|
| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: My GPT Wrapper Makes $550 MRR One Year After Launch |
| 3 | +date: 2024-12-16 |
| 4 | +tags: |
| 5 | + - gpt |
| 6 | + - saas |
| 7 | + - sideproject |
| 8 | + - indiehacker |
| 9 | +authors: vince |
| 10 | +--- |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +import { Image } from 'astro:assets'; |
| 13 | +import landingPage from '../../../assets/cover-letter-gpt/landing-page.png'; |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +Hey builders, |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +I wanted to share my journey building a micro-SaaS, [CoverLetterGPT](https://coverlettergpt.xyz/), which now earns **$550/month in recurring revenue (MRR)**—all while requiring **minimal effort and maintenance**. Here's how I did it and why I believe small, simple SaaS apps are an underrated way to start as an indie maker. |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +### Quick Stats: |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +- **Built in 1 week** using Wasp |
| 22 | +- **Runs on autopilot** |
| 23 | +- **$550 MRR** after one year |
| 24 | +- Minimal customer support—only **3 Stripe disputes** to date |
| 25 | +- Costs **~$15/month** to operate (hosting + OpenAI API fees) |
| 26 | +- Framework: [Wasp](https://wasp-lang.dev/) |
| 27 | +- Deployed on [Railway](https://railway.app/) & [Netlify](https://netlify.com/) |
| 28 | +- UI: [Chakra UI](https://chakra-ui.com/) |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +<div style="background-color: #FFD700; padding: 1rem; text-align: center; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: bold; border-radius: 8px; color: black;"> |
| 31 | + ⭐️ Star <a href="https://github.com/wasp-lang/open-saas" style="color: #0000FF; text-decoration: underline;">Open SaaS repo</a> and support tools that help you build fast! |
| 32 | +</div> |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +### Small Wins Are Worth It |
| 35 | + |
| 36 | +Many developers think a SaaS has to be big, flashy, or wildly profitable to be worth building. I disagree. For me: |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +- $550/month is fantastic as side income. |
| 39 | +- It runs itself, requiring virtually no maintenance. |
| 40 | +- I can balance it easily alongside my full-time job. |
| 41 | +- It's fun and doesn't consume my free time. |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | +Here's why I think you should aim for small, achievable SaaS projects instead of trying to “hit it big” from the start. |
| 44 | + |
| 45 | +### Build & Launch Fast |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | +The most important lesson I've learned: **speed is everything.** The faster you launch, the faster you'll know if your idea works. Here's what worked for me: |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +1. **Avoid long, drawn-out failures:** Build small, execute early. |
| 50 | +2. **Use the fastest tools available:** I used [Wasp](https://wasp-lang.dev/) to cut down dev time. |
| 51 | +3. **Forget perfection:** I didn't worry about making it pretty or perfect—it just had to work. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +### Keep It Simple |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +The beauty of micro-SaaS is in its simplicity. Here's why: |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +- My app does **one thing well**: generating cover letters based on résumés and job descriptions. |
| 58 | +- There's no need for a fancy landing page or marketing gimmicks. This is my 🌶 hot take. |
| 59 | +- Users get **3 trial credits**—enough to try the app and see value before paying. |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +<Image src={landingPage} alt="CoverLetterGPT landing page" /> |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +### Minimal Effort = Maximum Reward |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | +One of the biggest perks of micro-SaaS is how low-maintenance it can be. With CoverLetterGPT: |
| 66 | + |
| 67 | +- I rarely handle customer service (thanks to filtering out problematic users). |
| 68 | +- It requires little to no ongoing development. |
| 69 | +- The app practically runs on **autopilot.** |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +This means I spend my time on **new ideas** rather than maintaining old ones. |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +### It's All About Tradeoffs |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +While I could optimize and grow CoverLetterGPT further, I've chosen to keep it small and simple. For me: |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +- **Small wins** are still wins. |
| 78 | +- I value having a side project that's easy to manage alongside my full-time job. |
| 79 | +- I'd rather have **less stress** than chase higher profits. |
| 80 | + |
| 81 | +### Links & Resources |
| 82 | + |
| 83 | +If you're thinking about launching your own SaaS, here are some helpful resources: |
| 84 | + |
| 85 | +- 👨💻 [CoverLetterGPT (Live App)](https://coverlettergpt.xyz/) |
| 86 | +- 💸 [Open-Source SaaS Template](https://github.com/wasp-lang/open-saas) |
| 87 | +- 🛠️ [Framework: Wasp](https://wasp-lang.dev/) |
| 88 | +- ✨ [UI Components: Chakra UI](https://chakra-ui.com/) |
| 89 | +- 🛠️ [Hosting: Railway](https://railway.app/) & [Netlify](https://netlify.com/) |
| 90 | +- ✍️ [My Original Reddit Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/SideProject/comments/1h4t8vk/my_saas_only_makes_550_a_month_and_i_think_thats/) |
| 91 | + |
| 92 | +### Final Thoughts |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | +If you're considering building a SaaS, **don't overthink it.** Start small, move fast, and treat it as an experiment. Forget the “rules” and focus on launching. Here's what matters most: |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | +- Keep it simple: Build an app that solves one problem well. |
| 97 | +- Launch fast: Test your idea and iterate based on real feedback. |
| 98 | +- Minimize effort: Aim for maximum reward with minimal maintenance. |
| 99 | + |
| 100 | +For me, **$550 MRR** isn't just “enough”—it's amazing. It's proof that small, focused apps can succeed, and they're a great way to build confidence and skills as a maker. |
| 101 | + |
| 102 | +## Let's stay in touch! |
| 103 | + |
| 104 | +Thanks for reading! If you found this helpful, let me know on [Twitter](https://x.com/hot_town/status/1863553258586820976) or share your own side-project experiences. |
| 105 | + |
| 106 | +<div style="background-color: #FFD700; padding: 1rem; text-align: center; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: bold; border-radius: 8px; color: black;"> |
| 107 | + ⭐️ Star <a href="https://github.com/wasp-lang/open-saas" style="color: #0000FF; text-decoration: underline;">Open SaaS repo</a> and support tools that help you build fast! |
| 108 | +</div> |
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