from Hacker News

Ask HN: Can someone help me prepare to launch my side project?

by wombat-man on 6/12/24, 11:21 PM with 2 comments

This is an application for windows made with Windows Forms.

This is my first time working on a windows client project, I started out by noodling around in Visual Studio and found that building an app with Windows Forms is pretty fun. It's progressed to the point that I think I could have something shippable around the end of the year. I am mostly building it for fun, but I think I may as well charge for it, and so I have questions.

> Windows specific: I don't really want to worry about product keys and running my own website to sell licenses. I think I want to sell it on the Microsoft Store for an annual subscription fee. Is there some reason why this is a bad idea? I'd love to hear from people who have done this before.

> I'm going to have business expenses soon, and hopefully revenues. Since it's just me, should I simply log them in a spreadsheet and file it with my personal taxes? I'd be interested in hearing from anyone selling their own apps.

> Anything else I should be thinking about at this stage?

  • by ungreased0675 on 6/12/24, 11:37 PM

    My advice is to keep it super simple.

    Can you release it with less features before the end of the year? What business expenses are absolutely necessary? Can you get anyone to pre-pay?