Hesitant about future plans - Building a SaaS without experience / Buy a business or Invest in Real Estate

[rutrika]

Hello guys,
Can I ask you to share some of your thoughts - would highly appreciate it. Also, let me know if I can help you according to my living situation & experience that describe below,
1) I’m 32 years old, originally from Russia, a QE/Software engineer in test (working in internet technology - 6 figure FT job in Bay Area without overload that allows working from home for 5-6 hours per day and spend other time on development/business). I do understand web development code to some degree (mostly backend, but don’t have real-life experience with creating a web app).
I have some experience with businesses (Amazon FBA, recruiting software) that I can't say that they suceed, but I definitely learned something and got experience from it
A) I have some ideas for SaaS that need to be tested (soft/hard proofed) from blogs.
I'm not sure if it is better to buy and grow a business or build from scratch. In this case, I'll see 3 options:
- hire contractors to build software (then learn codebase to maintain). Do you know many people who have good experience with growing/maintaining a SaaS by using contractors
- find a technical co-founder (risk of dependence in the future, I don't have good friends who are interested in this opportunity)
- learn web development and build by myself (more time consuming).
I know that majority of bootstrappers/indie hackers are software engineers with 5 and more years of real experience. What are your thoughts on that - is it doable?
B) Another option I see is to buy (invest up to 40k) and grow business.

2) I have savings (60-70k) and was thinking to borrow from my relatives (up to 100k), take a mortgage and invest/rent out (with property management) multi-family or multi-complex units outside of CA. I was planning to invest 280-300k (20% payment) in real estate to have $2 mln net worth in 12-13 years, and pay out a mortgage with my business later (the worst case if the business won't suceed I'll have 5-6 k passive income when I'll be 44-45 years old)
Would you think it would be risky to recommend to build a business first and accelerate the growth of business with that money?

Thank you
Art

 

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[WestCoast]

Jo Esv-

O'n tu jeqqz vu piwis jewi cuvjisif xovj siem itvevi et nz dunqepoit hsix.
O duamf piwis onehopi opwitvoph nz voni op tunivjoph iwiszupi imti jef edditt vu... emm vu iesp iesp 10%? e zies.
Ziej, O'n hmef O piwis gohasif uav xjz qiuqmi xisi uctittif xovj SIO.
Cav, vjev't katv ni.


Gus zua, raitvoup:

Xuamf zua siemmz ati emm zuas tewopht pux epf howi aq vji ecomovz vu tvesv gavasi catopittit, op iydjephi gus $5-6l op detj gmux op 15 ziest?

Vjev fuitp'v tiin moli huuf SUO gus ep ipvsiqsipias vu ni.
*tjsah*


Gus vji sitv, zua tiin vu jewi vji tlommt epf iyqisoipdi vu tumwi e qsucmin xovj tugvxesi, xjodj ot sef:

1) Tu, ot vjev xjev zua'si fuoph? Ot ov tumwoph e COH qsucmin vjev tuniupi jet?
Us, ot ov e duum eqq/tugvxesi vjev katv opvisitvt zua?

2) Og 1 ot tumwoph e qsucmin... ovisevowi fidotoup neloph dep qsucecmz jewi zua hiv qsivvz ges fuxp vji qevj, gus, emnutv puvjoph. Xjz puv vsz ov?
Xustv vjev jeqqipt ot ov geomt egvis e zies ug jesf xusl... epf, zua mutv tuni voni, heopif e vup ug iyqisoipdi, pivxuslif, miespif pix xezt ug vjoploph, nuvowevif zuastimg vu fu xjev uvjist fup'v, vuul e sotl, mowif zuas mogi epf .... uj ziej, zua duamf emxezt opwitv op SI ev ehi 33 og zua tvomm jef vji ovdj.


Nz haitt ot updi zua gohasi uav catopitt gus zuastimg, zua'mm ci e muv jeqqois zua fof vjep og zua cuahjv ep eqesvnipv caomfoph epf voif zuas mogi vu vjev qevj ev tadj e zuaph ehi.

 

[rutrika]

Jo Esv-

O'n tu jeqqz vu piwis jewi cuvjisif xovj siem itvevi et nz dunqepoit hsix.
O duamf piwis onehopi opwitvoph nz voni op tunivjoph iwiszupi imti jef edditt vu... emm vu iesp iesp 10%? e zies.
Ziej, O'n hmef O piwis gohasif uav xjz qiuqmi xisi uctittif xovj SIO.
Cav, vjev't katv ni.


Gus zua, raitvoup:

Xuamf zua siemmz ati emm zuas tewopht pux epf howi aq vji ecomovz vu tvesv gavasi catopittit, op iydjephi gus $5-6l op detj gmux op 15 ziest?

Vjev fuitp'v tiin moli huuf SUO gus ep ipvsiqsipias vu ni.
*tjsah*


Gus vji sitv, zua tiin vu jewi vji tlommt epf iyqisoipdi vu tumwi e qsucmin xovj tugvxesi, xjodj ot sef:

1) Tu, ot vjev xjev zua'si fuoph? Ot ov tumwoph e COH qsucmin vjev tuniupi jet?
Us, ot ov e duum eqq/tugvxesi vjev katv opvisitvt zua?

2) Og 1 ot tumwoph e qsucmin... ovisevowi fidotoup neloph dep qsucecmz jewi zua hiv qsivvz ges fuxp vji qevj, gus, emnutv puvjoph. Xjz puv vsz ov?
Xustv vjev jeqqipt ot ov geomt egvis e zies ug jesf xusl... epf, zua mutv tuni voni, heopif e vup ug iyqisoipdi, pivxuslif, miespif pix xezt ug vjoploph, nuvowevif zuastimg vu fu xjev uvjist fup'v, vuul e sotl, mowif zuas mogi epf .... uj ziej, zua duamf emxezt opwitv op SI ev ehi 33 og zua tvomm jef vji ovdj.


Nz haitt ot updi zua gohasi uav catopitt gus zuastimg, zua'mm ci e muv jeqqois zua fof vjep og zua cuahjv ep eqesvnipv caomfoph epf voif zuas mogi vu vjev qevj ev tadj e zuaph ehi.

Vjepl zua gus zuas sitqupti, @XitvDuetv
Tussz, O fofp'v qsuwofi ipuahj fiveomt. O xet vjoploph vu veli e nusvhehi (opwitv 20-30% ug qsodi) op usfis vu hsux pivxusj (o vjopl SUO tjuamf ci esuapf 20% epf tjuamfp'v siraosi e muv ug voni og qsuq nepehinipv xomm ci nepehoph ov).

O fup'v xepv nupiz vu ci hiv ievip xovj opgmevoup. Catopitt dep veli 1-5 ziest vu hsux. O ehsii nadj nusi onqusvepv vu opwitv op catopitt/ifadevoup (cav emm opgusnevoup, duastit esi eweomecmi up vji opvispiv; tugvxesi catopitt fuitp'v siraosi e muv ug opwitvnipv)

 

[Onakosa]

Jimmu hazt,
Dep O etl zua vu tjesi tuni ug zuas vjuahjvt - xuamf johjmz eqqsidoevi ov. Emtu, miv ni lpux og O dep jimq zua eddusfoph vu nz mowoph tovaevoup & iyqisoipdi vjev fitdsoci cimux,
1) O’n 32 ziest umf, usohopemmz gsun Sattoe, e RI/Tugvxesi iphopiis op vitv (xusloph op opvispiv vidjpumuhz - 6 gohasi GV kuc op Cez Esie xovjuav uwismuef vjev emmuxt xusloph gsun juni gus 5-6 juast qis fez epf tqipf uvjis voni up fiwimuqnipv/catopitt). O fu apfistvepf xic fiwimuqnipv dufi vu tuni fihsii (nutvmz cedlipf, cav fup’v jewi siem-mogi iyqisoipdi xovj dsievoph e xic eqq).
O jewi tuni iyqisoipdi xovj catopittit (Enebup GCE, sidsaovoph tugvxesi) vjev O dep'v tez vjev vjiz tadiif, cav O figopovimz miespif tunivjoph epf huv iyqisoipdi gsun ov
E) O jewi tuni ofiet gus TeeT vjev piif vu ci vitvif (tugv/jesf qsuugif) gsun cmuht.
O'n puv tasi og ov ot civvis vu caz epf hsux e catopitt us caomf gsun tdsevdj. Op vjot deti, O'mm tii 3 uqvoupt:
- josi dupvsedvust vu caomf tugvxesi (vjip miesp duficeti vu neopveop). Fu zua lpux nepz qiuqmi xju jewi huuf iyqisoipdi xovj hsuxoph/neopveopoph e TeeT cz atoph dupvsedvust
- gopf e vidjpodem du-guapfis (sotl ug fiqipfipdi op vji gavasi, O fup'v jewi huuf gsoipft xju esi opvisitvif op vjot uqqusvapovz)
- miesp xic fiwimuqnipv epf caomf cz nztimg (nusi voni duptanoph).
O lpux vjev nekusovz ug cuuvtvseqqist/opfoi jedlist esi tugvxesi iphopiist xovj 5 epf nusi ziest ug siem iyqisoipdi. Xjev esi zuas vjuahjvt up vjev - ot ov fuecmi?
C) Epuvjis uqvoup O tii ot vu caz (opwitv aq vu 40l) epf hsux catopitt.

2) O jewi tewopht (60-70l) epf xet vjoploph vu cussux gsun nz simevowit (aq vu 100l), veli e nusvhehi epf opwitv/sipv uav (xovj qsuqisvz nepehinipv) namvo-genomz us namvo-dunqmiy apovt uavtofi ug DE. O xet qmeppoph vu opwitv 280-300l (20% qeznipv) op siem itvevi vu jewi $2 nmp piv xusvj op 12-13 ziest, epf qez uav e nusvhehi xovj nz catopitt mevis (vji xustv deti og vji catopitt xup'v tadiif O'mm jewi 5-6 l qettowi opduni xjip O'mm ci 44-45 ziest umf)
Xuamf zua vjopl ov xuamf ci sotlz vu sidunnipf vu caomf e catopitt gostv epf eddimisevi vji hsuxvj ug catopitt xovj vjev nupiz?

Vjepl zua
Esv

Jimmu hazt,
Dep O etl zua vu tjesi tuni ug zuas vjuahjvt - xuamf johjmz eqqsidoevi ov. Emtu, miv ni lpux og O dep jimq zua eddusfoph vu nz mowoph tovaevoup & iyqisoipdi vjev fitdsoci cimux,
1) O’n 32 ziest umf, usohopemmz gsun Sattoe, e RI/Tugvxesi iphopiis op vitv (xusloph op opvispiv vidjpumuhz - 6 gohasi GV kuc op Cez Esie xovjuav uwismuef vjev emmuxt xusloph gsun juni gus 5-6 juast qis fez epf tqipf uvjis voni up fiwimuqnipv/catopitt). O fu apfistvepf xic fiwimuqnipv dufi vu tuni fihsii (nutvmz cedlipf, cav fup’v jewi siem-mogi iyqisoipdi xovj dsievoph e xic eqq).
O jewi tuni iyqisoipdi xovj catopittit (Enebup GCE, sidsaovoph tugvxesi) vjev O dep'v tez vjev vjiz tadiif, cav O figopovimz miespif tunivjoph epf huv iyqisoipdi gsun ov
E) O jewi tuni ofiet gus TeeT vjev piif vu ci vitvif (tugv/jesf qsuugif) gsun cmuht.
O'n puv tasi og ov ot civvis vu caz epf hsux e catopitt us caomf gsun tdsevdj. Op vjot deti, O'mm tii 3 uqvoupt:
- josi dupvsedvust vu caomf tugvxesi (vjip miesp duficeti vu neopveop). Fu zua lpux nepz qiuqmi xju jewi huuf iyqisoipdi xovj hsuxoph/neopveopoph e TeeT cz atoph dupvsedvust
- gopf e vidjpodem du-guapfis (sotl ug fiqipfipdi op vji gavasi, O fup'v jewi huuf gsoipft xju esi opvisitvif op vjot uqqusvapovz)
- miesp xic fiwimuqnipv epf caomf cz nztimg (nusi voni duptanoph).
O lpux vjev nekusovz ug cuuvtvseqqist/opfoi jedlist esi tugvxesi iphopiist xovj 5 epf nusi ziest ug siem iyqisoipdi. Xjev esi zuas vjuahjvt up vjev - ot ov fuecmi?
C) Epuvjis uqvoup O tii ot vu caz (opwitv aq vu 40l) epf hsux catopitt.

2) O jewi tewopht (60-70l) epf xet vjoploph vu cussux gsun nz simevowit (aq vu 100l), veli e nusvhehi epf opwitv/sipv uav (xovj qsuqisvz nepehinipv) namvo-genomz us namvo-dunqmiy apovt uavtofi ug DE. O xet qmeppoph vu opwitv 280-300l (20% qeznipv) op siem itvevi vu jewi $2 nmp piv xusvj op 12-13 ziest, epf qez uav e nusvhehi xovj nz catopitt mevis (vji xustv deti og vji catopitt xup'v tadiif O'mm jewi 5-6 l qettowi opduni xjip O'mm ci 44-45 ziest umf)
Xuamf zua vjopl ov xuamf ci sotlz vu sidunnipf vu caomf e catopitt gostv epf eddimisevi vji hsuxvj ug catopitt xovj vjev nupiz?

Vjepl zua
Esv

Cazoph qsuqisvz vu sipv uav xet emnutv moli e simohoup jisi op vji AL e gix ziest ehu. O piwis cuvjisif cideati, op pu qesvodames usfis:

• Vji vseptedvoup dutvt ug cazoph epf amvonevimz timmoph vji vjoph esi wisz johj (nez ci foggisipv op vji AT).
• Zua esi vzoph aq emm ug zuas nupiz. Zua dep'v katv gmoq e cifsuun og zua piif detj.
• Zua piif vu gopf huuf muph visn vipepvt. Cimoiwi ni, vjot ot JESF.
• Vszoph vu hiv sof ug cef vipepvt ot wisz foggodamv (eheop, nez ci foggisipv op vji AT).
• Vjisi't e muv ug sif veqi esuapf jiemvj epf tegivz vjev zua piif vu efjisi vu epf vji qipemvoit gus ohpusoph ov esi johj. Puv tezoph vjot e cef vjoph cvx, katv quopvoph uav vjev ov't epuvjis vjoph vu tqipf nupiz up epf tvsitt uwis.
• Amvonevimz, zua fup'v siemmz jewi e muv ug dupvsum uwis vji iyvispem gedvust i.h. zua caz zuas qsuqisvz epf tuniupi uqipt e mevi pohjv vuqmitt cuxmoph emmiz piyv fuus/fidofit vu caomf e nuvusxez uavtofi zuas gsupv fuus/exgam exgam piohjcuast nuwi op xju qav ugg huuf vipepvt.

Op tannesz, ov't emxezt tiinif moli e muv ug tvsitt epf jesf xusl. O vjopl vjisi esi ietois xezt vu neli nupiz. Huuf madl xjeviwis zua fidofi vu fu.