How I made a $200 MRR Mobile App Templates Business - Story of Falcon Templates

Hello ! Who are you and what are you working on?

Hi. I'm Oleg, and I create a company that creates Mobile Templates.

What motivated you to get started with? How did you come up with the idea?

I read the story about a guy who opens 12 startups in 12 months . So I tried myself, with few ideas but didn't finish it actually as having a problem with promoting, that very important if you want to people uses your product if no one knows about it.

Can you tell us the story of your business from idea to where you are now? 

Business ideas come when I been working on a startup that tried to build a better version of Instagram I got some experience what people need so when startup closes, I decide to start over and build my first template to help other startups to check their ideas much faster my using templates and release new functionality without hiring big team, but adding it to already existing one.

What has been your biggest failure or struggle?

Because I start the product from scratch I want to make it perfect and simple. Spending almost 6 months for making code and writing simple and easy to understand documentation to help non-developer to customize and publish the app with own backend and admin console. It's really hard to build something and not having feedback until to publish it. In the first month, I got a lot of comments, feedback and support request until the product feels ready.

And what has been your biggest achievement or success?

I spend a lot of time supporting my product and reply to comments, and I got marketplace featured product first month (it's in my profile).

Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?

Because I'm using the marketplace for selling my templates, most important to keep the attention and explain why my templates are better. My main argument is quality and 28 reviews with 5 stars prove that I keep it high.

Describe the process of launching the business.

In my case the most important is the product, so need to be sure that the product will be useful and simple. Then finding a place and way to sell, where the marketplace is a good start as they takes processing, licensing and delivering product on them for a fee.

Did you use Betalist or PH or other Startup Launching Platform for Launching ? How was that experience ?

I used the Indie Hacker to ask for questions and sharing my knowledge, and gives a lot of feedback, especially from the target audience.

What’s your business model, and how have you grown your revenue?

I start with selling templates, and now I'm getting customization requests for these templates.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced and obstacles you’ve overcome? What are your goals for the future?

After the first product, I need to build a second product but could found one, so I spend another several month to build it on both Android and iOS platforms. After releasing it i didn't get that much attention so my third product was developer much faster and get more downloads, and helps me to understand that I need to build more simple templates using newest technology like SwiftUI.

Let’s talk about your marketing strategy -- how do you market and grow the service?

Providing as many details as possible so when you read documentation to the product or promo pages it delivers all information you need. Rating and reviews bright more clients so making a quality product is my strategy.

Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?

Start with something, don't wait. Understanding the product will come later when you finally tried it. Also if you think the products aren't good enough, start again and make it better, and at some moment to get to that product you can be proud of, just don't stop.

What platform/tools do you use for your business?

I'm using Envato for selling, Indie Hacker for sharing my ideas and products and Youtube to share programming lessons (more lessons coming..), please subscribe ;)

Who’s your most inspirational CEO or founder?

Oleksandr Kosovan (MacPaw Inc.), Igor Zhadanov (Readdle Inc.)

What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?

Usually, I read the news from https://ain.ua/en about the business and it gives me expiration for creating new things. Also, I read the blog of levels.io that inspire me to create my first startup.

What’s your advice for fellow aspiring entrepreneur who are just starting out? 

Keep the notebook close, and write down all your ideas. At some moment check the ideas and pick one you can try and just start doing it. While building/creating/crafting this you will figure out if you want to continue, and pick the next idea. Most important is to start, don't waste your time just rolling your ideas in your head. Oh, and when you build something, share it :)