Turn Your Code into Income by Building and Selling Products
Leverage your development skills to build products, dev tools, templates, or plugins that generate recurring or one-time income.
What Does It Mean to Build and Sell Products?
Instead of trading time for money, you build something once and earn recurring money. Developer products can be:
Micro-SaaS apps
Chrome browser extensions
Plugins (WordPress, VS Code, Salesforce etc.)
Boilerplate templates (React, Tailwind, Notion)
Automation scripts
Dev tools and paid APIs
You don't need to raise funding as these are small, self-sustaining products designed for solo devs.
Why Choose This Path?
Scalable income
Earn while you sleep
Creative freedom
Solve real problems your way
Utilize existing skills
Build with stacks you already know
Learn business by doing
Real-world UX, pricing, and marketing
Build your portfolio or asset base
Can even be sold later
How to Get Started (Step-by-Step)
Identify a small pain point
Use your own dev experience or check forums (Reddit, Twitter, IndieHackers) for common complaints.
Validate the idea
Post a tweet, comment in a forum, or ask: "Would this save you time?"
Build an MVP in 7–21 days
Focus on the core functionality. Skip extras.
Publish a simple landing page
Use Carrd, Notion, or a minimal React page. Collect emails or offer early access.
Launch and iterate
Use Product Hunt, Twitter/X, Reddit, or dev communities to get feedback and first users.
Ways You Can Make Money
Skills You'll Need (and How to Build Them)
Tools & Platforms
Download the Product Starter Kit
This free Notion guide includes everything you need to start building your developer product:
- 5 validated product ideas
- MVP scoping template
- Launch checklist
- Pricing calculator
FAQs
Do I need to be a full-stack dev?
Not necessarily — you can build no-code or low-code products, or partner with others.
What if I don't have an idea?
Start by solving one of your own annoyances. Check Reddit, GitHub issues, or X for dev pain points.
How much can I realistically make?
$50–$2,000/month is common for micro-products. Some scale far beyond with consistent updates and marketing.
What's the biggest mistake beginners make?
Overbuilding. Focus on a single feature that saves time or removes a hassle.
How do I balance this with a full-time job?
Start with just 5-10 hours per week. Set clear boundaries, use time-blocking techniques, and focus on small, achievable milestones. Many successful products were built in evenings and weekends.
How do I price my product?
Research competitors but don't just copy them. Consider the value you provide (time saved, problems solved) and price accordingly. Most indie devs underprice their products. Start higher than you think—you can always offer discounts later.
What about legal considerations?
At minimum, have Terms of Service and a Privacy Policy. Consider forming an LLC for liability protection. For SaaS products, look into SOC 2 compliance as you grow. Use services like Stripe Atlas or Clerky to handle the paperwork.
How do I market my product with no audience?
Start by creating helpful content where your users hang out (Reddit, Twitter, Discord communities). Launch on Product Hunt. Consider cold outreach to potential users for feedback. Partner with complementary products for cross-promotion.
How do I handle customer support as a solo dev?
Set clear expectations about support hours. Create thorough documentation and FAQs to reduce common questions. Use tools like Intercom or a simple Typeform for support tickets. As you grow, consider hiring part-time help.
What tech stack should I use?
Use what you know best to ship faster. For most web products, a modern stack like Next.js + Tailwind + Supabase/Firebase works well. Prioritize technologies that let you iterate quickly and have good documentation.
How do I know when to quit my job?
When your product consistently generates 50-70% of your current salary for 3+ months, it might be time to consider going full-time. Have 6-12 months of runway saved, and a clear plan for growth before making the leap.
What if someone copies my idea?
Ideas are common; execution is rare. Focus on building relationships with your users and iterating quickly. Your unique perspective and connection with customers will be your competitive advantage, not the idea itself.
Zero→MVP in 90 Days
Build Your SaaS Idea into a Market-Ready MVP in 90 Days!
Download the ultimate step-by-step guide to building your SaaS app from scratch. You'll also receive a free bonus—the Ultimate SaaS MVP Planning Notion Template!
Stop guessing. Start building. Join hundreds of founders who have transformed their ideas into successful SaaS products.