The bootstrapped tag has no wiki summary.
3
votes
5answers
302 views
Starting New School Revenue Streams
Hey guys, it's me again. As was to be expected, I've run into funding problems with Idea School.
The quality teachers I'm looking for are worth about $50-60K per year. Now, of course, they ...
1
vote
3answers
176 views
Help with Website
I'm working on a product that is set to launch in a few months and need to hire a web designer for our site. I've never done this before so I need help. The details for whats needed on the site are ...
1
vote
4answers
533 views
Any examples of “positive feedback” startup ideas for production companies?
I am looking for examples of ideas, historical or current, where the output of a production process is also used as the input. An example could be something like this:
Magnifying glass is used to ...
10
votes
6answers
646 views
Using consulting to bootstrap your software startup
I've been through some pretty brutal experiences recently with venture capitalists and I'm looking into ways I can start a company without VC money.
Has anyone out there used consulting to bootstrap ...
0
votes
1answer
191 views
How much sweat equity to financial equity? Different business activities lend to one style easier then the other love your opinions
So bootstrapping is a minimalist approach to financing a business and requires a larger amount of sweat equity compared to the money put in. So when do you find that the sweat part has gone too far ...
1
vote
2answers
210 views
I have to raise $25K to start my company, any ideas what I could sell/do?
I'm looking for things I can sell/do to make $25k within 3 months. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
-2
votes
1answer
186 views
How to implement “infrastructure” ideas? [closed]
I have several ideas that I label "infrastructure ideas" (both physical and virtual). This means that the ideas will create completely new infrastructure (I use a very broad definition of the term) ...
1
vote
5answers
953 views
When should we start showing prices?
For a company that has just started, when should we show prices to customer? Right when the application is live on day one or when the application is stable enough to be used by real customer?
What ...
6
votes
4answers
273 views
Incorporate while still in development phase?
Is there any good reason to incorporate while you are still in development or bootstrapping phase? Or should you wait until the product is ready or when there are customers?
Thank you for sharing ...
0
votes
3answers
165 views
Are there different methods of payment when hiring freelancer?
Say I do not have enough money and need to get a part of my product done, is it possible to give a small part of the company, say between 3 and 5%, as a method of payment?
1
vote
2answers
88 views
boot strapping question
what kind of legal documents are required in doing case studies with your clients ?
what other forms of bootstrapping is there ? case studies, testimonials....
another concern I have is, are there ...
7
votes
2answers
146 views
Feature fatigue
Is it just me or is there such a "diagnoses" as "feature fatigue"? On more than one occasions I noticed that when I am about 75% though new feature development I am starting to stall and my ...
3
votes
5answers
456 views
Can I have an LLC while still working for an employer?
Some customers are more confident buying your product if you are a corporation, but on the other hand while you are bootstrapping you still need some cash coming in, and one way to do this is to work ...
5
votes
9answers
411 views
Is it better to learn technology by oneself or to find a cofounder/outsource? (bootstrapped web-startup)
This question is heavily influenced with my experience of an offline entrepreneur.
While hearing voices for teaming with tech-savvy cofounders to create a prototype or working technology I can't ...
5
votes
3answers
502 views
Solution to “critical mass” problem with services needing “network effect” to work - any case studies?
All services based on user generated content, in their beginnings suffer the "critical mass" problem. The problem is always the same:
to attract the "consumers" of the content, you have to have ...
4
votes
6answers
890 views
Tax Accountant or Monthly Bookkeeping?
Given that it is tax time how should you pay an accountant?
Do you do your own bookkeeping and just work with a CPA firm to do your taxes or do you have a CPA firm on monthly retainer to make sure ...
4
votes
4answers
872 views
How to prevent legit emails sent to customers who asked these emails from being considered spam?
I'm bootstrapping a business software and I've got a serious issue: I don't plan on doing any "mass mailing" nor "email campaign".
I will never ever send one email to someone who didn't ask. My ...
3
votes
5answers
384 views
If you were to choose an Enterprenur as a partner what qualities do you prefer to see in them?
what would be your selection criteria. The qualities of an enterprenur are written everywhere would that be enough for you? Is there anything you know as a quality that an enterprenur should possess ...
10
votes
9answers
983 views
Business Bank Account Suggestions
Recently, my partner and I created an LLC and have secured about 30K in capital to start our online company. We are in the process of choosing a bank to work with and would appreciate some guidance. ...
9
votes
11answers
3k views
What's a reasonable amount of equity to retain when you're the key founder?
I'm working with two other partners to get a SaaS startup off the ground. I worked on this thing slowly, mostly on my own, for about two years before approaching my partners. As a background, I knew ...
3
votes
5answers
503 views
Is location important for a bootstrap web-based startup?
I have approximately five year experience in not-web-based business (managed to start a small company without side investment and it is profitable now; the company produces advertisement equipment).
...
2
votes
2answers
202 views
How do I make it known that I'm interested in selling my business?
I started a one-person software company 18 months ago with no outside investment. Revenue and profits are healthy ($100K+/year), expenses are low.
Although I am not actively seeking to sell, if the ...
3
votes
5answers
236 views
Which type of business to form?
I'm currently starting up a small business with two other partners who are very trustful friends. The business is mostly software, along with one small piece of hardware. We've talked about the ...
7
votes
14answers
2k views
How much should I expect to pay for design work?
I received a quote for design work for my web / iPhone startup - it was quite a bit higher than what I expected, but I wanted to check if my expectations are off. The quote is from an overseas agency ...
8
votes
12answers
656 views
The best solution for creating a screen-shot movie to demonstrate a website feature?
We recently just launched a new space planner/floor plan tool on our site and would like to create a screen-shot movie (with a voiceover commentary) to visually demonstrates its ease of use. Can ...
7
votes
4answers
667 views
When is it a bad idea to bootstrap?
There are two types of startups - those who try to get big quickly and then figure out a way to become profitable, and those who are profitable from the beginning, but grow much slower. The first type ...
5
votes
3answers
319 views
What are the some innovative/effective ways to streamline office expenses?
We are in the process of compiling a list of the most effective/innovative ways of streamlining office expenses. Can you offer some suggestions?
2
votes
5answers
2k views
Ideas for bootstrapping a SaaS startup?
We are a B2B startup that has been started based on great technology (MIT PhD/Spin-off for developer tools/uml). We want to get around some of the inefficiencies in our industry by allowing for ...
1
vote
3answers
226 views
What are effective ways to bootstrap using your own open source?
I'm the founder of a hosted ecommerce startup. We haven't launched a public beta yet, and we're trying to earn enough runway to be able to work on the startup full time for just a few months to get it ...
5
votes
7answers
399 views
Are press releases a good idea for a bootstrapped company when launching a product?
I never hear much about this. Would it possibly get my business and product some press? Are they cost effective?
4
votes
7answers
503 views
Anyone get closer to success after working on their startup part-time?
Many suggest to work on your prototype part-time and quit after getting some users. I found that it is hard to build a quality product on a part-time basis because of distractions.
I have tried a ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Bootstrapped company giving Equity Grants to early employees
I am going to be joining a startup as an employee in the Midwest, USA. I will be joining as the number 2 employee, but I doubt that he considers me a founder, as he has already been in business for ...
0
votes
2answers
702 views
Equity amount and earn-rate for partners who need salary before joining venture full-time
I’d appreciate getting feedback from the community on how best to structure partnership agreements that takes into consideration some challenging issues.
I'm currently bootstrapping a SaaS venture ...
7
votes
19answers
2k views
How do I survive when starting a business without a paycheck?
When you start a new company, it is necessary to dedicate 100% of your time and effort to make it successful? How do you do this without a paycheck? Especially if you have a family?
3
votes
10answers
589 views
We've launched, are bootstrapped and have a few thousand $s for marketing, advice?
As requested, here is more information.
Our startup is PubliciTweet. We're like a Constant Contact for Twitter. While in public beta the service is completely free. We are most interested in ...
