How I Built It: $20K/Month AI App as a Non-Technical Founder

Summary

Colin Macintosh, founder of SheetsRes.com, built an AI Resume Builder that generates $20,000 a month in just two months. The business leverages AI to offer affordable, scalable resume review services, solving a widespread problem. With minimal overhead and high margins, Colin shares his entrepreneurial journey—from a Reddit post that led to his idea, to building a software tool with a friend. He emphasizes the importance of quickly moving on ideas, helping others, and monetizing skills. With the right mindset, AI presents a massive opportunity for solopreneurs to create impactful businesses.

Takeaways

• 😀 AI business opportunities are massive right now, with low entry barriers and affordable AI credits. However, this window may not last forever.
• 😀 Colin built an AI resume builder as a side project and scaled it to $20,000 a month in just two months.
• 😀 The key advantage for AI businesses is scalability. AI tools can help handle tasks like resume reviews, allowing you to serve many more people at a fraction of the cost.
• 😀 To succeed in AI business, start quickly, build on something you're good at, and solve a common problem to prove your idea's viability.
• 😀 Colin's resume-building AI tool is priced at $99 for lifetime access and $29 for a one-week trial. The business operates with nearly 100% profit margins.
• 😀 A crucial part of launching an AI product is validation. Start by offering the service for free to understand the market demand before implementing pricing.
• 😀 Word of mouth played a vital role in the AI resume builder's growth. Colin leveraged organic traffic, especially through Reddit, to spread the word.
• 😀 The importance of a strong brand identity map: defining who you are, your target audience, and the value propositions are essential for a business's success.
• 😀 Hiring the right technical partner is key when you're not a technical founder. Colin partnered with a software engineer to bring the AI tool to life.
• 😀 Profit margins in AI businesses can be very high. Colin's resume builder operates at around 90-100% net margins, making it a highly profitable venture.

Q & A

How did Colin Macintosh turn his AI Resume Builder into a successful side project?

Colin built the AI Resume Builder by leveraging his knowledge of resume reviews and using AI tools to automate the process. This allowed him to scale the service quickly without needing to manually review resumes, leading to $20,000 in monthly revenue in just two months.

What was the unique factor that helped Colin's AI business grow so quickly?

The key to Colin's success was utilizing AI to automate resume reviews, which allowed him to serve many more customers at a lower cost compared to traditional methods. This advantage, combined with low-cost AI credits, helped him scale rapidly.

What is Colin's advice on starting an AI business right now?

Colin advises entrepreneurs to move quickly, as the current cost of AI credits (such as OpenAI's) is low, and the market is still ripe for innovative AI solutions. He believes this opportunity won’t last forever and recommends taking action now.

How did Colin validate his idea before fully launching the AI Resume Builder?

Colin initially tested the AI Resume Builder for free, offering it to users to gauge their interest and the tool’s effectiveness. The overwhelming response helped validate the idea before introducing pricing.

What marketing channels did Colin use to acquire users for the AI Resume Builder?

Colin used several marketing strategies including affiliate marketing, Google Ads, and organic traffic from Reddit. He focused on providing valuable content on Reddit, which helped drive traffic to the website.

What pricing strategy did Colin adopt for the AI Resume Builder?

Colin started by offering the AI Resume Builder for free to build initial traction. Later, he introduced two pricing plans: a $99 lifetime access plan and a $29 one-week access plan, which proved to be a sweet spot for users.

How did Colin's previous experience in recruiting contribute to the creation of the AI Resume Builder?

Colin’s background in recruiting helped him recognize that many people struggled with creating strong resumes. His expertise allowed him to design an AI tool that provided tailored resume feedback based on his rules and insights.

What was the first step Colin took in building his AI Resume Builder?

Colin’s first step was to team up with his friend Nate, a software engineer, to create the AI tool. They spent about four months building the AI with Colin providing UX feedback and Nate handling the technical development.

What does Colin suggest people do when starting a business in terms of brand identity?

Colin recommends creating a brand identity map to define how your brand will engage with people, what value propositions it offers, and which demographics to target. This document is crucial for setting a clear direction for the business.

What tools and technologies did Colin use to build the AI Resume Builder?

Colin used OpenAI Gemini, a PHP app built with the Laurel framework, AWS, Stripe for payments, and Gmail for communication. The stack is simple and cost-effective, allowing the business to scale with minimal technical complexity.