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Someone offered me $6K for a little book app I built for fun — not sure if I should sell it or not.
r/SideProject
7/13/2025
Content Summary
A developer created BookSnap, a book discovery app, as a passion project. After gaining 300 organic users, he received an unsolicited $6K acquisition offer from an ebook platform. The developer is conflicted about selling vs. growing it independently, citing lack of marketing skills and fear of clones. Commenters suggest negotiating higher prices, adding royalties, seeking IP protection, or finding growth partners.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream Opinion: Most commenters believe $6K is undervalued, suggesting negotiation ($20k-100k) or adding royalty clauses. Many emphasize the product's validated potential through organic growth.
Controversial Views: Some suspect the post is a marketing stunt, noting OP's new account and promotional history. Others argue cloning is inevitable regardless of sale.
Key Debates:
- Sell vs. Grow: Pro-sell arguments cite limited developer resources; pro-grow highlight untapped monetization potential.
- Valuation Methods: Hourly-rate calculation ($6k fair) vs. strategic-value assessment ($100k+).
- IP Protection: Urgent trademark filing vs. accepting clone-risks given easy replicability.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BookSnap | https://booksnap.pro | Book Discovery & Analysis | Book cover scanning, title search, summaries, vibe analysis, pros/cons, mood-based recommendations, quote cards, community reviews |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Lack of marketing expertise and budget to scale the app
- Uncertainty about monetization and business model
- Fear of larger companies copying the app without compensation
- No legal protection (copyright/trademark) for the product
- Limited time and resources to maintain/grow the project
Problems to Solve:
- How to monetize a passion project with organic traction
- Whether to sell the app or grow it independently
- Protecting intellectual property against potential clones
- Scaling a niche tool without dedicated marketing resources
Potential Solutions:
- Negotiate a higher sale price (e.g., $20k) or add royalties
- License the technology instead of outright sale
- Partner with marketers/developers to grow the project
- Implement affiliate links or subscriptions for monetization
- Seek legal protection for IP before further negotiations
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Leveraging organic growth through niche communities
- Validating product-market fit via unsolicited acquisition offers
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Organic user acquisition (300+ users with zero marketing)
- Community-driven growth via platforms like Reddit
- Potential for targeted ads (e.g., Google Ads) in niche markets
Monetization & Product:
- Strong product-market fit for heavy readers (validated by user feedback)
- Potential monetization models: subscriptions, affiliate commissions, sponsored content
- Feature development ideas: iOS app expansion, enhanced recommendation algorithms
User Engagement:
- Building user loyalty through hobby-aligned tools ("readers helping readers")
- Incorporating user feedback for iterative improvements
- Creating shareable content (e.g., quote cards) to drive virality