Ask HN: Feedback please: open-source non-SaaS accounting app for solo operators
4 comments
You should probably go to Show HN and read the rules there. If this qualifies for being submitted as a Show HN, you will likely get more feedback.
I like this idea very much. Although given the incumbents and their aggressive pricing, it's hard to eventually productize something and build a business, if that's your goal.
The space is also complicated with regulations that are not easy to translate from one country / state to another. So an open source approach may not work perfectly.
However, I'd love to see some Open Source options that can piggyback on existing services, e.g. QBO api, so we can avoid paying the advanced features that are expensive, a lock-in and leaves something to be desired for customizability.
The space is also complicated with regulations that are not easy to translate from one country / state to another. So an open source approach may not work perfectly.
However, I'd love to see some Open Source options that can piggyback on existing services, e.g. QBO api, so we can avoid paying the advanced features that are expensive, a lock-in and leaves something to be desired for customizability.
Hi,
Thanks for your feedback.
> it's hard to eventually productize something and build a business, if that's your goal.
True, but hopefully once it gets enough eyeballs, a monetisation route will reveal itself.
I have two prospective ideas:
* Charging a one-off fee (in the range of $40-$80?) for a premium desktop edition of the software. Sorta-like COTS. This dovetails nicely with the 'non-cloud' idea.
* Just slap advertising on the web edition and hope it works :)
> The space is also complicated with regulations that are not easy to translate from one country / state to another. So an open source approach may not work perfectly.
Agree, but I'm adopting a 'wait and see' approach.
> However, I'd love to see some Open Source options that can piggyback on existing services, e.g. QBO api, so we can avoid paying the advanced features that are expensive, a lock-in and leaves something to be desired for customizability.
Oh, interesting! I didn't know QuickBooks had an online API. Thanks, I'll look into it.
Thanks for your feedback.
> it's hard to eventually productize something and build a business, if that's your goal.
True, but hopefully once it gets enough eyeballs, a monetisation route will reveal itself.
I have two prospective ideas:
* Charging a one-off fee (in the range of $40-$80?) for a premium desktop edition of the software. Sorta-like COTS. This dovetails nicely with the 'non-cloud' idea.
* Just slap advertising on the web edition and hope it works :)
> The space is also complicated with regulations that are not easy to translate from one country / state to another. So an open source approach may not work perfectly.
Agree, but I'm adopting a 'wait and see' approach.
> However, I'd love to see some Open Source options that can piggyback on existing services, e.g. QBO api, so we can avoid paying the advanced features that are expensive, a lock-in and leaves something to be desired for customizability.
Oh, interesting! I didn't know QuickBooks had an online API. Thanks, I'll look into it.
Be careful with the opportunistic view. Nothing wrong with being optimistic, but if from a fundamental business analysis something doesn't seem to make sense at the moment, then take caution before diving in. Of course this is by no mean to discourage from pursuing it. Mainly just commenting on your wait-and-see-hope-it-will-work framework.
Overall I'd plause for the attempt, and would love to get in touch specifically for the QBO api. That's something I'm contemplating myself.
Overall I'd plause for the attempt, and would love to get in touch specifically for the QBO api. That's something I'm contemplating myself.
I'm building an app and I'd like some review/feedback/constructive-criticism please.
It's an accounting app targeted at solo operators (for example, freelancers, consultants, contractors, side gigs etc). Due to the niche target market, it only has a subset of the functionality found in other accounting apps, but this also means that's no unnecessary clutter. In other words, it's stripped down and simple, but (hopefully) fully functional for the target user.
Also, it's non-cloud/non-SaaS in the sense that ... the data file is stored on the user's computer instead of being stored in the vendor's cloud and it's in an accessible open data format. In other words, the user has full control over their own data.
For various reasons, I (hopefully?) think there is a market opportunity for non-SaaS entry level accounting software.
If you're interested, here are some links:
Web edition of the app: https://www.gigobooks.com/webapp Interim website (work-in-progress, needs more marketing and content): https://www.gigobooks.com The open source / desktop edition of the app: https://github.com/gigobooks/gigobooks
Some questions to spur discussion ...
* Do you think it has enough functionality for the target market/user? What other additional features might be needed? * If you are a target user, would you use such an app? If not, why not?
Any comments, criticisms, questions etc. are welcome and appreciated.
Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your comments and thoughts!