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Tiny

tinycapital.com

121–130 of 158 posts

Re: Tiny

#121
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I imagine it has to be something that another company can generically understand and take over. A startup where the founders deep domain knowledge / connections is the key - that domain knowledge / connections go when the founder leaves.

If that's the case then why are they ok with the founder leaving? I don't think this is a scam or anything, I just wish I understood the mechanics of how their business works better than I do

By the time the business is "stable, profitable and growing" the founder is likely far less important than in the beginning.

There have to be processes in place to manage the business's day to day operations, and a good management team that looks to the future. You can't maintain a business at that level while still being dependent on a single person so the business at the time of sale has to be capable of continuing on without that person present.

Re: Tiny

#122
post #118

Sometimes I wonder whether I should go and try to buy a micro SaaS business (I am an SWE) that's already out there just for the sake of trying to learn the ropes on how to do a business. Convince me this is a bad idea.

I think it's a great idea. I'm a SWE and have purchased three now. It seems way easier to run 3 micro businesses than it was to deal with everything that a typical job entails. I think the risk is quite low for most SaaS products.

If you don't mind sharing, how did you discover and pursue your targets? Would love to learn more on this.

Re: Tiny

#123
post #66

I like this new style aesthetic that I’ve been seeing on a few sites. minimalism the right way

Seems like Corporate Memphis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Memphis https://www.wired.co.uk/article/corporate-memphis-design-tec...

From the wired article: “It really boils my piss to be honest,” says Jack Hurley, a Leeds-based illustrator who says his main output is “daft seaside posters.”

Re: Tiny

#124

Sometimes I wonder whether I should go and try to buy a micro SaaS business (I am an SWE) that's already out there just for the sake of trying to learn the ropes on how to do a business. Convince me this is a bad idea.

Perhaps try to build your own and run that instead? To be honest I think you'd learn more about how to buy a business than how to run one if you bought one instead.

Re: Tiny

#125
Andrew Wilkinson, co-founder of Tiny, has done a lot of podcast interviews. If you consider selling your business to Tiny, you should listen to a few of his interviews first to learn about his startup journey, Tiny's approach of buying businesses, and himself :) Search "Andrew Wilkinson": https://lnns.co/2lXRHeZc17A

Re: Tiny

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(Principles. Lots of people making this error these days. A principal is e.g. of a school, or a loan.)

Principal investor is a term of art in the industry. It has other financial meanings as well. Principles are ideals you adhere to or uphold. They are also concepts used to implement a design. Principal and principle are homophones, and they are commonly mixed up. https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?def_id=12... https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/principal.asp#understan...

Yeah, some guy in finance wrote a whole book using that stupid term!

Re: Tiny

#127

Sometimes I wonder whether I should go and try to buy a micro SaaS business (I am an SWE) that's already out there just for the sake of trying to learn the ropes on how to do a business. Convince me this is a bad idea.

The book E-Myth is about just such a scenario

Will take a look! thank you

Re: Tiny

#128

Sometimes I wonder whether I should go and try to buy a micro SaaS business (I am an SWE) that's already out there just for the sake of trying to learn the ropes on how to do a business. Convince me this is a bad idea.

Perhaps try to build your own and run that instead? To be honest I think you'd learn more about how to buy a business than how to run one if you bought one instead.

I have no experience in doing it, and also don't have an idea that is worth selling :(

Re: Tiny

#129
post #118

Sometimes I wonder whether I should go and try to buy a micro SaaS business (I am an SWE) that's already out there just for the sake of trying to learn the ropes on how to do a business. Convince me this is a bad idea.

I think it's a great idea. I'm a SWE and have purchased three now. It seems way easier to run 3 micro businesses than it was to deal with everything that a typical job entails. I think the risk is quite low for most SaaS products.

Wow interesting! Please share!

Re: Tiny

#130

Sometimes I wonder whether I should go and try to buy a micro SaaS business (I am an SWE) that's already out there just for the sake of trying to learn the ropes on how to do a business. Convince me this is a bad idea.

I think it's a lot harder to pick a good business than you think. Many "micro" sized businesses have significant issues and avoiding them requires you to know all the right questions to ask. If you are able to make the right pick and the size of the deal is something you're comfortable seeing go to zero, it may be a good learning experience. However, you'll be learning to acquire and keep a business alive, not start…

Yeah I expect this. I think I would like to start from something I am somewhat familiar with.

Interesting note about "acquiring and keeping a business alive, not starting a business", I am under the impression that these two skills are related, if not the same.

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