The bootstrapped tag has no wiki summary.
28
votes
9answers
4k views
Dilemma: to outsource the coding or do it yourself
I develop and sell iPhone apps. I've released one app, and decided to build a few more, in parallel. I thought about outsourcing some of the coding, so I went on Elance and posted some jobs there. The ...
12
votes
7answers
815 views
What are the best free resources for a startup?
Question's focus is: free + resource = value
So, far there have been a lot of answers related to software, have any other suggestions?
Examples: Books, Trial Services, etc.
10
votes
6answers
647 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 ...
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 ...
9
votes
5answers
401 views
Savings, Bootstrapping, Starting Up
A friend of mine recommended 3 years worth of savings in order to start bootstrapping for my self-funded startup. Does this seem reasonable? I had previously been working towards a goal of 1 year's ...
9
votes
6answers
413 views
How to find potential co-founders for a startup?
I've been working on a bootstrapped startup for about 2 years now. I've been working on it solo to this point, but I feel I'm starting to run out of gas. I need fresh ideas, money and assistance in ...
9
votes
3answers
169 views
When is it too early to measure conversion rate?
My bootstrapped saas startup launched only a few months ago. My traffic is growing steadily but still fairly low (~200 hits/day). Although I do consider the product validated (we have a growing ...
9
votes
4answers
577 views
What is the best way to spend an initial budget of $1000 on SEO?
We recently launched an online quoting SaaS and are targeting some fairly competitive keywords (e.g. quoting software or quoting system). Because the domain is relatively new (~6 months), I know it ...
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 ...
8
votes
3answers
245 views
How do entrepreneurs start their first bootstrap startup?
I really want to start my entrepreneurial career, the problem is I don't have money. I am mid-level IT manager, read lot of startup blogs, articles and books and keep planning (aka dreaming) about ...
8
votes
2answers
302 views
How and When to Raise Funds For Your Company
Funding your company is an important part of your startup and expansion strategy. It's a broad topic that has a lot of aspects including: keeping your idea secret, seed funding, angels, venture ...
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 ...
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 ...
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?
7
votes
4answers
215 views
How can a bootstrapped startup start to expand sales without outside funding?
So I have a bootstraped startup that's starting to get some traction. A little background: we make a classroom recording appliance that works with fixed positioned cameras in classrooms to record and ...
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 ...
7
votes
3answers
137 views
Crowdsourcing for videos
My partner and I wanted to have a video on the landing page that explains our startup. Is there any crowdsourcing for videos out there? How do usually startups get someone to make a video for them?
...
6
votes
3answers
188 views
Is it better to pay more up front for a custom coded website, or go with open source CMS?
Is it better to pay more up front for a custom coded website, or go with open source CMS, which is a much more economical alternative.
Specifically for this bootstrapped micro startup, there is one ...
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
190 views
Equity and compensation for boot strapped venture
I have been approached by a friend to help with the business side of a venture that he has developed/bootstrapped. No external funding until now. He has developed a working product with outsourced and ...
5
votes
9answers
412 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
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?
5
votes
5answers
320 views
How to bootstrap when you have a high social overhead?
I love the idea of bootstrapping, but when I hear the bootstrapping evangelists talk about what it takes, they basically portray a lifestyle that only makes sense for a single person in their early ...
5
votes
3answers
984 views
What is the appropriate equity % for software bootstrap key employees?
I have been working with a start up without pay for the last 8 months.
I have been a senior sales executive with tier one companies for the past 20 years. My position is to build and manage all ...
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?
5
votes
3answers
503 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
348 views
How to record monies owed to me by my new startup? (bookkeeping question)
I have recently started a startup.
I am totally bootstrapping the startup, and so costs are being kept to a minimum. There is no way the company can afford to pay me my normal (or even 'discounted') ...
4
votes
3answers
355 views
Living on no income
I'm sure this has been asked before, but my searchfu failed me, so I'll ask...
How do people bootstrap (which I assume is the most common early-funding model) and manage to pay the rent and feed ...
4
votes
7answers
504 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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
121 views
A dilema of starting a company vs. doing a project for a client
I got a request for a proposal to create a web application. The application would be used internally by a company to manage aspects of their business process.
Coincidentally, the proposed application ...
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 ...
3
votes
6answers
338 views
Can Price be the ONLY competitive advantage?
I am just venturing into a new product and one thing I realised is that "Price is the ONLY one advantage" I have. I have solid web-development experience and I can build web apps in a fraction of time ...
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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
How much VC equity stake for a product that is fully built for a mid-stage start-up company?
So I have a site that will accept subscriptions the first quarter of 2011. I have been developing this product over the past year and it is almost complete. I would like to use the VC money to help ...
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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
227 views
Does one's “day job” effect one's start-up?
I have a start-up idea I'd like to move forward on. There's no way I could quit my job outright to work on it, but as a single mom, I also couldn't pull off the hours I currently work plus the ...
3
votes
3answers
348 views
Need Help - Steps in building a successful web startup [closed]
I wanted pointers to documents, blogs, website, etc. where there is detailed step by step instructions on important steps required for building and launching successful web startup.(if possible also ...
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).
...
3
votes
6answers
335 views
New job to bootstrap startup?
Context: I started a SAAS based platform for small and medium sized companies around a year back. To save some time I intentionally took this underpaid job close to my home. I have successfully ...
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
209 views
Is bootstrap a startup development methodology?
I've always understood bootstrapping in the context of startups to mean that the business achieves sustainability through customers, not loans, equity deals, etc.
Ash Maurya has a blog post from a ...
2
votes
3answers
149 views
interns for startups
We looking for interns to work with us (yumety) ( machine learning, supervised algorithm ) - anyone knows how to contact interns?
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 ...
2
votes
4answers
274 views
Wait to develop mobile apps?
I'm in the middle of developing a site that focuses on restaurant reviews. My dilemma is whether or not to develop a mobile app and release it at the same time as the site launch. The site itself will ...
2
votes
2answers
270 views
How to start a UK online business? (admin)
A few years ago I had an idea for an online business, its going to operate as a freemium model and simply deal with information no tangible goods. since then I have been creating the site learning ...
