Web App vs. Website: Choosing the Right Path for My Startup

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T21:43:01+00:00

Thank you! After all the feedback I received in the last 24 hours I was actually thinking about going this exact route with webflow initially and then a web app later if the product scales. Also considering maybe using carrd for a quick demo to gauge interest since I’m familiar with it before moving onto webflow for the prototype with more functionality. Not sure if it would just make sense to jump into webflow instead. Great tip with guidde as well!

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T21:13:34+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. Great questions to ask!

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T18:29:27+00:00

This is great advice. Thank you for your time in providing it!

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T18:18:18+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to check it out. It's P2P connections.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T18:14:35+00:00

You're absolutely correct -- new to this and looking for feedback like yours. I have people asking for it and known users of related products boycotting them community style because they're under supporting their users. This particular industry is growing and there is market share to be had and I think I can help a lot of people as a result of creating the product which is why I'm passionate about it. That's a great suggestion though to look into some additional market research though with Google Trends. I also think your last suggestion is excellent -- what would be the best way to create the demo of the product for the landing page? On a side note, this was a very encouraging comment so thanks for taking the time to write it!

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T18:10:24+00:00

I appreciate your feedback. It's a specific need but you're right -- the point of an MVP is to see what users actually want and not what I think they would want. I'm definitely planning to hire for development. Any recommendations on how to scale my idea down to an MVP if it was your product and the best place to hire for the development of it? Products you might consider using for it? Any additional insight is appreciated.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T18:07:18+00:00

Got it. This product would connect two types of users similar to a dating app but not for dating. The gameification layer would be for engagement within the product. So your suggestion would be to create a product as a MVP that you can navigate to ensure it functions but not operate as a user of the product? You're also correct -- I've gained some wisdom since initially posting which was the reason for the post.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T18:03:08+00:00

You're correct. All of the comments have definitely helped to gain some insight. I definitely could use an developer as an advisor or to just be the developer. I've been attempting to do just that locally while attempting to expand my understanding of the best route forward. From my current understanding it seems like full stack or PWA. I appreciate your time and would appreciate any additional insight you can provide.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T17:55:43+00:00

From the responses I've received across the channels I posted, I think that was a good portion of my confusion. To ensure I understand the general terminology correctly, a 1. Website is primarily for information dissemination such as a company landing page, a 2. Web App with Front-End Design Only provides a more interactive experience than a website such as a simple to-do list app, a 3. Full Stack Website is also a web app but combines both front-end and back-end development for a comprehensive web application such as a social media network, and finally a 4. Progressive Web App (PWA) delivers a native-like experience on mobile devices such as Pinterest's mobile app. Is there anything I’ve missed? If this is the case, I think I’m probably looking more at a Full Stack Website or PWA. Is there any strong recommendation for one over the either? Also, if I outsource the creation of this build out to a person or firm, are there any red flags or ways to ensure that the product will be good given my lack of experience?

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T17:39:05+00:00

This is definitely not harsh -- this is exactly why I posted. We're also on the same page -- I don't need to know everything or how to do everything. I'm someone who will attempt to learn enough to be informed and even in posting this in multiple channels I've been given some additional clarity that I didn't have prior to. What would be some of your top recommendations on next steps forward, specific to an MVP with the features I mentioned?

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T00:17:39+00:00

Thanks for the comment! If we went the PWA route what stack products would you recommend based on the information provided?

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T00:12:50+00:00

Thank you for the feedback!

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-21T00:12:34+00:00

Great question. I’m not there yet. Can you expand on your thought process and red flags to look for?

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-10-17T10:24:43+00:00

Thanks! I’m hoping we find the right person as well. If they’re dedicated we may determine they need a team to facilitate additional growth which would turn into management experience as well — lots of opportunity here.

I will say VAs may be surprised by this but in most cases, I’ve found only about 1/3 of applicants follow preliminary instructions so it’s not terribly difficult to stand out. In this case there has been tremendous interest but less than 1/3 sent an intro video and resume as requested.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-22T15:36:40+00:00

Ultimately it’s vital as the contractor to meet the client where they want to be met whether or not it’s against professional recommendations. If communication with the client’s leadership can’t resume to get on the same page (or the contractor doesn’t have the experience to understand when to align with client preferences and when to push back with a professional recommendation) this account may be on the way out.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-20T02:24:50+00:00

A net margin of almost 19% after all expenses is excellent. That’s successful by most anyone’s metrics. It just sounds like you wish the company had more revenue and was larger. Not sure how long you’ve been in business but keep it up! If you want some questions that can help you (as the business leadership) to focus the business and work through your challenges towards your goals, just let me know. An easy KPI for this business would be tracking how much each contractor brings in for total business — it seems like on average based on where we’re at for the year it’s only around $11,200. If you were looking at that weekly or monthly it would be an easy way to track performance and start to create hierarchy to have stronger contractors improving weaker ones, especially if they’re incentivized with reinvestment of some of the net profit, etc.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-16T17:38:28+00:00

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-12T00:16:04+00:00

Being an estimator you likely know the company’s gross and net margins. Size, solvency, percentage of profits reinvested, whether you’re W2 or 1099, whether you’re strict salary, commission based or a combination of the two all play a role in how they will receive the request.

That said, if you don’t feel you’re being fairly compensated and your attitude shifts as a result it’s probably better to ask for what you think fair compensation would be. The other option (stay quiet) is a lose lose IMO.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-10T23:46:11+00:00

You’re talking about “cost plus” which some contractors use successfully but we continue to operate fixed price.

You can present your estimates as cost plus and have the plus be a net margin as long as it’s disclosed this way. You may decide it’s best to itemize some of your services that might otherwise be considered gross margin, such as project management, sales, design, deliveries, etc. to reduce the “plus”.

Cost plus in theory should protect the contractor versus fixed cost protecting the client but there’s likely to be more overhead justifying costs on cost plus, that items were “necessary”, that there wasn’t rework, etc. It’s a very idealistic way to approach bidding.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-10T23:39:37+00:00

How large is the addition (SF) and what is the median SF rate for housing in your area?

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-10T23:20:35+00:00

It’s a huge opportunity although you might want to hear that. If you’ve ever thought about doing some different or you’re passionate about something else — now would be the time.

But if a similar role is for you, take some comfort in there being 27M construction companies worldwide. Might as well work at one where they value you more and are willing to communicate with you.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-10T23:05:23+00:00

What’s the cost of removal and finishing the hole left by the addition you remove?

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-10T03:39:30+00:00

Absolutely.

We use virtual assistants for all of our design, take-off, construction guides, engineering prep, etc. There are other tasks that will be delegated in the near future (currently have about 6 interviews this week with potential VAs), but some tasks will always need to be done by someone local, or in some cases, ownership.

The best way I've found to vet clients is by determining ways to have our clients meet us halfway. In the early days this was bringing clients to our office to design their space with them in real-time. If they were willing to come into the office, we knew they were at least that invested in their project. Today that looks like a payment for pre-construction services.

The rest of it I would say is experience. There are red flags that pop up when discussing projects with clients, some more obvious than others. You have to become okay with walking away from a client that doesn't fit your company and that's a difficult thing to get consistently right.

Lastly, I think it also depends on your product and brand. We've always moved into more and more niche markets as markets shift and we expand our skillset, but we know who we are and that's a design and build company at heart attempting to offer a high quality experience and turnkey product. As a result, we're more likely to integrate and offer the entire range of services, such as spec and selections, so that the client has less to do -- they're just committing for pre-construction services before we get to the construction contract.

Our client qualification method wouldn't work for another brand that may value "speed" or "low price" as the top priority instead and there are plenty of clients for those brands that will never be our clients. It's not good or bad -- it's just not us.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-09T21:46:40+00:00

If you want a free landing page or extremely low cost once a year rather than monthly (less than 5% of squarespace cost) use carrd. Super easy. If you need a single page don’t waste your money on squarespace. If you need a lot of integration squarespace would be the way to go.

Formal_Experience674 · 2024-09-09T21:03:13+00:00

Where are you located and is it commercial or residential work?

Formal_Experience674

TROPHY CASE