What It's About
A business finance teacher rolls the dice with a Spanish Bible app and hits the jackpot.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
Although Trevor had some experience in the tech field, building an app was something that he had never really done before. If you've been following the show, you know that this is something I usually discourage because the vast majority of successful businesses are not actually doing anything new. Take advertising agencies for example—they've been around as long as advertising, but new ones still get started all the time. But like any rule, there's always an exception, and Trevor's story is a perfect example of this.
Fun Fact
In 2014, Trevor reached out to Alex Blumberg from Gimlet Media's popular StartUp podcast. The show focuses on showing listeners what it’s like to get a business off the ground, and Trevor and his Spanish Bible App ended up being featured on the show! Alex asked Trevor what it was like being an "Atheist Bible Salesman," and Trevor had a great time.
Notes from Chris
Episode 165
Trevor McKendrick teaches business finance and helps to grow B2B software companies, but he was originally an accountant. After getting married, he quit his job and he and his wife relocated to Utah. Once there, he found only part-time work and had extra time during the week to fill with something else. It was during that time he unexpectedly built his own software company when he discovered an opportunity to take something low-tech and pretty simple—and get paid for bringing it to people’s iPhones all over Latin America and to Spanish speakers everywhere. As he wondered what he would do, he decided to make something for which he was positive there was already demand: the Bible. Whatever your thoughts on religion, it's fair to say Christianity is going to be around for a long time! He knew Spanish from having lived in Mexico for two years when he was 20, and sure enough...a handful of Spanish-language Bible apps had bad reviews but were ranking relatively well in the book category. He didn't know for sure (you never do!) how much of a gap there was or how big the opportunity would be, but he dove in feet first and it ended up doing well. How well? VERY well. Startup costs were around $1,000 all in (including making the app, getting the LLC, etc.), and over the course of a year in the app store, he did $70,000 in profit. It was an amazing return on investment (ROI)!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Trevor McKendrick: Learn more about Trevor and his Spanish Bible App
- Upwork: The platform Trevor used to find his first developer
- Gimlet Media's StartUp Podcast: The podcast that Trevor and his Spanish Bible App was featured on in 2014
- What is an LLC?: Learn more about the pros and cons of starting your own LLC
- Entrepreneur | A Step-by-Step Guide To Building Your First Mobile App: If you're looking to launch your own mobile app, here are some steps to help you get started
- 40,000 People Use This Web Developer's Side Hustle Every Day: How a San Francisco commuter became part of the original iPhone launch with a hustle that now helps more than 40,000 people every day
- Army Veteran Makes $650,000 Advertising Apps: A Wisconsin native hits the jackpot with his smart approach to blogging, bringing in multiple six figures with nearly zero overhead costs
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