So I really want to start a business. I have 2 clear options, option 1 I can get my dad to teach me how to install blinds and start my own blinds company from there (window blinds btw). He had his own company but it failed, i think due to lack of advertising and I tried to get him to spend some money on fb ads but he wasn't about it.
option 2 I'm currently teaching myself python and in 9 months I'll start a computer science degree at uni. the goal for this business would be to develop some kind of software by identifying a problem and niching down.
the trouble I'm facing is that I know blinds will be easier to start making money and reach a 7 figure mark, but it will be hard to take the business to an 8-9 figure mark. Whereas if the software route works out it has a much higher chance of reaching those types of numbers. This is where my problem lies, I know in reality I probably won't need that much money and the blinds business would b3 objectively better. it's just that for so long I've been working and motivating myself with that 9 figure goal, it's really what I want to hit even though i know it'll probably make little to no difference.
so yeah what do you guys think.
Blinds business vs software business
byu/No_Concert_2696 inEntrepreneur
Posted by No_Concert_2696
10 Comments
Do bofe bro. Do bofe.
You have basically 0 chance of making 8 figures in software. likely the same with blinds.
What’s the cost to install blinds? Average price of blinds is next to nothing and it takes 5 minutes to install. This seems like a taskrabbit type job, like installing TVs and such so not really sure there’s a market anymore.
Custom blinds are $300 tops for smart motorized
you have no idea what you want to do software wise other than “develop some kind of software”. Why don’t you start installing blinds on the side while you figure it out?
Software can mean a lot. If you sell SAP implementations to Fortune 500 companies you made it with one client. Thinking you can build a saas company and scale it to 8 figures “has more chance” than selling and installing blinds is quite naive. I’ve read about 10.000 posts here on Reddit from all the SAAS entrepreneurs (selling almost nothing), and you’re the first post where I read about starting a business in selling and installing blinds. I would go for the latter.
You’re going to spend time learning coding, thinking of an idea, validating the idea, building the idea and then selling the idea for the software – this is going to take a very long time. At least with the blinds you already know what you’re doing, potentially have clients and contacts (from your dad) and you’ll be making money in no time. It’s a no brainer.
You are not going to make 7 figures in software. You can get a great job coding, buy indie software developers 90%+ fail at doing anything that even makes 6 figures year let alone 5.
And there a many fantastic developers out there with decades of experience and more each day.
Do the blinds, grow it into a scalable business with a secure future. If you want 8 figures go play the lottery.
If you think you would have an edge in the blinds business thanks to your dad’s knowledge and contacts in the industry, it might be a wise idea to start with that, and test your theory that the lack of advertisement was the reason his business wasn’t successful. If you can build a profitable business, you could always sell it if you’d rather pivot into software.
In the meantime, if you think of a software idea while doing that, write it down. As a matter of fact, write down all of the ideas in a journal. Build on them from time to time, and when you find one that you can test and prove is-
Desirable (people want or need it)
Feasible (you have the skills or help available to build it)
Viable (people are willing to pay you more than it costs you to deliver it to them)
You can then have the resources to put into that idea to scale it.
At the end of the day, it comes down to one thing, what do you enjoy, and what makes you happy? Are you willing to take the risk for the what if? If you’re young, trying a software project is fine and you won’t have regrets later. But if you enjoy installing blinds, like your dad taught you, the answer might already be there. You could even start the blinds business while building your software on the side, like going to uni with a part-time job. Two birds, one stone.
You could probably take home (discretionary earnings) up to $300k if you get really good, which is not bad. Not sure where you live but if it’s near a big city, you’d be best to focus on very high end homeowners. High end homes can easily spend $100k on blinds. If you are selling the blinds, even better, as they will usually have a 100% markup. Then you market to interior designers and builders. Contrary to what someone else said, the builder does not want to get involved in this. Which trade will do it – the rough carpenter? The drywall guys? The trim carpenter? Blinds are a pain in the ass.
However the high end builder and interior designer already have someone they like working with – you have to break in which usually means waiting until one of their providers screws up and being top-of-mind for them to call you and give you a shot. Then you can never screw up (or you need to make it right), else you will face the same fate.
Source: worked with high end builders, designers, and blinds installers for 11 years.
I also have just created an app – let me tell you it’s extremely hard to do that too. If it were easy everyone would do it.
Good luck either way.
Your chances of growing a software business into 8 or 9 figures are much much much smaller than the blinds business into 7.