I've been running https://keygen.sh by myself for a little over 3 years. It currently makes $5.3k MRR. Still a side gig, but it's getting there.
Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
391–400 of 685 posts
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#392Earlier quoted context omitted.
Good question, my career is very important to me. It gives me an identity. I just can’t sit at home all day. I’m gonna die with boredom.
I don't think I'll ever quite understand this mentality that "not having a job"=="sitting at home all day". Do people not have hobbies of any kind? They really only find meaning in pursuit of money?
Not everyone has a hobby or passion and that's totally fine.
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#393Everytime I see these threads I end up feeling inadequate. For the rest of the folks like me, I will share a small tidbit of wisdom: Starting a business is really hard and it's totally OK to just go work for Salesforce. You do you.
It mostly makes me sad that I can't come up with any good ideas, and when I do I find it's already a thing and they're charging so little I can't figure out how to even cover costs at twice the price. So there's that.
I'm exactly in the same position. I'd love to do something on my own. But it seems, I'm just not the idea guy.
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#394Everytime I see these threads I end up feeling inadequate. For the rest of the folks like me, I will share a small tidbit of wisdom: Starting a business is really hard and it's totally OK to just go work for Salesforce. You do you.
My one-person business is teaching Salesforce online. A decade ago, I made a living selling Snuggies online via affiliate marketing. My career has had more pivots than Kobe Bryant.
Mike Wheeler!
Love your content, you helped me get where I am today as a successful salesforce dev, much love.
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#395Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I would never discourage anyone from self-employment I would, especially if they are in their prime earning years and are trying to become independent contractors. Software engineering jobs command high salaries and benefits these days. The opportunity costs are just too high and the odds of sustaining a one-person contracting show for 5, 10, 20+ years is slim to none.
It's easy to change from independent contractor to employee if you really want. The experience on the CV is just as good and you probably get paid (a lot) more. The only real risk is that during economic downturns it may be hard to find contracts but your employer could fire you as well.
It depends on the market. I worked with contractors back in 2008 who said it became easier to find work during the crash because they were seen as Capital Expenditure while Full-Time Employees were considered Operating Expenditure and were being laid off en-masse.
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#396Everytime I see these threads I end up feeling inadequate. For the rest of the folks like me, I will share a small tidbit of wisdom: Starting a business is really hard and it's totally OK to just go work for Salesforce. You do you.
My #1 frustration is having ideas that are pretty good (I know this because I see them done by someone else within 1-5 years of me wanting to do it), but not yet knowing how to raise capital. I see all the crazy shit like WeWork and other companies where people have millions thrown at them while never making a profit (and even actively cheating their investors). I don't want to be one of those guys, but I would like…
You're on a ycombinator website. They might be a good place to start.
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#397Does anyone know where someone can buy a business? I've seen some spammy posts when googling for how-tos but curious if anyone has bought one and whether it worked out?
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#398"I sell onions on the internet" was posted 6 months back: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19728132
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#399I am the solo founder of a crowdsourcing business. We are into audio/video transcription. I've been at it since 2008, fully bootstrapped. I tried very hard to convert it into a high growth startup. I even got called for an YC interview in 2016, but didn't make it. I have lost a lot of money over the years on experiments which didn't work. I didn't get rich but I make enough to beat the market rate salary.
Last year, I finally decided to treat it as a lifestyle business and just focus on a niche market. We are never gonna be a unicorn, but I think we'll still be in business 10 years from now. Looking forward to the 2029 thread!
Here's my post on the 2014 thread. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7368727
Re: Ask HN: Successful one-person online businesses?
#400To be successful as an one person online business maker you need loads of self motivation & some self control over procrastination. If you're spending alot of time on your own, managing & building up your start up without alot of actual human engagement you need strong will power...& good ambient music on in the background ;-]
I procrastinate like nobody's business and I still run my own SaaS business just fine. Just gotta ride those "productivity waves." ;)