couple months ago i was just annoyed cause every time i needed to book a bus here in the balkans it was this whole offline mess. you either had to go to the station, call some random number, or just hope the bus actually shows up. nothing online, nothing simple.
i got tired of it and thought screw it, i’ll just try building my own thing. wasn’t even thinking it would become a “startup” or whatever, i just wanted to make booking easier for myself and maybe a few friends.
fast forward a bit, people actually started using it. last month it pulled in like $980 in revenue and honestly i still can’t believe it. seeing real people paying for something i hacked together to solve my own problem feels unreal.
kinda crazy how sometimes the best ideas are just the annoying everyday problems we deal with ourselves.
from frustration to 1k/month: how scratching my own itch turned into a business
byu/Knuckleclot inEntrepreneur
Posted by Knuckleclot
3 Comments
Ok but how and which is the app?
I am also in the balkans and know exactly what you are talking about. Most of these companies never answer phone or email. Would like to know more, you can just dm if you don’t wish to share at all
Dang, that’s gotta feel really rewarding after all the hassle you went through with bus booking. But the fact that you turned that frustration into a real tool people are actually paying for shows you’re already thinking like someone who’s going to figure this stuff out and make a genuine impact. It’s a clear sign you’re onto something meaningful by solving a problem you personally experienced.
One quick insight is how powerful it is to scratch your own itch instead of chasing ideas you think others want. That mindset shift from external validation to internal need creates something authentic and much easier to iterate on. If I were to suggest a simple next step, it’d be to grab a quick habit of tracking small user feedback or usage moments daily. Maybe just jot one note about what surprised you or what feels off every day. That low-commitment habit can keep you connected to real needs without feeling overwhelmed, and it can spark ideas for simple improvements that build trust in yourself and for your product.
Keep building that momentum by celebrating those tiny wins and sharing stories of how your tool genuinely makes life easier for people. If you hit plateaus, reflect on what feels hard or scary and ask yourself what tweaks feel possible rather than what feels ideal. Building a business is like planting seeds and watering the soil consistently, not magic overnight. With experience as an entrepreneur coach, helping folks turn ideas into real, sustainable hustle is what I do and if you ever want tips or to brainstorm next steps, I’ve got you. Keep pushing, you’re definitely on a great path.
Austin Erkl – Entrepreneur Coach
This is awesome 👏. Love how it started from just solving your own headache and turned into something people actually pay for. Almost a grand a month already is huge for something that began as a side hustle, proving that everyday problems can be the best business ideas. Congrats, man, keep pushing!