There are other ways to build software
So you just learned that you aren't ready to build custom software, so... what then? Are you stuck until you get someone to pay for your idea?
Nope! There’s a vast sea of options between a custom-built, full-stack web application and no software.
I frequently recommend the "plugin" approach for non-technical founders.
The Plugin Approach Defined
Instead of throwing $20,000 - $50,000 at the wall and hoping it sticks, I often advise clients to take separate pieces of software and glue them together in a way that solves their needs.
For example, let's say you've got an idea to build an app to let high school boys know where there are lawns to be mowed and let those boys bid on them. There are a few moving pieces here, but let's assume you've figured out the product side and need a technology solution to enable this idea.
Between Zapier, Google Sheets, MailChimp, Twilio, and Stripe—you've got all the tools you could possibly need to connect boys ready to work with yards ready to be mowed and maybe—just maybe—prove a business model.
The free tier of all the tools above is generous enough to prove an idea before moving on to a custom build. In the event your idea grows, it’s cheaper to keep floating on the paid tier of these tools for a couple of months until you define your technical roadmap.
🔑 Key Takeaways
Custom software is expensive and risky. Ensure you have product-market fit before you throw lots of dollars at building your idea.
Custom software is only one of several approaches that can be used to validate a technological idea.
The plugin approach lets you iterate rapidly without risking lots of capital.