Ask HN: What can I build that would pay a dollar for?

2 pointshai2ashwin5y ago9 comments

I want to build something of value within one month that a lot of people would want and will pay a dollar a month for. I am open to ideas where usually the market charges $10 or more. I am experimenting on a model that needs zero employees, zero evil, no hockey-stick growth ambitions, and yet delivers a great lifestyle by doing what people want and charging 10x lower.

What is your no-brainer idea?

PS: I am a 2-time entrepreneur with 1 small exit and a reasonably successful product startup.

9 comments

brudgers5y ago

Probably nothing. Transaction costs (including risk) swamp the value of a $1 online service. Among the risks is the low probability of a viable business of $1 transactions. Unsustainable business models make services unreliable in the long term.

To put it another way, you're competing with Dollar Tree's one dollar duct tape, tortillas, and spatulas.

hai2ashwinOP5y ago

Thank you!

I would not do any business that will not have a healthy gross profit margin when bootstrapped. I am looking at ideas where the volume will make up for the free cash that per-sale generates.

There are a lot of 'lifestyle' plugin makers that do this.

PS: I do value the input and the time you took to answer. Thanks!

troydavis5y ago

I'd pay much more than that for an way to "read" (watch) media RSS feeds on Apple TV. Instapaper, Pocket, and other "read later" services expose RSS feeds of their folders - and they are accessible without the user giving their Instapaper/similar password to a third-party app.

Anyone who sends videos to a read-later service like that - rather than using the service-specific version, like YouTube's own "Watch Later" list - would then be able to watch those videos on Apple TV. Basically, a media-only RSS reader (player) for tvOS.

(This would also work for YouTube's own RSS feeds and any others, but I don't see use cases for those.)

hai2ashwinOP5y ago

Fantastic idea. I haven't, first-hand, felt this pain. But I will research further. Appreciate it!

kensavage5y ago

People find value when they pay for things not get them at a discount. If a product or service was truly valuable I would expect to pay a larger amount not one dollar. If this is just a trial to get started I understand. Just some feedback

marceloabsousa5y ago

Based on your restrictions, this doesn't sound like a 'no-brainer' idea whatsoever... I think your best option would be to join a team which is building something of value to a lot of people for one month and charge them 30$ as your salary.

hai2ashwinOP5y ago

Thanks, Marcelo! One idea I have is to build an email open tracker that does not sell data to third party. Doesn't take time to build and can be priced at a dollar a month. I am looking for tools like these that are not that hard to build if your ambition is not to scale.

qubex5y ago

I’d willingly pay a dollar a month for a service that credited two dollars a month to my PayPal account.

hai2ashwinOP5y ago

I will be the genie who will grant that wish, the moment I have the F you money.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

9 comments

brudgers5y ago

To put it another way, you're competing with Dollar Tree's one dollar duct tape, tortillas, and spatulas.

hai2ashwinOP5y ago

Thank you!

I would not do any business that will not have a healthy gross profit margin when bootstrapped. I am looking at ideas where the volume will make up for the free cash that per-sale generates.

There are a lot of 'lifestyle' plugin makers that do this.

PS: I do value the input and the time you took to answer. Thanks!

troydavis5y ago

(This would also work for YouTube's own RSS feeds and any others, but I don't see use cases for those.)

hai2ashwinOP5y ago

Fantastic idea. I haven't, first-hand, felt this pain. But I will research further. Appreciate it!

kensavage5y ago

marceloabsousa5y ago

hai2ashwinOP5y ago

qubex5y ago

I’d willingly pay a dollar a month for a service that credited two dollars a month to my PayPal account.

hai2ashwinOP5y ago

I will be the genie who will grant that wish, the moment I have the F you money.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse