Unfortunately, many people think that just because they can use some product or service, they think they could do it better. They tell their friends they''re going to start their own business and be a millionaire within the next year.
As someone who''s been in their own companies for decades, I can tell you one simple truth about business: Just because you can build something does not make it a product.
If it were that easy, every person alive would have their own business, and we''d all be rich beyond our dreams. The Field of Dreams script, "Build it, and they will come," is total garbage.
Making something production-ready includes having it built, shipping, customer support, documentation, accounting services, payroll services, shipping or electronic delivery services, billing services, a sales and marketing website, and a slew of other things.
It is NOT easy! It requires the owner(s) to typically be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
My previous business dealt with selling products made by other companies. That required us to have a 12,000 sq ft building. That means insurance for the building, cleaning services, maintenance for the air conditioning equipment, cleaning services, and a staff of people who work in the building. Since we had employees, that meant paying IRS as well as local taxes, employee liability insurance, making sure we had usable bathrooms, and that they were regularly cleaned, parking, etc.
If you think you can start a one-man company and do everything yourself, you''re fooling yourself. Even the person who creates a mobile app to be sold using an app store still has a slew of other things they need to do. Support, accounting, business taxes, etc. You still will need a CPA firm for your taxes. And trust me: If you''re really a coder, you do not want to be doing customer support during every spare minute you have.
If you think you can sell a product and not have customer support, you''re delusional! If you think you''ll never need to update, upgrade, or enhance your product, you''re probably 15 years old and have never had your own company. :-)
There''s a reason most companies fail in the first year: it''s hard. And, until you own your own business, you have no clue what it takes. If you took a business class or even graduated with a business degree, you''ve only touched the surface of what you need to know.
So, if you''re thinking about starting your own business to sell a product or service, first talk to and work with someone who''s done it and is successful. Find a mentor who can help you through the labyrinth of laws and regulations associated with owning a business. Otherwise, plan to fail because you will.
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