Starter Story This ultra-simple app makes $8,500 per month | Starter Story
Oct 8, 2025
Discover the story behind a profitable app that converts HTML to PDF and rakes in $8,500 a month. Uncover the secrets of its success, including a user-friendly design and a clever, usage-based pricing model. Learn how targeted marketing strategies are driving user engagement and attracting paying customers. This app showcases the power of simplicity in creating a revenue-generating tool that meets a real need.
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Simple App Example: HTML-To-PDF Service
- PDFShift.io is a tiny service that converts HTML to PDF via an API and generates steady revenue.
- The founder drives customers by answering niche questions about PDFs on Quora and converting them into long-term users.
Usage Pricing Meets Niche Search Demand
- Usage-based pricing lets small API services scale revenue as customers consume more PDFs.
- Niche search intent (people asking how to convert HTML to PDF) provides high-quality, motivated leads.
Small Product, Big Recurring Revenue
- Even ultra-simple backend services can earn meaningful recurring revenue with the right niche fit.
- A small number of high-usage customers can generate a large share of monthly income.