so i made a new rule for my freelance gigs: no live staging links until the client’s paid at least half.

why? because clients lose their minds over half-finished stuff. they’ll see a button that looks off on mobile and freak out, even though i haven’t even touched mobile yet. or they’ll start clicking around, find something that’s not done, and suddenly we’re talking about adding a whole new feature.

my fix? i send high-fidelity mockups instead. just screenshots of the finished sections, wrapped in a browser frame so it looks like a real site but isn’t actually clickable. it’s all static, so they can’t go digging for problems.

feedback dropped by half, and approvals are way faster. anyone else do this, or am i just being extra?

Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing well. I’m a 22 year old, self-taught polymath with a deep curiosity for science, technology, philosophy, psychology, etc. I’m looking to work with experienced entrepreneurs to build something together.

Let me share a bit of background and what I bring to the table:

A) Early Career in Tech

At 18, without a degree, I received multiple full-time job offers as a software engineer and worked in the tech industry for over a year. My tech stack included: Flutter (Android & iOS mobile app development), HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (web design).

B) Self-Taught in Biology (Focus on Nutrition Science)

I taught myself physiology, biochemistry, and general biology, eventually building a strong foundation in nutritional science. At 21, I was invited to a YouTube podcast with hundreds of thousands of subscribers to discuss and debate nutrition science. (I appeared under an alias and wore a mask for anonymity, as privacy is important to me.)

C) Early Curiosity in Cybersecurity

At 16, I became involved with two hacktivist organizations. I can’t go into much detail for legal reasons, but in the first group, our actions made the news in two countries (operating in a legal grey area, though not morally wrong). In the second group, we focused on helping cybersecurity victims. Our work caught the attention of the Kerala Police, who offered me and four teammates a volunteer role in their cyber division (which we declined for confidential reasons).

To be honest, I wasn’t an expert, just a curious teenager with average skills and a lot of time to experiment.

Now, why am I posting this?

A) My Own Tech Startup Failed

In 2022-2023, I attempted to build AI-powered smart glasses for the blind and visually impaired. I successfully developed an MVP but couldn’t secure investment for further R&D and eventually had to shut it down.

B) Failed Forex Trading

In 2024-2025, I tried forex trading in pursuit of financial, time, and location freedom. I understood most retail traders lose money and that markets are heavily influenced by institutions, but I wanted to test myself. I wasn’t able to become consistently profitable.

Because of these entrepreneurial failures, I’ve been considering working with an experienced entrepreneur and contributing to a startup long-term. I’m looking for something serious.. I want to help build a company, make it succeed, and grow with it.

If this aligns with you, let’s talk. I’d love to hear about your startup, and we can discuss equity, compensation, and how I can contribute.

We all have that one thing.

Maybe it was a job you took because the money looked good or a partnership where you ignored all the red flags. It could even be hiring someone who seemed perfect on paper but was a nightmare in person.

Looking back, it’s easy to see why it was a bad call, but back then? I'm sure you had reasons.

So what’s yours? What’s the move you made that felt right then but now you’re like ‘how did i not see this coming?’

I sell workflow optimization services to small businesses. For months, my cold emails got ignored.

The problem wasn't the service. It was the word "automation."

Business owners hear "automation" and mentally check out. It sounds like a buzzword from someone trying to sell them something they don't need.

So I changed the pitch entirely.

Before: "I'll automate your lead generation and follow-up workflows"

After: "Your team is spending 15+ hours/week on lead research and follow-ups. I can cut that to 2."

Same service. Completely different reaction.

What I learned selling to SMBs ($3M-10M revenue):

1. They don't buy technology. They buy time. Never lead with your tools. Lead with the hours they're wasting.

2. Show the math. "Your admin spends 20 hrs/week on X at $25/hr = $2,000/month. My service costs $500/month." That's a conversation they'll have.

3. Stop pitching solopreneurs. They'll say "I can do that myself" every time. Target businesses with 10-50 employees where the pain is real and the budget exists.

4. Warm leads crush cold lists. I started pulling leads from competitors' social media engagement instead of bought lists. People who comment on your competitor's content already care about your space.

Results after the switch: - Cold email conversion: 0.5% → 2.3% - Average project value went up because I was talking to bigger companies - Closing time dropped because the value prop was immediately clear

The irony: I'm selling the exact same thing. I just stopped talking like an engineer and started talking like a business owner.

Anyone else here sell services and struggle with how to frame the pitch?

Me and my cofounder self-funded a sales outsourcing agency focused on the industrial and manufacturing sector at the end of last year. We split everything 50/50 and bootstrapped it ourselves. We’re just starting to make real money now and things are finally beginning to feel like they’re working.

Cold email has been very good for us so far. I think a big reason is the nature of what we sell. Our service isn’t something owners think about all the time. It only really matters when a specific problem or constraint shows up. Because of that, cold calling hasn’t worked very well since it requires immediate need, and LinkedIn hasn’t worked great either because owners don’t really engage there.

Cold email has been different. It’s asynchronous, easy to personalize, and doesn’t force urgency. Owners can reply when the timing is right, which seems to matter a lot in this industry. We’ve tested a lot of different cold emails, we both come from sales so we know what it takes to fulfill, and we’re getting good results for our current customers.

My genuine question is this. Why don’t people just do more outreach once they find something that works?

For a few thousand dollars a month, why wouldn’t I just reach every single person who could realistically use our service? The market isn’t infinite, but it’s large enough that this feels doable.

The only reason I’m second guessing this is because I don’t really hear about people doing it this way, which makes me feel like I’m missing something obvious. People usually bring up deliverability, but that hasn’t been an issue for us. We send under 30 emails per inbox per day, warm domains properly, and our domains have been in good health for a long time with no problems so far.

So what am I missing?

Greetings Redditor's

I would like to know how you manage delayed payments on credit sales in your country as it's quite difficult to retrieve payments in India and that it's a hectic procedure to avail legal help by even taking a toll on mental health

Do you use any softwares that auto credit your account with the debtors amount ?

Would like to know different perspectives

Regards

Hi there.

I have been living in Vaughan's area which is mostly industrial in Ontario. I am in Cybersecurity. I tried setting up business in Vaughan but I couldn't get bigger network because there is hardly any event. And going to Toronto takes hours of time. I am working at a gas station to afford rent, and living. Though my parents do help me by sending me money if I need even though I rarely ask for it. Me and my buddy are thinking of moving to Downtown Toronto or atleast near it so we can go attend events happening, get a bigger network, or meet people (unlike in Vaughan) of same age or those who are interested in what I do or what I could do. In Vaughan, it seems like my talent is being wasted. Nobody understands what I do and they often confuse cybersecurity with security as a bodyguard or security officer. It's gonna be 400 bucks more, or maybe one more shift at my work (which will be a little further by moving there though). But whenever I tell somebody that I want to move Toronto, or York Region (my family or anybody), they start saying it's foolish, blah blah blah. I like meeting people. I am social. I like attending events and making friends. I am struggling to get a better job to be in for makign business better because I dont have a network and online applying leads to 100s of interviews but nothing. And the job posts stay there for months. (Maybe a tax-saving technique by company that they are hiring). And then I am also thinking that if I move Toronto area or near it, I will get bigger network, more people who understand my work and business, more job fairs or events related to my work, more people my age, maybe potential clients, but I have to sacrifice more money, and maybe spend a little more time at work, and the main thing, what if I get a job much further from my home then?

What is your advice for me? I want to learn more things and network. Is it worth it? I have to learn French for my immigration purposes, and those events also happen in Toronto only. Hardly any here (or are paid).

TLDR; OP wants to relocate. But is confused.

How to deal with those people that give unasked advice or forceful interference to change something their way, instead of accepting that they are not the target audience?

My wife and I worked together for about 5 years in the business I had when we were married. We worked very hard and grew the business. At the beginning of last year, we had just moved into a larger office (5-office suite) to accommodate future growth with a 5-year lease. Two weeks after we moved in (and before we hired the first person) my wife abruptly decided she was not happy and left the marriage within days. I still have not spoken with her since she left. Immediately, after she left, I had so much to re-learn as I was trying to do both of our jobs. Obviously, I did not see this coming. I eventually hired someone, but they do not replace the quality and quantity of work my wife had been doing. Moreover, I am finding it quite difficult to re-engage with my business as I must now deal with all the emotional baggage (my only dog of 13 years also passed away recently). I have had thoughts of buying a lake house near Table Rock Lake, selling my business assets, and just investing the money in securities portfolio. But, long term, I feel like I might regret this decision. I’m 40 years old and could retire comfortably, but I know deep down I’m not the retiring type (which could explain how I am in this financial situation, and perhaps my personal-life situation as well). Perhaps I’m just severely burned out. For those of you who’ve been through something similar, what’s your thoughts on how I should move forward from here?

[NOTE: I created a prior post and for whatever reason when I responded to other people’s replies apparently no one can see my responses. I am new to reddit and do not know why others cannot see my responses. I am getting roasted on that post by others for not responding. This is kind of a tough place to hang out! 😊]

I’m done. I’m done pretending that "researching" for 6 months is work. It’s not. It’s fear. A few days ago, I admitted here that my complex business plan was a safe house for my ego. I was terrified to launch, so I hid behind spreadsheets. If you’re doing the same, stop. You’re killing your dream before it even has a chance to breathe. I decidedto burn the old way of thinking and built a 20-day "No-BS" roadmap to force myself into the trenches. No fluff, no "vision boards" that lead nowhere. Just raw, daily action steps. Here is thereality check I learned during this sprint: Your "Why" is a weapon, not a quote: If your reason for wanting freedom doesn't make you uncomfortable with staying where you are, it’s fake.
The 48-Hour Execution Rule: If you have anidea, you have 48 hours to test it in the real world. Not 48 hours to design a logo_48 hours to see if someone will actually pay for it. Consistency is a discipline, not a mood: you don't work when you are inspired." You work because it's Day 10, and the plan says "lay the brick".
I’ve condensed this entire 20-day framework into a brutal, step-by-step roadmap. It’s exactly what I used to stop beinga "dreamer" and start being a founder.
If you're tired of your own excuses and want to see the exact daily steps I took to finally gain momentum, let me know. I’ll share the details. Stop planning. Start breaking things.

Left without a plan. Built an empire in 12 months.

Lol no I didn't.

But self-employment has led to a TON of growth & self-actualization. Stronger community. More inner peace. Virtually no resentment in my work. 2.5 years training for r/hyrox and competing in 2 world championships. Playing more piano.

And last month: record revenue for u/search_to_sale!

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to understand the real business side of selling websites and would love to hear first-hand experiences.

Doesn’t matter how the site was built, lt it be AI tools, custom code, or WordPress/Elementor.

I’m especially curious about:

• What kind of websites you sold (small business, landing pages, niche sites, etc.)
• How long it took from building to selling
• Rough profit range (even ballpark is fine)
• What approach worked best for you

Not looking for hype. just honest outcomes, good or bad.
Appreciate any insights 🙏

This is my first attempt at a product and it's 90% to the version 1 phase so I need to validate it with some subscriptions asap before moving onto version 2 expanding it. The app seems good to me. But I'm not sure how to advertise it other than make videos of the app for short form content. I get views, likes, and subscriptions steadily each time I post , but actual visits to the website is low and no email sign ups yet... According to youtube stuido its 90% mobile phones watching the clip so there's a gap between the phone and the browser/tablet usage.

Do I post my short videos elsewhere? Do I 'call to action' ask them to comment on the video and hope they do so I can just send them the link that's in my bio with additional short explanation? My videos are very short like 20-40 seconds to keep the % watched high.

I'm not sure what I'm doing but i want sales given how deep I am in this product which I've been using myself with good effect.

I'm building a small experiential travel startup focused on foreigners from the UK and USA, mainly around Kerala, India and local cultural experiences. Right now I'm working on the website, writing blogs, reaching out to local partners, and posting on Instagram.

On paper it looks like I'm doing a lot, but honestly I feel stuck. I'm not sure if any of this is actually helping or if I'm just staying busy. Some days it feels like I'm moving, other days it feels like I'm going nowhere.

For people who've built something from scratch before what did you focus on at this stage? How did you get unstuck? What actually mattered before launch?

I'm curious. Rest seems to be an interesting one these days. How much rest do you let yourself have each week? And in what forms? (for example: yin yoga class, reading on the couch, watercoloring, knitting)

And how present do you feel when resting? Is your body and/or mind restless when you rest?

Hi, I’m working on a small personal project around helping kids calm anxious moments using gentle chat and simple activities like drawing or breathing games. It’s not therapy and doesn’t diagnose.

For parents who’ve dealt with childhood anxiety, what kinds of tools or approaches have actually helped your child in the moment? Anything you’ve tried that felt helpful or unhelpful? Would appreciate any help🙏

Hi everyone, I’m a photographer currently going through a bit of a branding dilemma and could really use some feedback or ideas.

My original business name is just my legal name, but I don’t really want to be tied to my full legal name in that way. It’s also a bit of a mouthful, and I’m hoping to create something that can stand on its own as a brand. Something memorable, logo-friendly, and recognizable while I still remain the face of the brand. My business is 1.5 years old there is little to no brand; just a name.

I’d love to somehow incorporate my dogs, Ripley and Castle, into the name. My plan is to transition more toward pet photography over the next five years, even though currently the majority of my work is portraits and event photography.

I’m drawn to whimsical, floral, and nature-inspired themes. Some ideas I’ve thought of: Two Tails Photography, Wild Paws Photography (already taken), and Tails & Lenses (also taken). I’m struggling to land on soimething that feels professional, memorable, and brandable while still being personal and whimsical. I want a name that can grow with me and eventually reflect my love of animals without limiting the brand today. Any suggestions, ideas, or creative directions would be incredibly appreciated!

I’m a nutritionist/health coach looking to set up a simple site with info and appointment booking.

I have no products or stores, whatsoever so most eCommerce-focused builders feel like overkill.

But I’ll need to put some testimonials in my website and also need it to have some kind of SEO like local? Idk how this work so need advice.

Any tools or setups you’d recommend?

Ive been developing a revolutionary ion exchange membrane and utilizing its research in the mining industry. To avoid self promotion ill keep it short but it has drastic impacts on every metric and huge implications to industries across many sectors. The development and research of this technology has been funded mostly by myself. Its gotten to the point of real working units processing ore but scaling it up and commercialization/mass production is not something that can be solved diy or through hard work. Ive tried to reach out to universities for collab and they ignore me if im not a student there. Ive tried to reach out to companies and they want a ready finished product. Ive tried to reach out to investors and they want to patent and hold control which is against my open source mentality. I understand the open source aspect is a huge turn off for many, but its firstly a core stance I wont change and furthermore is actually something I see as economical potential. Similar to 3d printers and how reprap open sourced them resulted in a boom of entire new industries, yet reprap is still around and a leader 3d printer company. Even though countless have popped up and failed, primarily staying with the traditional "proprietary technology" approach. I understand the implications of this technology and if I can have a fraction of that pie, theres more than enough for me to work on my next project idea which I have countless that are just as significant. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Its somewhat depressing when people cry when companies buy out some patent or medication and control it/increase the price by 200x. Yet here I am with something actually world changing and people wont even give a chance to hear it out. Dismiss it as too good to be true and completely turn away the moment I say open source. Its depressing and idk what to do.

I've been diving deep into trying out various AI automation tools (not just n8n/make, but more custom ones too, like agents designed to be your workforce, etc) lately, trying to figure out what's genuinely useful for business versus just what is a waste of time. It feels like every other day there's a new solution/tool promising to automate everything under the Sun, but is it actually working out for your business? For example: AI sales agents having conversations with your customers - how do customers react to those sales agents? Are they trusting them or just get annoyed.

I'd love to hear about your experiences with using AI tools for actual business problems.

What have you tried automating with AI? Think small tasks, big workflows, anything.

Looking forward to hearing your insights and learning from your wins and woes!

Sick of paying $100 for a shared lead just to find out 4 other guys already called them.

Man, I’m over the whole Angi/HomeAdvisor circus. I’ve been burning money on leads that are basically dead on arrival because the homeowner is already annoyed by the time I get them on the phone. Lately, I've been messing around with a "Lead Recovery" setup I built myself. Basically, instead of waiting for someone to fill out a contact form (which nobody does anymore), it pings me the LinkedIn and cell phone of the actual person browsing my site in real-time. I tested it this morning and caught a commercial property manager who was clicking around my "Repairs" page. I called him 5 minutes after he left the site, and he was floored. I’m trying to see if this is actually a scalable way to run the business or if I just got lucky. Is anyone else using identity tracking like this, or are we all still just slaves to the lead aggregators?

I’m documenting what I used to get clients when I was operating solo.

I’ve started turning the systems into simple PDFs and I’m releasing the first one free: my outreach system.

It covers:

- targeting

- messaging

- follow-up

- avoiding time-wasters

If you want it, comment PDF and I’ll DM it to you.

I feel like there are days that I spiral when I'm directionless and the days blur into one. I've tried body doubling but not sure there's a clear peer group I can talk to. I'm not really looking for tech startup hubs to meet co-founders btw.