[pnathan]

- How many months of savings do you have?

- How much selling do you have to do to break even?

- How long do you have until you get that much selling?

That gives you the numbers.

Coding is not as easy as some make it sound (nor as hard as other make it sound). If you get the functionality working to a degree where customers are paying for it and sticking around, you probably can find a techie to revamp it.

Personally, I am sufficiently risk averse that for most products I've thought of, I'd have to see cash incoming before I quit my job.

[jaypreneur]

Thanks for the questions. I will be asking myself those questions and analyzing the answers.

A question they bring up in my mind though would be the opportunity cost of creating it myself vs. outsourcing.

If I ultimately plan on finding a tech co-founder to come on board and revamp it, hopefully playing the part of CTO, then it seems wise to compare the costs of getting there via my own work vs. outsourcing, no?

DO IT MYSELF

Benefits

1. I learn skills that will help when doing simple iterations (before having tech partner on board), assessing future tech partner, and attracting tech partner.

2. I hate my job and would rather learn to code and build my business.

Costs

1. The time it takes to learn is time I can't be earning a salary. This could be up to 6 months or more. Let's say this costs me 30k.

OUTSOURCING

Benefits

1. I keep my salary (even though I hate my job) while MVP is created. This could be positive 30k+.

2. Outsourcing the MVP is likely far faster, let's say 2 months. This also means I can potentially get to customers faster and gain traction (maybe find partner faster as well)

Costs:

1. Of course, the outsourcing itself over those 2 months could very well be 250 hours of work. At 50 dollars an hour (reasonable?), that's 12.5k. Let's assume 10-15k range.

2. Unfortunately, I lose out in terms of learning, which helps in terms of iterating (before having tech partner) and finding and evaluating potential tech partner.

To me, it looks like outsourcing has the potential to save me in both time (a couple of months, at least) and money (15 - 20k). I guess I need to assess if learning to code myself extensively if worth that cost if I don't plan on really becoming incredibly proficient (as I recognize it takes years).

Any opinions on that analysis of the situation?

edit* I just wanted to mention I don't claim that my above analysis is accurate. It could very well take an entire year to develop a useable MVP myself, which would be 60k in opportunity cost. Additionally, the outsourcing estimate of 15k and 2 months could be 30k and 4 months, or more. I am not expert on the implementation and realize that. Please consider that and take the idea behind the analysis into consideration rather than the numbers themselves.

[fate_carver]

How old are you? Outsourcing? To where? Part of the problem is a "Tech Co-Founder" is already making $300k+ a year. If you want someone to throw a few hours your way, you need to sweeten the pot and step up the talk a bit. Some "Tech co-founders" would actually have to use their time spent on your idea as a write-off. jay, I'm not trying to smackdown on you but what do you have to offer your tech co-founder? Even if you learn to code, what can you offer? Will you need a Marketing VP too? Or legal advice? Or accounting help?

[jaypreneur]

I'm 24.

In regards to "where" for outsourcing. That is something I have not looked into in detail, but potentially anywhere as long I received quality code.

But anyway, to your other question directed at me (and no need to think your trying to smackdown because I agree entirely with your sentiment), what do you offer...

The things I offer:

1. Vision - I know, to some this (like an idea) means very little

2. Design - I am competent with UI/UX, as well as designing using photoshop and illustrator.

3. Sales/Marketing - I can sell. I'm a good orator and I'm passionate and persuasive (or so I've been told and experienced). In regards to marketing, I've read and learned plenty about it and am always learning more, although I won't claim to be an expert.

4. Accounting/Business - I'm an accountant (well, auditor with CPA) so I do bring that to the table as well. Ultimately, along with accounting, I have a good deal of knowledge on finance and general business issues as well.

Now, perhaps I'm naive to think the above is enough to offer a potential future tech co-founder. However, it's what I've got and, above all, I am incredibly passionate and hardworking. I know that would matter a lot to me in choosing someone to work with (perhaps more so than raw talent/skills), so I can only hope the same can be said the other way around.

Anyway, you also bring up a good point about the problem about the "tech co-founder" in that they have far more opportunity (a good one anyway) than I might offer, so why me? It's the reason I have made this post and offer up the decision to code things myself or outsource. I know where I have a weakness, even if I learn to code, I still won't be as proficient as I need to be. So, I will need someone.

I guess my hope is that by actually creating something and having customers, that traction (along with the list of things I believe I have to offer) will entice a "tech co-founder" to come join up with me.

[fate_carver]

A CPA! Kudos. I know that is not easy, my fiancee just tested for her CPA...but I would hate to see the code she would write : ) This is way before your time, but Kenny Rogers had a lyric, "Got to know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em" which can extrapolate to your perceived need to do everything. You can do everything, or anything, but where do you draw the line? Janitor? QA testing? Chief Bottle Washer? I'd "hold" on running the company, but "fold" on writing the code.

If you do decide to "outsource" do you mean offshore? Perhaps Rent-a-coder isn't a bad idea, but just make sure the coder(s) are available after they write the code, have them sign a non-compete, and possibly outsource a second coder to review the code if you are not getting the warm and fuzzies from the first team. Ask for well-documented code including an overview explanation, approach, architectural considerations, and lots of comments. Ask for their best work. Again, I wish you the best and I hope that once you get your prototype up you let us all know so we can kick the tires with you.

One last thing: Stop worrying about the tech co-founder and get this project in the bag! Heck, the more you type the less likely a Tech Co-founder is going to want to come on board! Get 'er done!

[jaypreneur]

Thanks Fate. Good luck to your fiancee, I know it's tough. If she needs any advice on the exams, let me know.

You are right. I will just have to get it done. At this point, I'll go with outsourcing, which doesn't necessarily mean offshore, but it could. I want quality work. I will have to do my research about it but will look into sites like rent-a-coder, odesk, elance, etc. I'll approach it as you said, I appreciate the help.

I still will try to learn to code on a basic level to converse and not be entirely blind to what's going on, but I'm not sure if it's a good choice to try and program when it would take a significant time commitment. I'm not against a time commitment, but by saving that time, it frees me to focus on other areas of the business.

ANYWAY! I will stop with the typing.

It seems my choice is to stay with my job (although I might leave to find one that is less all-consuming of my time) and outsource the initial development. Obviously it would have been ideal if I already knew how to code or had a good friend who could code and wanted to join me. Unfortunately, neither is the case... and I'm not sure creating the MVP myself is the best proposition.

If someone thinks otherwise, let me know though. Perhaps I'm missing something here.

Lastly, any advice on outsourcing development would be appreciated. Thanks.

[fate_carver]

Just had this pop up on my reader: http://appicurious.com/2011/10/26/inglorious-applications/#....

Like another poster alluded to, save up some money (keep your job). Interview 5+ developers with entrepreneurial tendencies, pick one, thank the others, hire the one you picked, tier their compensation on milestones.

You already founded this, so looking for a co-founder is fairly moot. Hire someone, give them a chance to shine, bring them in as a partner. If trying to force the "tech co-founder" isn't working, try something else. As for outsourcing...I think it is a silly word that means "not committed". You're not committed to them, they are not committed to you...in the end you have your prototype, but know far less about it then if you hired someone, even an intern, and had them walk you through their process and the code...most outsourced help would probably not do that for you. A less risky move is to hire someone on 1099 for the project...you probably know more about those rules than most.

If you waste too much time fretting over the details, you'll never get it off the ground. Check your balls, take the leap. You will never be 100% correct (you damned accountant! : ) so take your best shot and learn what you are made of.

Post an email link or phone number in your about and I'll give you a call and a swift kick in the ass if you need it.

[notatoad]

to be totally blunt, it sounds like you're at about the stage of most of those people who post ads on craigslist that we all laugh at: "i've got a great idea, all i need is somebody to implement it"

don't kid yourself - implementation is everything, and implementing properly is harder than you will ever imagine. if you don't even know how to code, you are nowhere near at a stage to quit your job unless you have savings to keep you afloat for at least a year. 10-15k to create your startup for you in a month or two is not a reasonable estimate.

[jaypreneur]

I appreciate the reply. Feel free to be blunt. I never claimed to be an expert. However, I don't think I'm nearly as naive as any craigslist poster you suggest. But feel free to laugh at me if you'd like.

However, I am not kidding myself. I understand implementation is important. Perhaps I shouldn't have thrown out random numbers like that, but if you could give me some more reasonable estimates? Although I know you don't know what I am trying to create so it'd be difficult for you to give me an accurate estimate I suppose...