Comments on: Will you be a microISV casualty?

by: Ian

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 04:22:58 +0000

>Have I failed if I then close down my microISV?

Yes. Unless your true goal was to just get experience.

I like to look at the upside too, but lets not kid ourselves with second place rhetoric.

by: Ian Ringrose

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 16:58:37 +0000

What is failing?
================

If I write some software get good skills doing so, can use the software as an example of my work. Therefore I get a great job. Have I failed if I then close down my microISV?

www.ringrose.name

by: Brian Plexico

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 17:01:58 +0000

Tony,
I agree completely, but I didn’t want to get sidetracked with the main point of the post.

by: Tony

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 16:43:39 +0000

I know this isn’t the main thrust of your article, but those “failure” statistics are misleading. The SBA considers any business that is no longer in existence after 5 years as having failed. However, this doesn’t take into account businesses that have been acquired, probably the ultimate liquidity event for a micro-ISV. It also doesn’t take into account one-shot businesses (e.g. film production companies formed specificially to produce a single film) and so on.

by: Tim Weiler

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 01:23:49 +0000

I think you hit the nail on the head, Brian. Your observations ring true based on the many posts and responses I have read on the various microISV forums available on the web.

BUT, some microISVers do hold on long enough to finish their first product, market it, support it, and eventually start a stable full-time business.

The question is, what gives them that strength?

I would like to think that the microISV community is starting to play a role here. It definitely is for me. The large number of positive responses to a post I placed on Joel On Software (http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?joel.3.244123.26) questioning the amount of effort I have put into my product is a great example of the kind of boost that the community can provide.

by: Patrick Paulin

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 18:48:47 +0000

I agree entirely, and I’d make a suggestion for how to get around these issues. If you’d like to start a microISV in the future, consider working as an independent consultant for a few years.

Chances are you’ll be doing the same work you do now, but you’ll be getting experience with business accounting, unemployment insurance, health insurance, and business tax returns. You’ll learn how to incorporate a business and get used to having a business bank account. The best part is you get to learn all of this in relative safety. You can always hop back into full-time employment if you choose.

When you’re ready to start your microISV, much of the infrastructure will already be in place, and you won’t feel as overwhelmed by the transition.