote: post #9

ecaroth wrote: post #6

Been working on FitBolt (fitbolt.com) for about a year, spent ~$200 setting up credit card processing & recurring payments, $50 on business cards, and about $150 on legal fees. LOTS of optimization has kept my appengine costs well within the free quotas, and everything else has only been my time.

Filbolt looks interesting. I know it's not nice to get unwarranted design criticism, but I found the text on your site quite hard to read. You should consider making the text of the main value proposition (The problem and The solution) much bigger and more prominent. Right now, it's just lost in a sea of other similar looking text.

I just wanted to add (I know you didn't ask) but I agree that the white text in the bright yellow is hard to read. I think the suggestion to make that bigger and more prominent will be helpful!