This app replaced my 9-5 ($150K/year)

Key Concepts

• Side project development while maintaining a full-time job/studies
• Wish list app as a viable business idea
• User-centric development and feedback integration
• Organic growth through word-of-mouth and app store optimization
• Monetization through in-app purchases and affiliate marketing
• Importance of realistic timelines and sustainable work-life balance
• Leveraging free time and winter months for focused development
• Building a supportive network of peers and maintaining personal relationships
• Starting small and focusing on solving a specific problem
• Utilizing a tech stack including Flutter, Firebase, and various APIs

Chris's Journey: From Side Project to Full-Time Business

Background and Motivation

• Chris started building a wish list app as a side project while in university in 2019.
• His initial motivation was to gain experience in app development to land a job at a bike company.
• He was inspired by the rejection from the bike company to learn app development.
• He identified a need for a better wish list app because he was using an Excel sheet for his own wish list.

Building Wish Lists: Timeline and Process

• He spent almost six years building Wish Lists: three years in university and two and a half years while working a full-time job.
• His daily schedule involved waking up at 8:00 AM to handle smaller tasks for the app (support emails, analytics), working his full-time job from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, personal time from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and then development work on the app from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM or later.
• He negotiated a four-day work week to dedicate an extra full day to Wish Lists.
• In 2020, he released the first version of the app.
• In 2021, he got his first job as an app developer because of his experience with Wish Lists.
• End of October 2023, he relaunched Wish Lists 2.0 and hit 100,000 registered users.
• In July 2025, he quit his full-time job to work on Wish Lists full-time.

Key Learnings for Building a Side Project

1. Be Honest with Your Employer: Transparency about the side project can be mutually beneficial. Skills learned at work can be applied to the side project, and vice versa.
2. Use Every Free Time You Get: Utilize car rides, train rides, and other pockets of free time for project-related tasks.
3. Prioritize: Balance work on the side project with time for friends, family, and personal well-being.
4. Use the Winter Time Wisely: Leverage the indoor-friendly nature of winter for focused development.
5. Working Holidays: Combine socializing with productivity by working on the project with friends or colleagues in a similar field.

Finding the Right Idea and Setting Goals

• Start Small: Focus on solving a specific problem that you or someone else experiences.
• Set Realistic Goals: Avoid setting overly ambitious goals initially. Focus on user acquisition rather than immediate monetization.
• Users First, Monetization Later: Prioritize building a user base and providing value before focusing on making money.
• Have Fun: Remember that it's a side project, so enjoy the process and learn from any failures.

Growth and Marketing Strategies

• Chris didn't use traditional marketing methods due to budget constraints and a lack of marketing expertise.
• Friends and Family: He relied on friends and family for initial reviews, which helped with app store ranking.
• In-App Review Requests: He strategically prompted users for reviews after they had a positive experience, such as adding or fulfilling a wish.
• User-Centric Development: He focused on building features that users wanted and providing excellent support.
• Support System: He integrated an easy support system from the beginning, saved user feedback, and personally followed up with users when bugs were fixed or features were implemented.

Financial Metrics and Tech Stack

• Monthly Revenue: Averages around $6,000 in the low season, with potential to increase fivefold during the high season.
• Registered Users: 1.1 million.
• Paying Customers: Around 4,000.
• Monthly Active Users: 110,000.
• Profit Margin: 99%, with minimal costs beyond server expenses.
• Tech Stack:
  • Flutter: Cross-platform development kit.
  • Free Cursor: IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
  • ChatGPT: AI assistance.
  • Firebase: Backend and analytics.
  • RevenueCat: In-app purchase management.
  • Thrill: User feedback.
  • OneLink: Deep linking.
  • Selfdesk: Accounting.

App Demonstration and Monetization

• The app allows users to create wish lists for occasions like Christmas.
• Users can add wishes manually or import them from websites like Amazon.
• Monetization Methods:
  • In-App Purchases: Premium features like custom wish list images.
  • Affiliate Links: Earning commission on purchases made through affiliate links generated when users add products from sites like Amazon.

Advice for Aspiring Side Project Builders

• Don't Overcomplicate Things: Focus on solving a specific problem without trying to build the next big thing.
• Solve a Real Problem: Find a problem that you or someone else has and try to solve it, even if it means creating a better version of an existing app.
• No Need for VC Funding: You don't need venture capital to start a successful side project.

Synthesis/Conclusion

Chris's story demonstrates that a simple idea, combined with consistent effort, user-centric development, and strategic growth, can lead to a successful and profitable side project. His journey highlights the importance of balancing a full-time job or studies with side project development, prioritizing user feedback, and focusing on solving a specific problem. The key takeaways are to start small, set realistic goals, and prioritize user satisfaction over immediate monetization. His success with Wish Lists, generating $150,000 a year and enabling him to quit his job, serves as an inspiration for anyone looking to build a side project and achieve financial independence.