Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#201

Post by fukuro » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:41 PM UTC

temp_throw wrote: post #106

I have a UK based e-business, I've turned over between £750,000 and now £950,000 over the past four years (ex VAT). (~76% net profit margin) Its just me, I'm a developer, which meant I could bootstrap the whole thing for zero cost (time not included) but I've always felt I knew I had what it takes to make a small business successful. Its an online service, we have a web site and apps in the app stores. I'd rather not…

How did you find the product? And how long did it take you to generate your first revenue? (From the initial idea to the first user/euros)

Basically how do you get started with such a venture as yours?

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#202

Post by throwbusaway » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:42 PM UTC

siscia wrote: post #184

throwbusaway wrote: post #164

I've run a niche ecommerce website by myself for 10+ years as my primary income. It's down to about 5-15 hours of work per week. I'm looking to sell if anyone is interested. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21118095

What is the website? What do you sell?

The website is in the jewelry/gemstone space. The traffic is all organic and nets a few thousand dollars per month with no marketing, though could grow significantly with marketing and/or social media. Email is in my profile if you are interested.

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#203

Post by dsfuefueh » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:44 PM UTC

try hacker typer its awesome yeeeeet

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#204

Post by foodscraps » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:45 PM UTC

thomasht wrote: post #154

I run & operate a VPN company. Found a niche that at least 600 people would pay me a monthly amount for, totalling nearly $3k a month. Costs are Everything is automated so it's probably less than an hour a week. It was my learn how to code project that has become my basic income. All the money is funding my secondary project.

Interesting! Any pointers or code you wouldn't mind sharing on how to do something like this myself? Thanks.

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#205

Post by dsfuefueh » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:45 PM UTC

bekman wrote: post #129

I run a popular Quiz website. I make around $6,000 per month from Google adsense. I work between 2-3 hours a week usually posting quiz links on my Pinterest page. My only expense is hosting which is around $20 per month (Digital Ocean). I have never advertised my website and it gets all the traffic from Pinterest Organically. Compare to my salary, I'm an IT Administrator in my day job and make $400 per month. I live…

people are stupid to think hacker typer is a real thing

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#206

Post by nkrisc » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:47 PM UTC

collyw wrote: post #174

puranjay wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're a smart man. I wish I had done that.

Personally I would say the opposite. You should define yourself by outside interests rather than by what other people pay you to do.

Given the difference between income streams, and the fact that still go to their day job, I would wager their job is an interest to them.

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#207

Post by adamqureshi » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:49 PM UTC

acoyfellow wrote: post #200

adamqureshi wrote: post #177

I run https://onlyusedtesla.com/ its an online marketplace to buy / sell a Used Tesla. I have been living off the income this whole year. This is my bread and butter. I do not have a 9-5. I launched the business with 4 listings in 2016. I live in New York. My main goal is building brand equity. Business Model. Private Seller $199 to list $299 to list with a social boost Dealer: $99-list I do not use cookies. No Track…

Awesome work. What does your overhead look like roughly?

Rent. Food. Utilities. $3,500-month Server $150-month Facebook $35/month

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#208

Post by insaider » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:49 PM UTC

I made https://www.golfforecast.co.uk - an ML algorithm to predict golf.

After 5 years it's making enough from subscriptions for me to live off (3K gbp/mo). The algorithm is always a work in progress but it's seeing consistent returns now so I'm making money from that too :) plus it makes golf a lot more entertaining.

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#209

Post by zebraflask » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:50 PM UTC

mutatio wrote: post #52

I run https://encycolorpedia.com/ - its origins are from a "JavaScript as CSS" library I was developing - there were/are superior projects available, so ultimately I used the colour manipulation code to produce the site. The idea was to take a seed colour and render the page uniquely, additional on-page information grew from that. From feedback I guess the primary use of the site is paint searching and comparison. It…

Just wanted to chime in that your site is a go-to when looking for new color variations and palettes.

Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

#210

Post by docsapp_io » Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 1:51 PM UTC

I've been running docsapp.io, a SaaS for documentation hub. It is growing and profitable but not a lot. I work between 1-8 hours per month, mostly development and little support.