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This Simple Countdown Timer Generates 20k/Mo
Matt Anderson
September 13, 2024
This Simple Countdown Timer Generates 20k/Mo
Name | Business | $$$/Month |
|---|---|---|
Lukas Hermann | $20K |
Table of Contents
🚀 From Side Project to Success: How Lukas Hermann Built Stagetimer to $20k/Month
Lukas Hermann wasn’t expecting his first SaaS venture to take off. In fact, he chose the simplest idea he could think of—a remote countdown timer for live events—because he fully expected it to fail. But simplicity paid off, and now his product Stagetimer has over 13,000 users, generating $20,000 per month in subscriptions and one-time payments.
Here's how Lukas transformed a basic concept into a thriving business.
🧠The Spark: Turning a Need into a Business
Lukas, a full-stack developer, was itching to build something of his own. His inspiration? Watching a friend in video production manually start a countdown timer for events and racing back to his equipment. Lukas thought, there’s got to be a better way.
From this simple problem, Stagetimer was born—a solution to remotely control timers across multiple devices. Lukas relied on his skills in JavaScript and Node.js to build the tool, using Vue.js for the frontend. Keeping it simple proved crucial.
When Lukas entered the event production space, he had a lot to learn. By tapping into Reddit for advice and observing how early customers used his product, he quickly iterated. Stagetimer evolved from a basic countdown clock into a communication tool for live event teams, enabling them to share critical updates like schedule changes or cancellations.
🔍 SEO as a Secret Weapon
Stagetimer's growth was gradual, but SEO played a pivotal role. By targeting niche keywords related to live event production, Lukas drove 40% of the tool's traffic from organic search. Although this percentage is lower than in consumer-facing products, the conversion rates are much higher because the audience is actively seeking solutions like Stagetimer.
đź’Ľ Indie Hacker Reality: More Work Over Time
Contrary to the myth of “hustling for a couple of years then relaxing on a beach,” Lukas found that as his SaaS matured, the workload increased. What started as a simple countdown timer evolved into a complex solution integrating with various hardware devices—much more challenging than his early development days.
đź’° Pricing Pivot: One-Time Payments for Occasional Users
Initially, Lukas used a standard SaaS pricing model: monthly and yearly subscriptions. But not all customers needed a long-term subscription. So he introduced one-time pricing for occasional users. This experiment worked well, leading to revenue that’s actually 50% higher than his MRR suggests.
🎯 The Elusive $1M ARR Goal
While Lukas initially thought Stagetimer would be a short-term project, it has grown beyond his expectations. Now, he’s committed to reaching the $1 million ARR milestone. To do that, he knows he’ll need a CEO with strong sales skills—a gap in his own abilities that he believes will unlock Stagetimer’s next phase of growth.
đź’ˇ Seizing New Opportunities: Rundown Studio and Beyond
Lukas’s success with Stagetimer opened doors to new projects. Alongside friends in a Discord server, he co-created Rundown Studio, a tool for event planning that has already reached $4,000 MRR. Lukas is passionate about solving real-world problems, especially in sectors like video production, where outdated software and expensive hardware leave much to be desired.
🔬 Future Projects: Hydrogen Cells and Heat Pumps?
What’s next for Lukas? He’s exploring B2B sectors with established but growing technologies, such as hydrogen cells, heat pumps, and even defense tech. These industries, he believes, are ripe for innovation—offering more complex but rewarding challenges.
đź’Ş The Hardest Things: Overcoming Indie Hacker Loneliness
Indie hacking can be a lonely journey. Lukas emphasizes the importance of finding a support system—whether through Telegram channels, weekly calls with fellow founders, or even playing soccer with friends. The flexibility of indie hacking is a double-edged sword: it offers freedom but can also sabotage your work-life balance if not carefully managed.
Editor's Commentary: Lessons from Lukas's Journey
Lukas Hermann’s journey highlights a few key lessons for aspiring SaaS founders:
Start Simple: You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to find success. Solve a simple, real-world problem effectively.
Iterate Based on Feedback: Customer insights were crucial to Stagetimer’s evolution. Pay attention to how people use your product and adapt quickly.
Leverage SEO: Even in niche markets, SEO can drive significant, high-intent traffic. It’s an underrated growth channel.
Be Ready for Complexity: As your product grows, so will its technical demands. Be prepared to tackle bigger challenges as you scale.
Lukas’s journey shows that with patience, adaptability, and the right support system, you can build something meaningful—whether or not it starts out as a side project.
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Cheers,
Matt