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Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

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Re: Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

#92
post #43

If your company is paying you $100,000 a year, then whatever it is you're working on this year is worth $100,000 to your company.

Worth way more. In theory if you’re writing product software, you helped build a money generation machine for the company that can run forever.

Re: Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

#94

I have often thought someone could make solid income going around to storage facilities, garages, attics etc and scanning in old photos and memorabilia. My dad has his mothers’, grandparents, and maybe further back in storage. Doesn’t want to send it off but does want it digitized, but doesn’t have time or equipment to do himself (nor do I). Some of it could probably be sold on eBay. So it sits and collects dust and…

When I look around at the insane increases in physical storage units in the US, planning for virtual storage for the next generation seems like a good opp.

Re: Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

#95
Stand up from the computer and walk out the door, pretty sure you'll find your local problems there. Do local brewers need better distribution to stores? Can you connect local handymen with clients? Can you organize local neighborhood cleanup days, maybe supported by local businesses? You'll be amazed what can be done with the technology of outside, its like the internet just with real people! :) Some call it web 4.0

Re: Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

#96
post #95

Stand up from the computer and walk out the door, pretty sure you'll find your local problems there. Do local brewers need better distribution to stores? Can you connect local handymen with clients? Can you organize local neighborhood cleanup days, maybe supported by local businesses? You'll be amazed what can be done with the technology of outside, its like the internet just with real people! :) Some call it web 4.0

Web 0.1-alpha?

Re: Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

#97
post #85
post #78

My favorite $100k idea to share is starting a landscaping business. The startup cost is small, you grow through hustle and good work, and the ability to expand to multiple employees/crews is there as you expand. I think it's something just about anyone can do as it doesn't require special training.

> the ability to expand to multiple employees/crews is there as you expand. Finding reliable, motivated employees who will work for you and not themselves is the challenge that makes this type of business exceptionally hard to scale, from what I’ve been told.

I think it's kind of implied that a 100k _doesn't_ scale.

Re: Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No need to take it home with you. Consistent schedule This is not always guaranteed and you may not have a choice regarding this once you pass a certain stage in your career. It also depends on your industry and the part of the world you live and work in. Work life balance is notoriously non-existent for a vast portion of the world's IT workers.

What’s work life balance anyway? I don’t really want a job where I work for 8 hours (plus 1.5h getting up and ready for work, plus 1h break) and then have 4 hours of life in the evening. I once had such a job and it was horrible: I worked as an amazon warehouse associate, basically just receiving packages, sorting items, putting a barcode with asin on it, done. Loop this for 8 hours plus some additional pressure from…

Every hour you do past your normal working hours is not only free work for your employer, but it also devalues your own worth. Why would they raise you to $50 an hour, when you're willing to take your $40 and work 1.5x as much, making it $30 an hour ?

Additionally, because spending your time just working for a company is fucking miserable. If you have stuff that needs to be done still, that's a management failure, not your problem. These are all hours wasted on not seeing family, friends, enjoying other things, broadening your horizon.

I'm not calling for "come in at 8, clock out at 5 and fuck off", but spending more than a single additional evening for work is proof of terrible management and a straight up insult to your free time.

Re: Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

#99

There was one I looked into building to solve a problem, which was gasket printing. If you are having motorcycle or other engine repair done, waiting for a gasket can take a week or sometimes more depending on supplier location, and it's something printed from gasket paper. A website where you can print aftermarket gaskets on demand, and even do it with CAD files or derive them from edge detection in photos would mak…

Custom gaskets and orings seems like a great and relatively simple business. Have you tested the idea?

Other than asking my mechanic if he would buy from me (answered strong yes), no, I have not tested it. I look forward to seeing the Launch HN or product hunt launch if you or someone runs with it. It could be run out of a small town near to an airport somewhere, 2-3 employees. Website could have where in the queue your job was. Complementary goods for extra margin could be in small, specific lubricants (food grade, heat resistant, etc) in mini bottles and packs, assorted washers and bolts, basically small stuff that you order while you are getting something else that saves you a car trip.

Re: Ask HN: What are 100K dollar ideas but not million dollar ideas?

#100
post #3

My startup ideas :) I've been designing and building audio software and hardware components for musicians since I was a teenager. VST plugins to start, then moved on to digital guitar effects and now Eurorack synth modules. I've also built custom midi controllers, traditional guitar pedals, you name it, I've designed and built it. I have absolutely no doubt that I could build a small, semi-successful company around t…

Do you think that if you went through the process of creating a $200k/year company that you might pick up on something else that could also make $200k/yr, be it a new product or a way to expand your current one?
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