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Thank you. I have read a lot of Patrick's stuff. It is very good and I would be happy to create something even half as successful as BCC as the first stepping

Thank you. I have read a lot of Patrick's stuff. It is very good and I would be happy to create something even half as successful as BCC as the first stepping stone. I am attracted to doing something away from programming to get into the mindset of finding out what people want. I am too tempted to get hung up on frameworks and shiny objects on a programming project. Maybe I just need to change that. Also it seems more like something I can get up an running more easy in the spare time (I have a full time job, a 2 year old and another one coming, full time working wife), so spare time may be average of 4-5 hours a week. With software you have to build the product AND market it, so that is two jobs. Selling stuff on an established market place may not be as profitable but seems more doable. And frankly I find it hard to code for hours after work doing the same, but I find it easy to do practical things or lower-grade computer work. Having said that if I have a good idea I could take a day off work and MVP it. I have seen people who made $2k-$3k in a weekend doing that on blogs but I am not clear on how they got the customers. It was build it and they came magic. I presume they had a good email list or blog following and sold to them.

mdnormy 12y ago
Then maybe you would prefer something like micropreneur where the mantra is "start small stay small". I myself have small food business and also hosting business. Nothing fancy that HNer would be interested in, but its a nice side income to have. I spend 2-3hours a day on this. patio11 always said that "there's always money in small niche market". No truer words were ever spoken. Most small business are tackling niche problem anyway.
- bbcbasic 12y ago
  I like start small stay small. That is my goal initially. In addition it should be a business where I can scale down the hours while keeping the earnings, and semi-retire early. I was looking at ebay. But having spent some time on the Terapeek free trial, ebay.com.au and Alibaba looking at many products it seems to me that ebay sellers are making razor thin margins, or in some cases outright losses. I don't get it. I think the ones making good money are established stores who use ebay as an additional channel. They are trying to acquire new customers, so can take a hit on the first sale, offering free postage or whatever. I don't fancy competing with that. So I am now leaning more towards the sensible suggestion in this thread to stick to what I know. IT/Programming. My current idea is a simple one. To give 1 hour free consultation to a small business to see if I can help them save time/labour using automation. If I can then I give them a quote for a solution, otherwise walk away. Even if I spend hours and don't sell anything, I get a lot of market research and new ideas, so it won't be wasted.

mdnormy 12y ago

Then maybe you would prefer something like micropreneur where the mantra is "start small stay small". I myself have small food business and also hosting business. Nothing fancy that HNer would be interested in, but its a nice side income to have. I spend 2-3hours a day on this. patio11 always said that "there's always money in small niche market". No truer words were ever spoken. Most small business are tackling niche problem anyway.

bbcbasic 12y ago
I like start small stay small. That is my goal initially. In addition it should be a business where I can scale down the hours while keeping the earnings, and semi-retire early. I was looking at ebay. But having spent some time on the Terapeek free trial, ebay.com.au and Alibaba looking at many products it seems to me that ebay sellers are making razor thin margins, or in some cases outright losses. I don't get it. I think the ones making good money are established stores who use ebay as an additional channel. They are trying to acquire new customers, so can take a hit on the first sale, offering free postage or whatever. I don't fancy competing with that. So I am now leaning more towards the sensible suggestion in this thread to stick to what I know. IT/Programming. My current idea is a simple one. To give 1 hour free consultation to a small business to see if I can help them save time/labour using automation. If I can then I give them a quote for a solution, otherwise walk away. Even if I spend hours and don't sell anything, I get a lot of market research and new ideas, so it won't be wasted.