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Zero to Sold: How to Start, Run, and Sell a Bootstrapped Business
Zero to Sold is a comprehensive and actionable guide through the four stages of a bootstrapped Preparation, Survival, Stability, and Growth.
From your first idea to successfully selling your business for life-changing amounts of money, this book will help you become a world-class entrepreneur. By focussing on your niche audience, finding their critical problem, and solving it with a product that your customers can't resist to pay for, you will learn how to create a recurring revenue engine that will make you financially independent.
It's easy to build software products. The hard part is turning them into viable businesses that stand the test of time. If you want to build a business that survives, you have to know what challenges you will encounter. Zero to Sold tells the story of a sustainable, bootstrapped software business that grew to thousands of customers before it was acquired.
Arvid Kahl is a software engineer turned entrepreneur who has accomplished just that. He co-founded and grew an online teacher productivity SaaS business called FeedbackPanda to $55,000 Monthly Recurring Revenue with his partner Danielle Simpson. They sold the business for a life-changing amount of money in 2019, just two years after founding the business. Arvid writes on The Bootstrapped Founder blog.
In Zero to Sold, Arvid shares his experiences, learnings, and insights from building a Software-as-a-Service business from start to finish. He shows what worked and what didn't work. If you want to build your own bootstrapped business and stay sane while doing it, Zero to Sold will be your guide.
You will learn how
explore and validate your idea before you jump into building a prototype that no one needs.find a well-defined audience, locate their critical problem, envision a solution that fits into their workflow, and build a product that makes them want to pay. Then, build a repeatable process of selling your a business.grow your business sustainably and make it sellable, even if you want to keep it forever. Or sell it for a life-changing amount of money. Either way, you can prepare.Zero to Sold is the ultimate business a memoir, a manual, a journal, and a guide. It will help you validate your ideas, build your products, and grow your businesses, whatever stage you might be at right now.
From your first idea to successfully selling your business for life-changing amounts of money, this book will help you become a world-class entrepreneur. By focussing on your niche audience, finding their critical problem, and solving it with a product that your customers can't resist to pay for, you will learn how to create a recurring revenue engine that will make you financially independent.
It's easy to build software products. The hard part is turning them into viable businesses that stand the test of time. If you want to build a business that survives, you have to know what challenges you will encounter. Zero to Sold tells the story of a sustainable, bootstrapped software business that grew to thousands of customers before it was acquired.
Arvid Kahl is a software engineer turned entrepreneur who has accomplished just that. He co-founded and grew an online teacher productivity SaaS business called FeedbackPanda to $55,000 Monthly Recurring Revenue with his partner Danielle Simpson. They sold the business for a life-changing amount of money in 2019, just two years after founding the business. Arvid writes on The Bootstrapped Founder blog.
In Zero to Sold, Arvid shares his experiences, learnings, and insights from building a Software-as-a-Service business from start to finish. He shows what worked and what didn't work. If you want to build your own bootstrapped business and stay sane while doing it, Zero to Sold will be your guide.
You will learn how
explore and validate your idea before you jump into building a prototype that no one needs.find a well-defined audience, locate their critical problem, envision a solution that fits into their workflow, and build a product that makes them want to pay. Then, build a repeatable process of selling your a business.grow your business sustainably and make it sellable, even if you want to keep it forever. Or sell it for a life-changing amount of money. Either way, you can prepare.Zero to Sold is the ultimate business a memoir, a manual, a journal, and a guide. It will help you validate your ideas, build your products, and grow your businesses, whatever stage you might be at right now.
502 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 15, 2023
It gets better and better in time.
In the initial chapter, there's not much about actual bootstrapping. The author is far more concerned about identifying & pursuing correct product opportunities - which ofc makes much sense. However, there are tons of books on that. In time there's more & more focus on bootstrapping, frugality, and priorities - the advice is practical, reasonable & generic enough for pretty much any software-based business. The most interesting chapter is probably the one about exit options - reasonably detailed & something you don't find in every 2nd book available.
It's definitely not a perfect book - some simplifications are irritating (e.g., when the author focuses too much on technology), the initial part is maybe a bit too repetitive over classics, but in the end, there are so few books on bootstrapping businesses & startup solopreneurship, that I recommend this one anyway.
4.4 stars, but I have a good mood today, so why don't we round it to 5.
In the initial chapter, there's not much about actual bootstrapping. The author is far more concerned about identifying & pursuing correct product opportunities - which ofc makes much sense. However, there are tons of books on that. In time there's more & more focus on bootstrapping, frugality, and priorities - the advice is practical, reasonable & generic enough for pretty much any software-based business. The most interesting chapter is probably the one about exit options - reasonably detailed & something you don't find in every 2nd book available.
It's definitely not a perfect book - some simplifications are irritating (e.g., when the author focuses too much on technology), the initial part is maybe a bit too repetitive over classics, but in the end, there are so few books on bootstrapping businesses & startup solopreneurship, that I recommend this one anyway.
4.4 stars, but I have a good mood today, so why don't we round it to 5.
October 4, 2020
It's a decent book if you are a complete newbie to building companies. Ideal for people still in their job, and contemplating starting a new company.
Some sections are insightful (especially those around identifying a niche and building product for early audiences).
Some sections are insightful (especially those around identifying a niche and building product for early audiences).
December 6, 2020
Enjoyed it but dry at parts
Enjoyed the book, with the direct and practical language, but found it dry at parts. I think it could’ve benefited from more of a narrative around FeedbackPanda (more fleshed out stories related to learnings in book).
Enjoyed the book, with the direct and practical language, but found it dry at parts. I think it could’ve benefited from more of a narrative around FeedbackPanda (more fleshed out stories related to learnings in book).
July 9, 2020
A must to read book for SaaS founders
Zero to Sold is a very practical guideline for bootstrapping a SaaS business. Arvid shares his learnings and experiences very openly to the reader. As he says at the end of the book Arvid has written this book to someone who is in his place five years before he sold his successful bootstrapped SaaS business, Feedback Panda.
I recommend this book to anyone who has started or thinks about starting a SaaS business.
Zero to Sold is a very practical guideline for bootstrapping a SaaS business. Arvid shares his learnings and experiences very openly to the reader. As he says at the end of the book Arvid has written this book to someone who is in his place five years before he sold his successful bootstrapped SaaS business, Feedback Panda.
I recommend this book to anyone who has started or thinks about starting a SaaS business.
February 15, 2024
I'm a fan of the author's podcast and that's how I get to know this book. Right now, I'm at the beginning of my journey to become an indie developer. I picked up this book hoping to learn from his experience to bootstrap my own SaaS.
What I like
- Very detail. When he says "zero to sold", he means it.
- He provides practical advices, not just some theories.
- He backs his claim with his own experiences with his business and he discloses things that he can only imagine but have no real experience.
- His experience is on software which is very much related to what I do. We are both a programmer so it's so relatable.
What I don't like
- Too details. But the book is not at the wrong here, it's me. I'm way too early in my journey that most of things he shares is not at all applicable for me at the moment. By the time I need it, I'll probably need to read again. I'm sure I won't remember everything he said by then.
- His approach is audience first. My personal approach is product first. His approach is proven to be profitable but I just don't feel that I'm in the right state of mine to implement it. And knowing that I walk the opposite direction from what he recommends make me feel demotivated about my path.
Who should read this
- If you are already building a SaaS and want to take it to another level
- If you have a product and you want to sell it
- If you want to start a SaaS and you don't mind talking to people to validate your idea
What I like
- Very detail. When he says "zero to sold", he means it.
- He provides practical advices, not just some theories.
- He backs his claim with his own experiences with his business and he discloses things that he can only imagine but have no real experience.
- His experience is on software which is very much related to what I do. We are both a programmer so it's so relatable.
What I don't like
- Too details. But the book is not at the wrong here, it's me. I'm way too early in my journey that most of things he shares is not at all applicable for me at the moment. By the time I need it, I'll probably need to read again. I'm sure I won't remember everything he said by then.
- His approach is audience first. My personal approach is product first. His approach is proven to be profitable but I just don't feel that I'm in the right state of mine to implement it. And knowing that I walk the opposite direction from what he recommends make me feel demotivated about my path.
Who should read this
- If you are already building a SaaS and want to take it to another level
- If you have a product and you want to sell it
- If you want to start a SaaS and you don't mind talking to people to validate your idea
July 10, 2020
I began reading this when the author was working on it publicly over Twitter. He wrote a series of blogs that eventually became this book! There’s so many good nuggets in here and I recommend it for any SAAS founder, product managers, bootstrappers, aspiring founders, etc. Main nugget for me was his tips on how to structure customer calls - where they are now, where do they want to be, what’s stopping them from getting there?
September 8, 2020
Absolutely recommend.
July 1, 2023
4 out of 5, I really liked it.
If you’re thinking about creating a Saas business, this is a book that I’d put as the third after Built to Sell and E-myth Revisited. Especially as it’s written in about different way.
What I found the most interesting were aspects related to funding and pivoting the idea how to describe and phrase what your business does. If you’re fairly familiar with niche and idea validation, the initial chapters might be a bit boring. Still the rest of the book provides a lot of input for a young entrepreneur.
The worst parts are related to tech. Some of them are geeky or even goofy and this book would benefit from having them removed. Does an entrepreneur really need to know that docker is the thing?
At the end you can find a part that covers exit options. This is a topic that is not discussed enough. I learnt a lot from it, especially the earn outs and malicious agents were covered from an interesting point of view.
Wanna build Saas, do yourself a favor and read this book.
If you’re thinking about creating a Saas business, this is a book that I’d put as the third after Built to Sell and E-myth Revisited. Especially as it’s written in about different way.
What I found the most interesting were aspects related to funding and pivoting the idea how to describe and phrase what your business does. If you’re fairly familiar with niche and idea validation, the initial chapters might be a bit boring. Still the rest of the book provides a lot of input for a young entrepreneur.
The worst parts are related to tech. Some of them are geeky or even goofy and this book would benefit from having them removed. Does an entrepreneur really need to know that docker is the thing?
At the end you can find a part that covers exit options. This is a topic that is not discussed enough. I learnt a lot from it, especially the earn outs and malicious agents were covered from an interesting point of view.
Wanna build Saas, do yourself a favor and read this book.
December 12, 2020
I loved this book.
Arvid goes through every stage of the bootstrapped founder, with the backdrop of having built a successful bootstrapped SaaS with his girlfriend Danielle.
It is a great reference for anyone thinking about starting a SaaS or actively navigating their way through growing a bootstrapped SaaS.
The way he breaks the startup into different phases of growth (preparation, survival, stability and growth) is 🔥. It allows you to focus on any phase you are currently in but also explore the phases you are heading toward.
I have read many books on SaaS and this the top of my list for must reads.
Arvid goes through every stage of the bootstrapped founder, with the backdrop of having built a successful bootstrapped SaaS with his girlfriend Danielle.
It is a great reference for anyone thinking about starting a SaaS or actively navigating their way through growing a bootstrapped SaaS.
The way he breaks the startup into different phases of growth (preparation, survival, stability and growth) is 🔥. It allows you to focus on any phase you are currently in but also explore the phases you are heading toward.
I have read many books on SaaS and this the top of my list for must reads.
January 23, 2021
I really liked the book for a really good perspective of the author(Arvid) on building and managing SaaS business in a bootstrapped, indie way. There are actually tone of resources about some topics covered, and when I was reading, I felt like I kinda new some stuff. But seeing it through the lenses of a small successful bootstrapper gave some more information and proved those techniques are fully applicable on a small scale too(relatively). In some places, I saw author going into too much details, but probably because the book was made for people like him(as he also wrote - 5 year-ago me) - small bootstrappers and engineers, trying to run their projects as effectively as possible.
May 8, 2023
Another book that repeats ideas, which have already been talked about by other authors.
The first part of the book would be the most benefitial for new founders. However, those ideas are in fact common place knowledge among Silicon Valley startups and are even available for free on places such as YCombinator’s website.
So it’s not really clear who the book is even aimed at, as SaaS founders will most likely be aware of the first broader part which talks about finding product-market-fit, while the latter part of the book goes into such specific details that would be relevant only for late-stage startups which are looking to make an exit.
The first part of the book would be the most benefitial for new founders. However, those ideas are in fact common place knowledge among Silicon Valley startups and are even available for free on places such as YCombinator’s website.
So it’s not really clear who the book is even aimed at, as SaaS founders will most likely be aware of the first broader part which talks about finding product-market-fit, while the latter part of the book goes into such specific details that would be relevant only for late-stage startups which are looking to make an exit.
January 2, 2021
A truly wonderful book that cuts right to the chase, crosses the t's and dots the i's. Very actionable and straight to the point advice that is evergreen and doesn't rely on specific tools (like other business related books).
If you are a person with a technical background and an entrepreneurial spirit (either already started a business or dreams to do it), I consider this book to be a "must read" one, because it speaks our language (in contrast to usual business books that speak in a general voice to appeal to a wider audience).
If you are a person with a technical background and an entrepreneurial spirit (either already started a business or dreams to do it), I consider this book to be a "must read" one, because it speaks our language (in contrast to usual business books that speak in a general voice to appeal to a wider audience).
November 8, 2021
Zero to Sold is a terrific read, for tech (SaaS-based) startup founders. For others; not so much. It has plenty of information, the entire process actually, from setting up a bootstrapped business to selling it. But half of the book is relevant only to the SaaS startups.
The book might also be useful to others who would like to work primarily with startups. You'll understand how to handle various operations related to a (tech) startup and thus, prove to be an invaluable asset to the startup you're a part of.
The book might also be useful to others who would like to work primarily with startups. You'll understand how to handle various operations related to a (tech) startup and thus, prove to be an invaluable asset to the startup you're a part of.
April 7, 2022
This is well written and was recommended to me as I’m growing my own business. If it has a fault then it’s that it’s really, really focused on growing a software business (and doesn’t pretend to be otherwise). I think my colleague who recommended it didn’t quite realise how focused it was - if you have a business in another industry you want to grow, there’s useful stuff in here but you really have to root it out.
Basically I was reading the wrong book - a good one so I gave it four stars, but the wrong book!
Basically I was reading the wrong book - a good one so I gave it four stars, but the wrong book!
February 19, 2021
I rated it 3 stars because it was extremely dull and gave details for every little step along the way. I’m not sure if providing such an in-depth book is useful for most people thinking of starting a company.
It is better to inspire them and give general guidelines rather than bore them with all these mundane details.
It is better to inspire them and give general guidelines rather than bore them with all these mundane details.
January 13, 2024
While sometimes a bit of a slog, this book gave a thorough guide to starting, running, and selling a bootstrapped business. Aspects include finding market fit, validating the solution and product, using third-party software, being responsive to customers, dealing with feature creep, finding the right pricing model, making it easy to onboard employees.
July 13, 2020
Absolutely required reading for anyone building a tech company
This is the best, most comprehensive, overview of building a tech company in 2020 and beyond. It covers absolutely everything you could wish to know in an engaging and thorough way. Must read!
This is the best, most comprehensive, overview of building a tech company in 2020 and beyond. It covers absolutely everything you could wish to know in an engaging and thorough way. Must read!
October 26, 2020
Excellent book for anyone running or thinking about starting a tech business. You would benefit from knowledge in this book even if you are not in the SaaS business. I have gained many valuable lessons that I can apply to my tech services (cliowebsites.com) venture. Highly recommended!
December 1, 2020
Must read for entrepreneurs
Whether you are looking to start to build something or already have, this book is a must read. I would go on to suggest that people should start with this book.
Whether you are looking to start to build something or already have, this book is a must read. I would go on to suggest that people should start with this book.
March 7, 2021
This is a pretty complete guide in all the topics you come across when starting, running and selling a company. I would say it is more an overview of lean startup ideas rather than a
Visionary book. I will probably scroll through it again.
Visionary book. I will probably scroll through it again.
September 18, 2021
Top Buch für angehende Bootstrapper mit vielen hilfreichen Tipps. Inspiration findet sich in jedem Kapitel. Selbst spätere Kapitel bieten hilfreiche Tipps für Bootstrapper in einem späteren Stadium ihres Businesses.
Das Buch ist eine absolute Empfehlung!
Das Buch ist eine absolute Empfehlung!
October 21, 2021
Got about halfway through.
Very good in terms of information density for a business book. Just not all that relevant to me at the moment; I struggled to care about what Kahl was speaking about.
One I'll probably pick up again in the future.
Very good in terms of information density for a business book. Just not all that relevant to me at the moment; I struggled to care about what Kahl was speaking about.
One I'll probably pick up again in the future.
November 4, 2021
Super basic book about founding a company. I recommend reading Running Lean or Lean Startup instead of this.
Some topics like how to measure market size are just opinions and no concrete advice.
Maybe i was expecting something else.
Some topics like how to measure market size are just opinions and no concrete advice.
Maybe i was expecting something else.
November 18, 2022
Great read
I loved about it that it doesn’t start (nor it continues) as a sell pitch through out the book. He’s concise:
- This is what we did
- This worked for us
- This didn’t
- Everything else I ignore.
I loved about it that it doesn’t start (nor it continues) as a sell pitch through out the book. He’s concise:
- This is what we did
- This worked for us
- This didn’t
- Everything else I ignore.
March 24, 2024
A powerhouse of information, delivered in a captivating read
This book manages to condense a wealth of information into a surprisingly engaging read. Author expertly weaves together complex subjects, making them accessible and interesting for even casual readers.
This book manages to condense a wealth of information into a surprisingly engaging read. Author expertly weaves together complex subjects, making them accessible and interesting for even casual readers.
October 28, 2020
Great book for anybody after a blueprint for starting their own startup in 2020.
November 12, 2020
A must read book if you’re interested in bootstrapping SaaS products.
Arvid explain really well all different phases your business can go through (based on his own experience).
Arvid explain really well all different phases your business can go through (based on his own experience).
April 20, 2021
The perfect book for who are thinking in start a business.
January 11, 2022
An amazing book for Saas founders. I recommend it to anyone interested in building a bootstrapped saas business this year.
September 10, 2022
Read it in a couple of days. The book is filled with knowledge and actionable tips for everyone wanting to get into entrepreneurship, especially a bootstrapped business.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews