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Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

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Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#71

Post by jaredtking »

cannikin wrote: post #60
jaredtking wrote: post #16

I launched Invoiced [1] as a private beta in June of 2013 while in college. In November I took it out of private beta and have since been fortunate enough to be able to focus on it full time. Invoiced provides simple invoicing for the small business/freelance crowd. It is bootstrapped, profitable, and currently producing 4-figures of MRR. I learn something new every day and get to work with awesome people (customers)…

What did you do to get the word out to the world? Word of mouth? Ads? Tech blog writeups? I have a pretty polished app I wrote a couple of years ago but it didn't even cover the AWS fees once I dropped off the free year. :( Great app, I just don't know how to get the word out...

Thank you. Actually this all started at as a simple web page [1] where you can plug your invoice into the site and get a PDF of your invoice back with no sign up required. I climbed up the search rankings and eventually was getting tons of requests for more features. That is when I decided to make a premium version. Even today a majority of traffic comes through the Upgrade button on the free tool. The second source of major traffic is referrals from existing customers. To date I have spent $0 on advertising and have had virtually zero coverage on tech blogs. I got lucky that my target customer starts out using free invoicing sites.

What app did you create?

[1] http://invoice-generator.com

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#72

Post by zrail »

qhoc wrote: post #66
zrail wrote: post #2

I wrote and self-published a book in 2013 that definitely fits some definitions of success[1]. Sales to date total a little over $30,000, plus some consulting gigs. [1]: https://www.petekeen.net/mastering-modern-payments

I'm also trying to get into the book writing business. Can you tell me what tool you use to write the book? I was using Gitbook.io but it was buggy and not formatting well.

I wrote all of my own tools. The book itself is written in Markdown, and I use the Redcarpet gem to turn it into HTML. From that, I convert it into PDF and the ebook formats using Docverter.

http://www.docverter.com

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#73

Post by junto »

reqres wrote: post #51

Started a UK postcode and addressing API in the midst of developing another (eventually failed) project - partly to scratch my own itch and partly because the existing offering was in a bit of a sorry state. Was profitable within 2 months despite some idealistic pricing on my part. The feedback and kind words from my users over the past year has been incredibly humbling.

Interesting. We are using Post code anywhere.co.UK for a variety of projects in the UK. What's your URL?

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#74

Post by jaredtking »

buttsex wrote: post #70
jaredtking wrote: post #16

I launched Invoiced [1] as a private beta in June of 2013 while in college. In November I took it out of private beta and have since been fortunate enough to be able to focus on it full time. Invoiced provides simple invoicing for the small business/freelance crowd. It is bootstrapped, profitable, and currently producing 4-figures of MRR. I learn something new every day and get to work with awesome people (customers)…

How'd you manage to get that domain name? Did you have to buy it off someone else?

I bought it from a seller on Sedo in January '14 using proceeds from the site.

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#75

Post by theclaff »

My co-founder Dan and I launched WP Curve (24/7 WordPress support) in June 2013. At the time of writing, we're generating $24,166 in MRR.

We share a monthly report every month, here's our last report: http://wpcurve.com/june-wp-curve-monthly-report-people-produ... if you're interested.

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#76

Post by joshdance »

noname123 wrote: post #26

I started a 401(k) account and put it on S&P500 index fund, it's gone up about 65% in two years. The best part of the business is that I work less than Timothy Ferris, "0-hour work week"; I let the money do the work for me, not the other way around.

Interest to put this under starting something profitable, but the tone seems a little snarky.

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#77

Post by plehoux »

We launched ConferenceBadge.com January 2013 (team of 4). We are now profitable and fully pay ourselves with it.

We have no outside funding (we were invited to the YC interview, but weren't selected).

We now invest our time between this and one other unannounced project.

Life is good.

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#78

Post by peacemaker »

I started http://mammothology.com last year and was profitable within 3 months. I create software for small businesses, mainly WordPress plugins but other things too. It's not a (comfortably) liveable wage yet but slowly increasing month on month. I'm not much of a marketer so it's difficult to figure out how to get sales up to that next level.

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#79

Post by cannikin »

jaredtking wrote: post #71
cannikin wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What did you do to get the word out to the world? Word of mouth? Ads? Tech blog writeups? I have a pretty polished app I wrote a couple of years ago but it didn't even cover the AWS fees once I dropped off the free year. :( Great app, I just don't know how to get the word out...

Thank you. Actually this all started at as a simple web page [1] where you can plug your invoice into the site and get a PDF of your invoice back with no sign up required. I climbed up the search rankings and eventually was getting tons of requests for more features. That is when I decided to make a premium version. Even today a majority of traffic comes through the Upgrade button on the free tool. The second source…

Just sent you an email. :)

Re: Ask HN: Who started something in 2013/14 which is already profitable?

#80

Post by noname123 »

joshdance wrote: post #76
noname123 wrote: post #26

I started a 401(k) account and put it on S&P500 index fund, it's gone up about 65% in two years. The best part of the business is that I work less than Timothy Ferris, "0-hour work week"; I let the money do the work for me, not the other way around.

Interest to put this under starting something profitable, but the tone seems a little snarky.

Np, I didn't mean to be snarky. I wanted to make a point both the opportunity cost of starting something creative and the pride that entrepreneurs have for their "initiative and originality" yet are beholden and exploited by the investors who invest in them and who'll ultimately reap in their success.

Also that trading can be an creative act (expressing your belief about yourself, in risk-taking in buying a leveraged option call or a conservative index fund with stop loss; your personal conflict resolution and problem solving when the market moves against you) and a simple decision to invest in an index fund is not trivial but can be just as nuanced in making any complex decisions. But in the West, we put so much credence in "hustlin'" that we become penny-wise and pound-foolish.

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