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  • #1

    Hey, Techies...I have a question...

    Ok, amongst everything else I'm doing, I'm working on an application at home that I think I might be able to sell for a few bucks. Realistically, I think I could probably make a few hundred off of it (eh, maybe not even that much), but you never know...

    I don't want to go into too much detail, as I'm sure you'll understand.

    So here are a few questions:

    1. Where would be some good places to put this app on the web? I don't really have the money right now to put up my own website, so I have to rely on pre-existing sites.

    2. Is it OK to make a "limited functionality" shareware version, and ask for $$$ to "upgrade" to the full-featured version? I'm thinking of keeping the cost relatively low for this app -- at first. Somewhere in the $10-$15 range.

    3. Of the tens of thousands of apps out there, what do I need to do to at least get people to notice the app?

    4. What should be expected of me from a "support" aspect? This application isn't necessarily going to be an "enterprise" level, mission-critical type thing, so I really don't think I have to worry about that.

    5. Do I need to set up an LLC, or at least a Doing Business As (in some places here in the U.S., this is called an "Assumed Name Certificate") in order to do this?

    6. How should I take/receive payment?

    I think it's probably obvious that a separate checking account is a must.
    Skilled programmers aren't cheap. Cheap programmers aren't skilled.
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  • #2
    I would call the SBA and ask if they have any reference materials in this area for you. They've been VERY supportive and helpful to me on several occasions.

    The only 'get noticed' tip I might have is to submit it to the bigger trade rags - Ziff Davis' publications, PCWorld, etc. for review. I haven't really seen much cripple-ware around the last few years, but I never disliked the concept.

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    • #3
      Most of your questions I'm not going to address because I don't know anything about the industry you're working in.

      One possible suggestion that I'll throw out for you though. Instead of a limited functionality with pay to unlock the full app, maybe give some thought to a trial of the full app, say a week, then pay to unlock it if whoever is giving it a try likes it? Personally, I'm quite a bit more likely to try out software of that style than I am the 'limited functionality' ones, and then go on to purchase those that I like/will use often.
      You're only delaying the inevitable, you run at your own expense. The repo man gets paid to chase you. ~Argabarga

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      • #4
        And you could always combine the two, as some apps do -- Full functionality for 1-2 weeks, then it goes to the shareware version until they pay to unlock it.
        "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
        "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
        "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
        "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
        "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
        "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
        Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
        "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

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        • #5
          1. Tricky without your own website. You should at least see if you can set up a simple free wordpress blog or something. Then look into software distribution websites like CNET. But if you really have to just host it on a free hosting service in the meantime.

          If you've written the application in a cross platform language like Java, then obviously you have quite a few more venues such as the AppStore or Android.


          2. Limited functionality is okay. But most "shareware" style software seems to use trial periods these days. Limited functionality kind of annoys people I think. Remember in order to support either method you will need some kind of back end support ( Activation codes, etc ).

          In this day and age you might be better off offering the application itself for free and using a Paypal donation/gratuity option. Especially if its a simple application.


          3. Marketing is much more difficult and where you're going to have to do a lot of leg work yourself. If you think you've got something pretty good on your hands, you may want to pimp it to tech blogs or forums. Since you have no advertising budget I'm assuming. So banner ads, etc aren't an option.

          4. Its fine to offer the application "as is" ( long as you state as such ) and provide a general FAQ for common problems. Then simply fix any major bugs that pop up.

          5. I don't think so. Many applications are just personal income to their creators such as Xpadder. Though you're obviously on the hook to report your income properly.

          6. Use Paypal. You don't want to have to set up your own eCommerce back end and Paypal already has all possible payment methods integrated into it. Using Xpadder as an example again, when you pay for Xpadder you literally pay straight into his personal Paypal account.

          From Paypal you can then transfer any income to whichever bank account(s) you'd like.

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