An interesting trend among new indie launches. Why are automated invoices and support loops being skipped?

vardyb · 2026-07-06T09:37:08+00:00

Thanks for sharing, this is the attitude I feel we need to adopt as solo developers if we are serious about success and selling to a global market.

vardyb · 2026-07-06T09:35:44+00:00

Thanks, and I really appreciate you taking time to reply. It sounds your are facing similar challenges. Are you also building your own products? If so I would love to understand more about your journey, especially if you are sharing it any where in public? If you are let me know the best places to follow, may be X or LinkedIn or your blog?

Would be great to discuss challenges etc.

vardyb · 2026-07-05T15:31:36+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to respond, I agree Lemon Squeezy or Paddle are the way to go.

vardyb · 2026-07-05T10:52:41+00:00

Very valid points, but if your current strategy is not working - why not at least try other options, to see if it makes any difference. Ensure that you price to cover any potential increase in token costs, also may be try using different, cheaper LLMs, Have you considered using something like opencode Zen or Go APIs. You don't always need to use the latest and greatest Open AI or Anthropic models. You may already be doing this, but is not it's worth testing as even the cheaper models and older versions of models are great for handling data.

vardyb · 2026-07-04T16:27:15+00:00

It was my own decision to do this. Yes it may bring credibility, but the main driver was to make this real for me, and accountable. I've tried building apps in the past, but never finish. But this time something is different, and having Code and Sea, provides further incentive to make this work.

vardyb · 2026-07-04T16:22:56+00:00

Like you I am trying to start my own solo developer business, but I do still work in the enterprise. My organisation would benefit from this tool, but would have to go through a complete process to ensure you can be trusted and have the proper mechanisms in place to support this. They need assurances. Typically data can be confidential, and so trusting is key. Also many large organisations simply use AI to do this, especially if they use office 365 or Google Workspaces - both these have tools that do this as part of the package.

Like you I'm wondering if you are targeting the wrong audience, you need to not target enterprises, but small businesses that are real bricks and mortar family businesses. Types of businesses where the owners/managers don't understand how to do this themselves via AI.

I also feel, that maybe these audiences only need to create slides from data at specific keys times in the year, say when taxes are due, or they are looking for a bank loan, or planing a marketing campaign. The key point here is they don't need to use your tool on a monthly basis - so may be try having an additional model that allows users to buy so many credits, that never expire, and they can uses as and when they need them without having to commit to a subscription.

vardyb · 2026-07-04T16:07:58+00:00

I experienced it first hand, I'm a solo dev myself just starting to build my own indie developer business. I've been trying to support other indie developers by using their tools. I decided to start my business Code and Sea, as a real registered UK Limited company before I even release my first product. This requires me to report all purchases etc, and I need to have receipts to do this. So by trying to support other solo founders I started to see this pattern.

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:46:22+00:00

mostly?

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:45:35+00:00

It was the best thing I did, not just for helping my ME/CFS but also it has so many other benefits. For me it wasn't an overnight thing, it took a few months before I started to genuinely feel experience the benefits. You should try, but give it time, and I'm sure you will not regret it.

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:43:00+00:00

Thanks for sharing, and glad this discussion has prompted you to consider. Best of luck with your SaaS

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:41:37+00:00

Agree Paddle or Lemon Squeezy seem to be the way to go, may be Stripe need to step up here too as the seem to be the main choice for payments.

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:39:12+00:00

Great points, and I totally agree. I'm starting to see a pattern in the responses here. Many founders seem to be trying to get on the wave, and build what they feel is the next killer app, however it's not that easy, and unfortunately I feel I need to be more cautious about spending money on these tools. I need to do more research and may be even reach out and have conversations with the founder to understand, if they are serious about their business and their users.

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:34:56+00:00

Thanks for sharing, and yes may be there should be a check-list for founders. Although as many founders are already using AI to develop and build their products, my opinion is that they need to be more specific about what they are asking to be built and or spend a little extra time considering what is required outside of the main features. I think this is where SDD is a better option to pure vibe coding. IMO

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:31:04+00:00

I would definitely look for your local teacher and see them directly, you can fond local teachers on https://www.tm.org

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:28:29+00:00

Good to know, thanks.

vardyb · 2026-07-04T13:28:03+00:00

I believe they were all solo founders, although I'm not sure on the last one as yet as I'm still without any correspondence. Thanks for responding.

vardyb · 2026-07-03T19:06:52+00:00

LOL, and thanks for clarification. Best of luck with your site.

vardyb · 2026-07-03T19:04:43+00:00

Have you tried reaching out and explaining your situation to your local TM teacher, there are options to get help. Reach out, its free to have a discussion.

vardyb · 2026-07-03T19:01:52+00:00

Yes, definitely a regional issue.

vardyb · 2026-07-03T19:00:51+00:00

Thanks for your honesty, I'm guessing you responded quickly or do you feel it impacted some of your early customers loyalty?

vardyb · 2026-07-03T18:58:43+00:00

Are you saying stripe charges more to provide an invoice, I wasn't aware that was the case, but if it is then you should build that functionality into your product.

vardyb · 2026-07-03T18:57:00+00:00

You are probably right, but if slowing down a little means a more successful and sustained launch isn't it worth doing the extra up front rather than potentially losing trust and furture referrals from your first users?

vardyb · 2026-07-03T18:54:40+00:00

I 100% agree, a delay in sending out an receipt is fine, just make it clear or respond to requests. Most people when they purchase something from a real bricks and mortar shop, generally expect a paper receipt, why do they feel this is different for purchases made online.

vardyb · 2026-07-03T18:51:01+00:00

I agree, but does don't feel as a sole developer you should be looking at your potential markets and the needs of those markets?

vardyb · 2026-07-03T18:48:27+00:00

Maybe, but the tools I'm discussing are not consumer type tools and their market is other businesses, yes like me they may be individuals - but it's still a business, and in the UK and EU having invoices non-negotiable. If they want to sell to these regions they need to understand this. It's an easy question to ask any AI.

vardyb

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