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Asks HN: Solo founders-How to respond when customers ask how big is your company

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Re: Asks HN: Solo founders-How to respond when customers ask how big is your company

#21
post #12

Don’t dissemble. You should ask about what their concern is (you getting hit by a bus, you losing interest, etc.) so that you can find a solution that will work for them and other similar customers. One of our licensees had a lawyer who asked us to put our source code in escrow, in case we got acquired or went under. It was a little embarrassing for her when I explained that they already had our source code, which wa…

Side note on escrow - we get asked this from time to time. We respond, we're happy to provide it on certain plans and quote them for it. No one has ever taken us on it. In b2b you never say no, always have an option for what they're asking and charge more for it.

This is the right way. Never say No but also don't just say Yes. A lot of times B2B customers are just doing a checklist and once they hear that it will cost more, they would drop it. I have been asked for escrow by customers paying $299/mo and I laugh internally first and then tell them "For escrow, you will need to be on our enterprise plan starting at $xx,000 per year with a minimum 3 year contract. let me know if this is something you would be open to". Usually crickets after that.

Re: Asks HN: Solo founders-How to respond when customers ask how big is your company

#24
I'm guessing most of the people here who are saying "be truthful" have never started a company. Sometimes you just gotta fudge the numbers a bit and do what needs to be done to get your company off the ground. I've been in your shoes and I recommend saying something like "we are a team of 5".

Re: Asks HN: Solo founders-How to respond when customers ask how big is your company

#25
Hire a few freelancers for some small tasks here and there and say you’re a team of 5 with most of them located in India or Eastern Europe. Never say you’re a team of 1 even if you are. Some people here are too honest for their own good

Re: Asks HN: Solo founders-How to respond when customers ask how big is your company

#26
The question is predicated on the argument that 'small is bad'. As stakeholders in the industry, and active participants in the community, it is our job to try and change any negative perception of small enterprises. We have to show examples of 'small is good', and be truthful.

Re: Asks HN: Solo founders-How to respond when customers ask how big is your company

#28
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Lie like hell --- and try to turn small into a positive. Don't do that. Unless you don't care about your reputation. > But truthfully, you really do need at least 2 people as a bare minimum to sell a viable product. When did this become an immutable law? > Lots of customers will want some assurance that if you die in a car crash on the way home, there is someone left to continue on with. One can also figure out a b…

> But truthfully, you really do need at least 2 people as a bare minimum to sell a viable product. Not true. Fine to be a solo entrepreneur, especially for more senior founders. YC may want multiple founders, but they cater to first-time founders. > Lots of customers will want some assurance that if you die in a car crash on the way home, there is someone left to continue on with. Another person involved does not imp…

You’re arguing against a straw man. Nobody is claiming another person will improve chances of survival. It will improve chances of a sale

Re: Asks HN: Solo founders-How to respond when customers ask how big is your company

#29

I'm guessing most of the people here who are saying "be truthful" have never started a company. Sometimes you just gotta fudge the numbers a bit and do what needs to be done to get your company off the ground. I've been in your shoes and I recommend saying something like "we are a team of 5".

Nah. Give the impression of scale if you can and need to, but I would draw the line at outright lying. If it doesn’t totally backfire then it’s dishonest. I would rather lose the deal.

Re: Asks HN: Solo founders-How to respond when customers ask how big is your company

#30
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But truthfully, you really do need at least 2 people as a bare minimum to sell a viable product. Not true. Fine to be a solo entrepreneur, especially for more senior founders. YC may want multiple founders, but they cater to first-time founders. > Lots of customers will want some assurance that if you die in a car crash on the way home, there is someone left to continue on with. Another person involved does not imp…

You’re arguing against a straw man. Nobody is claiming another person will improve chances of survival. It will improve chances of a sale

How do multiple people increase the chance of a sale?

I was responding to "if you die in a car crash on the way home, there is someone left to continue on with." Which seems pretty clearly attached to survival.

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