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Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?

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

#341

Post by wakatime »

Seven years ago I solo-started an automatic time tracker for programmers called WakaTime [1] and launched here on HN [2]. Partly from listening to developers too much, I waited way too long (almost a year) before adding a paid plan, but now it generates more MRR than an SF developer salary not including stock options. Technically I make more from RSUs and stock from past startups as a regular employee, but if I wasn't lucky with those then it would be my highest income stream.

1: https://wakatime.com/about

2: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6046227

For anyone thinking it's egregiously difficult to start a solo-project: You're right, but if you stick with it your persistence will pay off. For solo-products, I think grit is the deciding factor between success and failure.

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

#342

Post by jdc0589 »

mrskitch wrote: post #227

I run a headless browser service called browserless.io. Got started due to lack of a comparable service, and all others seemed more geared for testing. It’s been around two years now, and makes more than any prior engineering job I’ve ever had. You do have a lot of other stresses you might not otherwise have, but you’ll also work a lot less than at a traditional job! I’m working on a few interviews for some sites, wh…

I almost got in to this space a few years ago, but didn't for some reason. there are a lot of fun things to work on in that problem space.

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

#343

Post by pknerd »

zrail wrote: post #253

Six and a half years ago I launched https://www.masteringmodernpayments.com/ , a book to teach people how to integrate Stripe with their Rails app. It generated almost $80k of revenue, mostly front loaded but with a really long tail. Recently I turned off sales because I was feeling more and more guilty about not having time to update it, and now that I work for Stripe updating it involves a layer of approval. Of cou…

How did Stripe hire you?

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

#344

Post by LoSboccacc »

chrischen wrote: post #82

I've been running Instapainting.com as a 1-person business since 2014. I started out with a single page with a Stripe checkout button on it. I've been living off of the income since inception, even though the first few years were poverty levels of income ;). Many have tried, but I'd say most just gave up when they realized they could make more money just getting a job.

just a curiosity: did style transfer services had an impact on your traffic?

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

#345

Post by Havoc »

khuknows wrote: post #59
Havoc wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Higher pricing than i would have guessed. But I guess it solves a professional pain point so worth it

What would your guess have been?

Probably around 60% of that.

But as I said if professionals are willing to happy then no point in being shy on pricing

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

#347

Post by codesternews »

holoduke wrote: post #296

Started with apps in the early ios and Android days. Made quickly about 300k a year with them. I quit my job as a developer and focused on apps only. They still make roughly 0.5 million a year these days. I bought several real estate in the years after and they give me about 15k monthly in rental income. I did spend 2 years doing almost nothing except traveling and spending lots of time with my kids. Then I co founde…

Thanks for sharing.

Which category your apps have? Do you think the current situation of appstores(google and apple) apps can earn money?

Any advice for app developer who want to make and sell apps?

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

#348

Post by ratsimihah »

wakatime wrote: post #341

Seven years ago I solo-started an automatic time tracker for programmers called WakaTime [1] and launched here on HN [2]. Partly from listening to developers too much, I waited way too long (almost a year) before adding a paid plan, but now it generates more MRR than an SF developer salary not including stock options. Technically I make more from RSUs and stock from past startups as a regular employee, but if I wasn'…

How does top 1 code for 13 hours per day? o_o

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

#349

Post by committed »

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…

How do you drive traffic to the website?

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

#350

Post by throw03172019 »

lemming wrote: post #60

I develop and sell Cursive ( https://cursive-ide.com ), which has paid my bills nicely for a couple of years now. Currently I make more than I made in my last job at Google. I never thought I'd be able to make a living selling developer tools, much less into a niche market, but I'm constantly amazed by how well Cursive does. The work is a mix of fun and boring slog, like most jobs I guess. A lot of my time is spent o…

I love Cursive! I’m glad to hear it is working out for your financially especially the Clojure community. Thank you!
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