Ask HN: Which is the most successful one-person business you heard of in 2019?

Article summary

The article asks about the most successful one-person businesses, with the author mentioning their friend's mobile app that generates $30-50k per year. The discussion that follows shares other examples of successful solo ventures. One commenter shares their experience of creating a SaaS product for a specific company, resulting in a $100k/year contract. Another example mentioned is Drew DeVault's SourceHut, a set of developer collaboration tools.

Main themes

• one-person businesses
• SaaS products
• cultural differences
• family financial support
• welfare systems
• price negotiation
• problem identification
• moral obligations

What commenters say

• Some people believe that finding problems companies don't know they have and offering solutions can be a lucrative business opportunity.
• Replacing existing processes, such as Excel documents, with web apps can be a successful strategy for one-person businesses.
• Cultural differences play a significant role in determining whether individuals prioritize helping their families financially or keeping their wealth to themselves.
• Having a strong welfare system can reduce the need for individuals to support their families financially, but many still choose to do so out of a sense of responsibility or gratitude.
• Negotiating prices based on the value provided by a solution can be an effective way to secure contracts and generate revenue.
• Identifying potential opportunities in companies' systems and processes requires careful listening and understanding of their needs and pain points.
• Some argue that it is a moral obligation to help one's family financially, especially in cases where they have made sacrifices for the individual's benefit.
• Others believe that keeping wealth to oneself is not inherently wrong, especially in societies with strong social safety nets.