In this episode, I, Tiago, an indie maker and entrepreneur, share my journey and the challenges I face in navigating the business side of things. From setting up a company to handling taxes and hiring professionals, there's a lot to learn. I discuss the lack of discussion around these less glamorous aspects and the fear of making mistakes. I also share my hiring process for a community manager, emphasizing the importance of trust and fit. Plus, I contemplate the need for a lawyer to define contract terms. Tune in for all the insights!LinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBuy WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterTimestampsThe phase of adulthood [00:01:24]Tiago discusses the different phases of a business's life, comparing it to the stages of a person's life.Setting up a company and address [00:04:53]Tiago talks about the challenges of setting up a company, including the decision of what address to use and the option of a virtual office.The frustration of bureaucratic tasks [00:09:07]Tiago expresses frustration with the bureaucratic tasks involved in running a business, such as finding the right services, interviewing professionals, and dealing with taxes.The hiring process [00:12:26]Tiago discusses his first ever hiring process and the importance of finding the right person for the role.Understanding wealth and taxes [00:16:30]Tiago reflects on his changing definition of wealth and the realization that minimizing profits can reduce taxes.The importance of understanding taxes [00:23:35]Tiago emphasizes the significance of understanding the tax system as an entrepreneur and how it can lead to success.

Have you ever wondered how success can change a person? In this episode, I'll be reflecting on this concept, and using I'll be sharing my own experiences with success through my company, PodSqueeze. From childhood dreams of being an entrepreneur to taking my profession seriously, I'll discuss the impact success has had on me. We'll also touch on the challenges of building a company, including tax considerations and the possibility of starting a business in a country with lower taxes. Managing taxes and expenses properly is crucial for scalability and growth.LinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBuy WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterTimestampsSuccess and Change [00:01:23]Discussion on why people change with success, using Elon Musk as an example.Validation of Success [00:03:52]The narrator's experience of how success has changed their interactions and engagement on social media.Pursuing Dreams [00:10:19]The narrator's journey of pursuing entrepreneurship as a dream and how it changed their perspective on their career path.The coping mechanism of coding at the beach [00:12:29]The speaker discusses how they used to feel anxious about not being productive during beach holidays and how they started using coding as a coping mechanism.Accepting and embracing their entrepreneurial personality [00:13:31]The speaker talks about gaining confidence in their way of seeing life and accepting their entrepreneurial personality, despite being different from others.Challenges and frustrations of building a company [00:17:42]The speaker shares their frustrations with the managerial and organizational aspects of building a company, including decision-making, meetings, and dealing with taxes.The tax deductions dilemma [00:24:14]Explains the difference in expenses that can be deducted in a company and the gray areas surrounding deducting business trips.Challenges of starting a company in Portugal [00:26:22]Discusses frustrations and delays in registering a company name in Portugal, highlighting the need for change.Hiring a community manager [00:28:22]Shares the process of hiring a community manager, including receiving video applications and the excitement of having someone to help manage the community.

In this episode, I'll be sharing my recent experiences with my business partner and landlord. From struggles with onboarding business partners who seemed to take control of the conversation, it's been quite a journey. I'll also be discussing my personal experience with our rented flat in Lisbon. Join me as I reflect on these experiences, contemplate changes to my business model, and invite your suggestions. Let's dive in!LinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBuy WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterTimestampsTrying to find a business partner [00:02:40]Tiago discusses his experience with trying to onboard business partners to sell their product, but it hasn't been successful so far.Concerns about a potential business partner [00:03:51]Tiago and Joe discuss their conversation with a potential business partner from France and express concerns about losing control of their company and lifestyle.Unexpected housing situation [00:07:05]Tiago shares his experience of renting a flat in Lisbon and how their landlord unexpectedly refused to renew their contract, leading to the realization of the importance of trust in business dealings.Tiago's Thoughts on the Community [00:11:56]Tiago discusses the purpose of the community and whether it should focus on making friends or providing value.Considering a Change in Business Model [00:13:00]Tiago contemplates changing the subscription-based business model to a one-time payment model for the community.Exploring New Ideas for Monetization [00:14:51]Tiago explores the idea of converting his guides into an ebook and potentially creating a fund for indie hackers.

In this podcast episode, Tiago interviews Tony Dinh, a successful indie hacker, about the challenges and goals of running an indie company. They discuss their own experiences and the importance of finding the right co-founder. They also talk about the different phases of being an indie hacker and the goals that come with each phase. Tony shares his approach to design and marketing, while Tiago talks about his transition from struggling to finding success with his startup. They also discuss profitability margins, lifestyle priorities, hiring freelancers, managing tasks and deadlines, and competing with bigger players in the industry.Tony Dinh TwitterTony's NewsletterLinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBut WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterTimestampsThe challenges of running an indie company [00:01:12]Tiago discusses his challenges of running an indie company, including hiring and setting goals.Finding product-market fit and gaining credibility [00:02:17]Tiago and Tony discuss the importance of finding product-market fit and how it can lead to credibility and success.The different phases of being an indie hacker [00:09:08]Tiago and Tony talk about the roller coaster journey of being an indie hacker and the different phases and goals that come with it.The profitability margins [00:12:03]Discussion about the profitability margins of the company and the impact of having employees on revenue.Goals as an indie hacker [00:12:40]Discussion about short-term and medium-term goals as an indie hacker, including reaching the level of other successful indie hackers.Prioritizing lifestyle over money [00:15:32]Discussion about the preference for a lifestyle with more freedom and independence over having a lot of money.The hiring process and working with freelancers [00:23:17]Discussion on the benefits of hiring freelancers, the types of tasks they can handle, and the decision-making process of when to hire them.Trusting freelancers and managing their hours [00:28:10]Exploration of the trust factor in hiring freelancers, giving them access to code, and managing their hours and invoicing.Transitioning a freelancer to a full-time employee [00:30:07]The process of hiring a freelancer as a full-time employee, starting with a specific role and expanding their responsibilities based on their skills and willingness to help.No deadlines [00:34:05]Discussion on the absence of deadlines in the company and how tasks are allocated and managed without them.Managing freedom and goals [00:36:41]Exploration of the paradox of wanting to achieve goals and beat competitors while maintaining freedom and not setting deadlines.Dealing with competition [00:41:14]Discussion on how the speaker manages competition and believes there is still a place for their product in the market.Links and MentionsMarketing:Product Hunt: 00:06:02Twitter: 00:06:02Instagram: 00:06:02Communication and Task Management:Telegram: 00:34:47Linear: 00:35:13Slack: 00:43:45References:My First Million podcast: 00:36:54

Is money a synonym for success? I'm thrilled to announce that we've reached a milestone of $10,000 in revenue. Plus, I recently bought a used car and the response on Twitter was amazing. Join me as I discuss the importance of freedom over money for indie makers and explore a potential product idea for a search engine for podcast episodes. I'll also reflect on my growth as an entrepreneur and how success has changed my self-perception. Lastly, I invite you to join our community and share this podcast with others in the indie maker community. Let's connect and learn together!LinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBut WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterTimestampsThe milestone celebration [00:02:13]Tiago discusses reaching a significant milestone of $10,000 in revenue and plans to celebrate with a special dinner.Twitter monetization rumors [00:05:31]Tiago talks about the recent buzz on Twitter about content creators getting paid and their own experience with trying to monetize their account.Imposter syndrome and the journey of an indie company [00:09:50]Tiago reflects on their imposter syndrome and the mixed feelings about the future of their company, sharing insights from interviews with other successful entrepreneurs.Freedom vs Money [00:10:49]Tiago discusses the importance of freedom over money and asks the audience to choose between working hard for $1 million or having full freedom with less money.Creating a Podcast Search Engine [00:11:58]Tiago shares their idea of creating a search engine for podcasts to make it easier to find specific episodes and discusses using OpenAI's embeddings for smart searches.Building a Search Engine for Podcasts" [00:13:55]Tiago explains the benefits of having a search engine for podcasts and the potential for creating a landing page for each episode, while acknowledging the challenges of monetizing the idea.Tiago's self-confidence and validation [00:21:22]Tiago reflects on how their self-confidence and ego have changed with success, and how they are now seen as a reference by others.The stages of believing in a dream [00:22:29]Tiago discusses the stages of believing in a dream, from thinking it's impossible to realizing it's possible through persistence and hard work.The importance of passion and challenging oneself [00:27:03]Tiago emphasizes the importance of passion and challenging oneself, sharing examples of successful individuals who continue to work hard and pursue their passions despite already achieving financial success.MentionsChangeit app: 00:00:12Twitter: 00:05:31GPT-4: 00:07:38OpenAI: 00:11:58, 00:13:00Trello: 00:10:49Spotify: 00:11:58Wagyu beef: 00:14:57Coldplay Concert: 00:24:39 - 00:25:54Community for Entrepreneurs: 00:27:03

Have you ever wondered about human achievements, societal norms, and different lifestyles? Today, I'll be reflecting on these topics, specifically in the context of indie hacking. I'll also share my thoughts on two inspiring documentaries that showcase individuals living extraordinary lives, and question why society often discourages deviating from the norm. We'll then dive into my own indie hacking journey, discussing my product, PodSqueeze, and the challenges I faced with fake accounts. I'll touch on my involvement in a community project and share my thoughts on changing the monetization model. Finally, I'll discuss my lack of motivation and energy for certain projects, emphasizing the importance of quitting something that no longer brings joy.Try UserDesk For FreeLuca's TwitterLinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBut WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterTimestampsThe discovery of a new exoplanet [00:00:12]Tiago discusses the recent discovery of a new exoplanet and how humans were able to find it by studying a star.Societal norms and expectations [00:01:39]Tiago explores why most people live life in a similar manner, attributing it to social norms and the pursuit of growth and power in Western societies.Different lifestyles and admiration for extraordinary individuals [00:04:15]Tiago reflects on the fascination with individuals who live different lifestyles, such as chefs turned travelers and mountaineers, and how they are celebrated despite societal pressure to conform.The competition and fake accounts issue [00:14:15]Tiago discusses their desire to see their project grow and the annoyance of fake accounts.Changing restrictions on free users [00:15:16]Tiago explains the decision to limit certain features to paid users to combat the issue of fake accounts.Reducing customer support and implementing AI agent [00:18:50]Tiago talks about implementing features to reduce the need for customer support, including creating folders and an unsubscribe button, as well as introducing an AI agent for customer support.Lack of motivation and considering giving up [00:26:50]Tiago discusses their lack of motivation to work on certain projects and considers giving up on them.Quitting is not a failure [00:27:45]Tiago emphasizes that quitting or giving up on something is not a failure, but rather a natural part of life and pursuing other interests.Promotion of user desk and call for feedback [00:28:47]Tiago mentions user desk and encourages listeners to check it out, providing a link in the show notes. They also mention that feedback would be appreciated and provide contact information for the creator.Mentions with timestamps:Exoplanet: 00:00:12Netflix: 00:04:15Anthony Bourdain: 00:05:48"The Alpinist": 00:05:48Elon Musk: 00:07:04Mr. Beast: 00:07:04Casey Neistat: 00:07:04Obama: 00:07:04Taekwondo: 00:10:51Tony Dinh: 00:13:10PodSqueeze: 00:14:15ChatGPT: 00:18:50User Desk: 00:21:20Notion: 00:21:20User Desk website: 00:21:20Luca's products: 00:21:20User Desk.io: 00:21:20User Desk: 00:28:47Luca's Twitter: 00:28:47Tiago's Twitter: 00:28:47

Have you ever participated in a quiz with friends and suddenly realized how little general knowledge you actually have? That's exactly what happened to me recently. So, I've decided to study flags to improve my knowledge in that area. On another note, I'm really passionate about sailing, but navigating the strong tides and currents of the river in Lisbon can be quite challenging. It has taught me the importance of patience and waiting, which I find parallels with my entrepreneurial journey. While I'm grateful for the stability in my business, I'm also yearning for something new and dreaming of creating a collaborative working environment.LinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBut WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterTimestampsParticipating in quizzes [00:00:12]Tiago's recent quiz participation with friends, their two wins, and his realization of his lack of general knowledge.Studying flags [00:01:25]Tiago's interest in flag study, noticing design patterns across regions, and the idea of a sitcom about friends bonding over quizzes.Sailing and dealing with tides [00:03:39]Tiago's passion for sailing, challenges of strong tides in Lisbon river, and a recent experience sailing against the tide, emphasizing patience and waiting for change.Tiago's mindset shift and embracing stability in his entrepreneurial journey [00:11:37]Tiago's desire for something new and creating a positive work environment [00:12:41]Tiago's dream of collaborating with other indie hackers and potential plans for a co-working space [00:14:55]

Hey there! Have you ever wondered what it's like to reach a major milestone in your startup? Well, in this episode, I'm excited to share with you the recent achievement of my own startup, Pod Squeeze, hitting $100,000 in annual revenue. But it's not all smooth sailing. I'll be diving into the challenges we faced, including a decline in monthly recurring revenue and a 20% churn rate. To combat this, I'll be discussing the introduction of yearly plans with a discount. Join me as I reflect on the financial implications and potential valuation of the company. Plus, I'll be sharing an awkward moment with my co-founder and the valuable lesson I learned about navigating disagreements and leveraging each person's expertise. Tune in as I highlight the importance of discussions and compromises in co-founder relationships.LinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBut WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterMentionsTools, websites, links, books, and videos mentioned in the podcast episode:Twitter: 00:01:24, 00:10:40Podsqueeze: 00:01:24, 00:13:47, 00:14:49, 00:16:04, 00:17:07, 00:18:20, 00:19:30Stripe: 00:04:01Descript: 00:14:49Zen Caster: 00:14:49Spotify: 00:14:49AppSumo: 00:18:20TimestampsImplementing features to mitigate churn [00:02:48]Discussion on the implementation of features to understand and mitigate the 20% churn rate.Introducing yearly plans [00:06:06]Explaining the decision to introduce yearly subscription plans and the initial success of attracting subscribers.First yearly agency plan [00:09:21]Excitement over the first agency plan subscription, with a user committing to pay $1300 upfront for the product.Reaching $100,000 in annual revenue and the potential valuation of the company [00:10:40]Tiago discusses the recent milestone of his startup, Pod Squeeze, reaching $100,000 in annual revenue and speculates on the potential valuation of the company.Comparing the financial benefits of entrepreneurship to a 9 to 5 job [00:11:46]Tiago compares the financial benefits of running his own company and potentially selling it to the salary he could make in a 9 to 5 job.Considering the possibility of selling Pod Squeeze and the reasons behind it [00:13:47]Tiago discusses the advice he received from a friend about selling Pod Squeeze, the competitive nature of the industry, and the potential threats from big companies creating similar products.Navigating Awkward Moments in a Partnership [00:20:42]Tiago discusses the challenges of navigating awkward moments and the importance of growth in a partnership.Managing Expectations and Autonomy [00:21:54]Tiago reflects on his initial desire for his co-founder to focus solely on their startup and the need for both of them to have autonomy in their respective roles.Defining Roles and Trust in a Co-founder [00:24:25]Tiago discusses the importance of defining roles and trusting each other's expertise in order to make their startup succeed.

In this episode of my podcast, "Wannabe Entrepreneur," I share some valuable insights on the challenges and realities of being an indie hacker. As an indie hacker myself, I understand the importance of finding a balance between financial stability and pursuing your passion. I discuss the need to sometimes take on freelance work to make ends meet and the importance of having a side job to support oneself while pursuing indie hacking.I also share success stories from the indie community, including Luca, who was able to make money from his indie project and eventually sell his company. I finish by telling our tale to find the perfect API transcription provider for Podsqueeze.LinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBut WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterMentionsDagobert's tweet about quitting his startupTimestampsIndie News [00:02:40]Tiago talks about the recent shutdown of indie startup Legality by Dagobert and the challenges of being an indie hacker.Success and the Indie Lifestyle [00:08:16]Tiago reflects on the ups and downs of being an indie hacker and how success is not a happy ever after, but a lifestyle with its own perks and downsides.Tiago's Freelance Gig [00:09:32]Tiago discusses how being an indie hacker is a lifestyle and how he has taken on a freelance gig to help pay the bills.The Importance of a Side Job [00:10:36]Tiago discusses the importance of having a side job as an indie hacker to reduce anxiety and boost ego.Iterating and Dropping Projects [00:14:06]Tiago emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind and being flexible as an indie hacker, iterating and dropping projects that do not have early success.Finding a New Transcription Provider [00:17:24]Tiago shares the story of finding a new transcription provider for his podcast, negotiating prices and testing different providers before making a decision.Transcription Issues [00:20:27]Tiago discusses the challenges of finding a reliable transcription service for his podcast and the issues he faced with different providers.Vacation and Revenue Drop [00:28:46]Tiago talks about his recent vacation and the challenges of being an indie hacker, including a drop in monthly recurring income due to a big client churning.Decreasing Churn [00:30:00]Tiago discusses implementing annual plans and working on ways to decrease churn in order to improve revenue for his indie startup.Tiago's plans for the future [00:30:59]Tiago discusses his desire to replicate the success of his current project, Pod Squeeze, and his plans to learn more about marketing and scaling through interviews.Podcast growth and call to action [00:32:00]Tiago shares the growth of his podcast and encourages listeners to share it with friends and join his community for indie makers.Unusual company training in the US [00:33:06]Tiago briefly mentions the need for active shooter training in some US companies.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to sell or acquire a company in the indie scene? In this podcast episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Simon, the founder of Feedhive, and Yossi, the founder of Tiny Kiwi, as they discuss the acquisition of Tiny Kiwi by Feedhive. We delve into the process of selling and acquiring a company in the indie market, as well as the benefits and challenges of being an indie entrepreneur. We also touch on the importance of balancing work and personal life. Tune in for valuable insights into the world of indie entrepreneurship and the potential for growth in the market.Simon's TwitterYossi's TwitterLinksTry PodSqueezeJoin The WBE CommunitySponsor the podcastBut WBE MerchBuy The Bootstrapper's GuideDM me on TwitterTimestampsIntroduction [00:00:12]The host introduces the guests, Simon and Yossi, and explains that they will be discussing the acquisition of Tiny Kiwi by Feedier.Selling a company in the indie scene [00:02:32]The host and Yossi discuss the market of selling a company in the indie scene and how it differs from the startup and VC scene.Yossi's background and shift to indie hacking [00:05:36]Yossi talks about his background as a developer and his shift to indie hacking, inspired by the Building Public community on Twitter.Indie Founder Stories [00:10:13]The speakers discuss the toxic starts of good founder stories and the importance of setting your own rules as an indie founder.Managing Work Addiction [00:14:53]The speakers discuss the potential for work addiction as an indie founder and how they manage their work-life balance.Description of Tiny Kiwi [00:18:00]Simon describes Tiny Kiwi as a minimalistic and easy-to-use image editing tool for creating beautiful designs quickly.Building Tiny Kiwi [00:18:51]Yossi describes the inspiration behind building Tiny Kiwi as a tool for indie developers to share beautiful screenshots of their work quickly and with more control.Selling Tiny Kiwi [00:21:11]Yossi explains how he decided to sell Tiny Kiwi to Feedier after realizing he no longer had the time to work on it. He also discusses his lack of experience in selling companies.Attachment to Products [00:25:24]Yossi and Simon discuss the emotional attachment that comes with building and selling a product, as well as the different levels of attachment when buying a product. They also discuss the impact of having paying customers on the attachment to a product.The Canva Integration [00:27:55]Simon and Yossi discuss their failed attempts to integrate Canva into Feedier and their search for an alternative tool, which led them to Kello/Vista Create.Brand Bird Integration [00:32:14]The founders discuss their experience integrating Brand Bird into Feedier and the challenges they faced with users having to pay for the tool separately.Acquiring Tiny Kiwi [00:34:39]Simon and Yossi discuss the acquisition of Tiny Kiwi by Feedier and how it solved a problem for Feedier's image creation tool.Trust in the Acquisition [00:36:37]Yossi and Simon discuss the process of selling and acquiring a company in the indie scene, and the importance of trust in the process.Code Quality Concerns [00:38:09]Yossi expresses concerns about the quality of his code and the potential for negative feedback from Simon, while Simon discusses his expectations for the tech stack and code quality.Importance of Code Manageability [00:43:09]Simon discusses the importance of code manageability and compatibility with his team's tech stack, while also acknowledging the functionality and usability of Tiny Kiwi's code.Tech stack for indie makers [00:46:11]Yossi discusses the tech stack used for Tiny Kiwi, including Next.js with React, JavaScript, and Superbase, and how it was deployed on Digital Ocean.Choosing a tech stack for acquisition [00:49:33]Simon and the host discuss the importance of choosing a tech stack that is matchable and easy to migrate when acquiring a company, and the advice for indie makers building products to consider using a generic tech stack.Due diligence in the acquisition process [00:52:02]Yossi talks about the due diligence process in the acquisition, including sharing access to the Github repository and the nervousness he felt about showing the actual code.The Sale Process [00:53:52]Yossi and Simon discuss the process of selling and acquiring a company in the indie scene, including the potential for deal breakers and the excitement of the experience.Managing Multiple Priorities [00:57:43]Simon discusses the stress of managing multiple priorities, including the acquisition of Tiny Kiwi, while also launching a new tool and dealing with personal life events.Indie Community and Acquisitions [01:02:11]The host discusses the increasing trend of indie companies being sold for large sums of money and what it means for the indie community.The Indie Market [01:02:58]Discussion on the indie market of selling and buying side projects, including marketplaces like MicroAcquire and Site Projects, and the potential for indie makers to build and sell profitable products.Acquiring Tiny Kiwi [01:06:22]Simon discusses the process of acquiring Tiny Kiwi, including the challenge of transferring subscriptions from Paddle to Stripe, and the value of the acquisition even if the company was not profitable.The Future of Indie Acquisitions [01:08:34]Simon and Yossi discuss the evolution of the indie community and the potential for small bootstrapped indie companies to acquire other small bootstrap tools, pointing towards a future where indie acquisitions become more common.The Indie Community [01:12:56]The host discusses the indie community and its growth, mentioning some well-known names in the community.Selling and Acquiring Companies [01:12:07]Simon and Yossi discuss the process of selling and acquiring a company in the indie scene.Consider Selling Your Project [01:14:38]The host encourages listeners to consider selling their projects if they are feeling tired or want to build something else, and mentions platforms that allow for selling SaaS.Links & MentionsGithub Gist (mentioned by Simon at 00:41:37)Symfony (mentioned by Tiago at 00:46:11)Next.js with React (mentioned by Yossi at 00:46:20)JavaScript (mentioned by Yossi at 00:46:20)Database and authentication with Superbase (mentioned by Yossi at 00:46:20)Plausible for analytics (mentioned by Yossi at 00:46:20)Digital Ocean (mentioned by Yossi at 00:46:40)AWS (mentioned by Simon at 00:47:06)Google Cloud Platform (mentioned by Simon at 00:47:06)Palomi (mentioned by Simon at 00:47:06)GraphQL (mentioned by Simon at 00:47:06)Firebase (mentioned by Simon at 00:47:06)TypeScript (mentioned by Simon at 00:49:03)Svelte (mentioned by Simon at 00:51:29)Micro Acquire (marketplace for buying and selling companies) - mentioned at 01:02:58Site Projects IO (marketplace for buying and selling side projects) - mentioned at 01:02:58Paddle (tool for managing subscriptions) - mentioned at 01:06:22Stripe (tool for managing payments) - mentioned at 01:06:22Upwork (platform for outsourcing work) - mentioned at 01:09:25Fiverr (platform for outsourcing work) - mentioned at 01:09:25