From New Idea To Business Launch In One Month (with pictures)

In: Business Ideas|How To By: Brian Armstrong

18 Feb 2008

This entry is part 1 of 21 in the series UniversityTutor.com

Hey Folks,

I’ve been hard at work on a new business idea which I’ll be unveiling here over the next few weeks to you on this blog as I track the launch, new features, marketing efforts, and of course the results.

I am following my own philosophy that I teach: when you come across a new business idea, find the cheapest and fastest way to test it and just get SOMETHING out there which people can see and give you feedback on. This is far better than what most people do which is either (1) have a great idea and think about it so long you never take any action on it or (2) spend way too much time and money on something that eventually turns out to not work. If this doesn’t work, I’m going to find out quickly and have lost very little other than my time.

Total investment to launch this business:
$102.00 – 12 months of web hosting
$8.88 – one domain name
About 80 hours of my time.

The Idea
As many of you know I’ve owned a tutoring business for 4 years now. The way it works currently is that people fill out the form on my website requesting a tutor, then someone like myself or someone who works for me calls them back and sets them up with a tutor. Typically, 3-4 phone calls and emails are involved with each new person who signs up from the time they first sign up to the time they are matched with a tutor and earning money.

One of the harder parts about growing the business is finding good people to match students with tutors. People who will approach it with as much enthusiasm as I do (hard to find, since to them it is a job and to me its my own business). And I can’t just do it all on my own, because that is being “self-employed”, not a true “business owner” who can disappear and the company continues to grow.

So anyway, a friend of mine came up with the idea. Yes you read that right, I didn’t even come up with this idea myself, remember that one of the keys to coming up with great business ideas is just to be around other people who have good ideas. (In case you’re wondering, we structured an agreement so that he’ll be compensated if it works.)

The idea is to let people browse tutor profiles on the website and pick their own tutors. All the tutors are college students at prestigious universities. Clients can view lots of information to help them make a decision (the tutor’s major, GPA, feedback and reviews from other clients, picture, resume, location, etc).

Instead of taking a percentage of each hour of tutoring, which is what I do now, this would be more hands off approach and we’d only charge a flat fee to contact tutors since they’d be doing much of it on their own.

The beauty of this idea is that is scales well (something I talk about in Breaking Free extensively). In other words, the amount of time required on my part to match 10 tutors vs. 10,000 tutors with this model is practically the same because the whole thing is automated through the website. So even though I’d make less per hour of tutoring, it could reach a much wider audience.

Sketching Out Ideas

So I couldn’t sleep one night and decided to sketch out how this website might look. I prefer to design on paper. Designing a website in Photoshop or by coding it as I go seems to provide too much friction in the creative process. Here are some early sketches. You can see how things progressed and changed a little bit along the way.

Also, my theory on make good webpages (especially when in the product launch phase here when you just want to get something done quickly and “good enough”) is to find a design you like on another page, and tailor it to your own needs. Don’t copy it outright, but pretty close is fine. No need to reinvent the wheel early on. Can you tell which site I borrowed liberally from? :)

Auto Completion

One pretty neat feature I’ve already put in is auto completion. Basically, when you start to type a class subject it guesses what you might want to put there and helps you out by making suggestions below. You can see an example of what I’m talking about in the pictures. This helps people make better search queries and helps them get the spelling right so they don’t get frustrated and leave.

By the way I’m using a relatively new programming language called Ruby on Rails to develop this site, which makes doing things like this auto completion pretty easy.

Coming Up Next…
Over the next few weeks I’ll be showing new features that come out and show you how I’m going to test out this idea and see if it works.

Site site is now live, you can visit it at: www.UniversityTutor.com

Stay tuned!
Brian Armstrong

This post is part of a series on: UniversityTutor.com

Share and Enjoy:

48 Responses

Ideabobber.com

February 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm

Interesting Post Brian. Will be interested to see how it works out. Your point on sharing ideas is right on target. We encourage idea people and entrepreneurs to exchange thoughts on our site: Ideabobber.com
—–
Float, Vote and Search for Ideas: http://www.ideabobber.com

Terra Andersen

February 25th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

Great post. I am in like you in the fact that I’ll discover a business concept, and find ways to launch it immediately. I submitted this to bizsugar. Wonderful stuff! and Good luck!

Freddie

March 6th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

Brian,

You are the man! Can’t wait to see how this new idea turns out. It sounds like you are really on to something.

I haven’t started reading your book yet, but it is in my line up. I love to read and learn, so I had to put it into the line up.

Also, my progress on the 30 Day Challenge stalled at Day 14. Had some issues inside one of my businesses that has keep me from completing the challenge, but I plan on getting back down to business next week.

Finally, great information about planning to build your website on paper first. That is always the easiest. My problem is I never really get to a version that I want to stick with, then end up constantly changing the layout of the site. I will get over this soon, but in the mean time I just keep shooting with the ideas that come to me and am never afraid to try.

Good luck in your venture and I will be reading the blog!!!!

Brian Armstrong

March 6th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

Thanks for the kind words Freddie!

elliottcable

August 6th, 2008 at 9:58 am

Just wanted to point out that Ruby on Rails is not a programming language, it’s a framework – and a lot of Ruby coders don’t even consider it very well done.

You should check out Merb when you have some time, it’s quite similar, but has a lot cleaner code in it’s bowels IMHO. It’s also written in Ruby, so you get a lot of the great benefits that you get in Rails there as well.

Brian Armstrong

August 7th, 2008 at 1:24 am

Pretty neat, hadn’t heard of that before.

Brenda Jones

September 12th, 2008 at 8:52 am

I signed up for your blog and did not receive my 3 books online. They never came. Please forward them to me.

Thanks!

Brian Armstrong

September 12th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

Hi Brenda,

The link is at the bottom of the email, somewhat easy to miss. I’ll send it to you now…
Brian

PizzaForADream

October 7th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

I agree that most folks take way too much time thinking (Knowledge Constipation). My philosophy is that the only way I’ll know is by ACTUALLY TRYING. Most of my businesses have been tried for less than $500 and have been validated or not within a couple of months tops. Have never written a business plan (essentially, a “resume” for your business) as I’ve never gone to a bank to borrow money. Hopefully I’ll have a need to at some point, but not currently.

Brian Armstrong

October 11th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

Sounds like we’re following a similar strategy ;) Thanks for the comment!

Angela Boat

March 8th, 2009 at 8:15 pm

Great idea, I think you’re thinking the way that millionaires think personally. Just remember that marketing it is what will bring all your business, people have to know you’re out there to use your services.

One of the most interesting, unique, and innovative books I’ve come across on this subject is Robert Allen’s Multiple Streams of Internet Income.

Chrystal

March 27th, 2009 at 5:06 am

Brian, I have to say you are a God-send. I am confident in knowing I have great ideas. The issue was execution in the past. I have large ideas. I would get overwhelmed once I started to hatch out my plans and thought it was too hard and would give up in the past. A few years ago I decided to do financial statements for my personal finances. I created my own electronic checkbook balance and expense tracker years ago before all the online tools were available. I found overly complicated software that simply took too much time in the past. Recently I decided to go after my dreams of starting my own businesses again. I decided to work on my financial statements first. After 50 million searches, I found your site. OMG!!! I found the financial stuff and then notice there was more. I know when I see greatness. As simple as you made this site and how you deliver information, your message transcends far beyond your site. I am gonna get deep here, lol however I sense my words will mean something to you. I feel affirmed knowing and seeing that someone has decided to teach, demonstrate, and usher people into their heart’s desires in business and financial freedom. You have a true passion and heart to shine your light on all who pass your way. You are helping people. Beans man. Beans.

Brian Armstrong

April 6th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

Haha, Beans! Thanks Chrystal and welcome to the site, thanks for the kind words!

Gino Jacques

March 30th, 2009 at 4:42 pm

Hey Brian this is Gino Jacques this is my first time on this site which by the way I consider to be a really great site …..I mean more people should know about this site and I will do my part to make sure they do. But I was writing because I have a business idea for you I feel like you will benefit a lot form it let me know if you are interested ….

Brian Armstrong

April 6th, 2009 at 2:31 pm

Hi Gino, welcome to the site! Best place to post your idea and get discussion would be on the forum:
http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?page_id=418&forumaction=showforum&forum=7

I’ll def take a look at it there. Thanks!

Anh Han

January 16th, 2010 at 11:08 am

Brian,

Just found this post (I know it’s old!) after investigating how I can achieve my one goal for 2010 – to become a Location Independent Person by realising some of my ideas for a semi passive income.

I read the whole series in one sitting, and it’s really inspiring – I got a lot of ideas from your reading, especially related to your feature set and membership model.

I’ve had a few ideas for similar “agent/broker” type websites and your writings on this series have reignited my spark and given me lots of things to think about and potentially model (like you said, why reinvent the wheel!)

On this post, you mentioned that it took you 80 hours of your time. What was this from? Idea to release? Also, how competent in the Rails framework were you at this point in time?

The reason I ask is that I have no programming experience in web applications (but have some knowledge of programming concepts so am considering learning). I want to create a site like UniversityTutor.com and have created a spec on elance. One bidder thinks I need about 400 hours to complete – I think this is vastly over estimated and would value your input.

Thanks again for your writings. I have a feeling, this is a year I’ll start taking action towards breaking free.

Regards
Anh

Brian Armstrong

January 17th, 2010 at 5:29 pm

Hi Anh,

Well the first version might have been done in 3-4 weeks, but I’ve put in hundreds or thousands of hours since then to add more features and market it etc. UniversityTutor was the first site I built in rails. So it was sort of a learning experience. You can check out a book called Agile Web Development With Rails 3rd Edition, if you go through that book and do all the examples you will understand rails. It’s not easy, but if you are determined it could all be worth it. Hope it helps :)
Brian

Anh Han

January 17th, 2010 at 6:12 pm

wow thats fast! I was looking on elance to find a coder for my project and they were qutoing 400hrs!

Think i may just follow your lead. Learn ROR and release early and often…. i will keep you posted!

Brian Armstrong

January 18th, 2010 at 10:55 pm

Sounds good, best of luck Anh :)

Gk => habtmprojects.com

January 20th, 2010 at 5:17 pm

Hi Anh, a couple months ago, I was in your exact situation. I’m not a programmer by any means, but I’ve been able to pick up Rails well enough to be dangerous :) I’m hoping to launch my first project within a month, and have already put up a quick teaser page with Rails (eliterati.com).

I would say definitely go for it. If nothing else, you can get a quick prototype out for testing/early customer feedback, etc., then pay someone on elance just to “tighten the bolts” and polish it up.

Also, there are some amazing resources out there for learning rails. StackOverflow, Peepcode, Railscasts, etc. Having gone through (and currently going through) exactly what you are considering myself, I would also be happy to help out / answer questions, etc. You can ping me at gk-at-habtmprojects.com.

Good Luck!

Anh Han

January 20th, 2010 at 6:24 pm

Wow, such a great and giving community. I think I will go through the books and resources you all suggested, guess it’s a case of just blocking off time and just powering through.

Thanks again!

Mirat

February 11th, 2010 at 12:49 am

So you’re saying I shouldn’t sit on my business idea too long? But I don’t have your web design know how. It’ll cost me tons of money to make my site. I feel like I have so much more to learn. I’m documenting my process in my blog. If you visit, let me know what you think. I really like your blog. it got me to start my own. Thanks.

Brian Armstrong

February 15th, 2010 at 6:51 am

Hey Mirat, a blog is a great way to start. If you don’t have web design skills you could take more time to learn if you want or partner with someone who does (pay them with equity). I glanced at your blog. You may already know this but stay away from “make money at home” type products, they are 100% BS.

Sofia Singh

May 25th, 2010 at 4:52 am

i love to see new product launches because i am addicted to shopping both online and offline.”‘-

Barry

June 8th, 2010 at 2:43 pm

Sounds all fine and dandy! That is all just common business sense. If I could build a site like that, I would have tested out 50 business ideas or better in the last 5 years. So, if you can’t build your own site, how much would it have cost you then?

striker

July 6th, 2010 at 12:58 am

Brian,
Just curious about how your Ruby sites are faring in terms of Performance. I am at the point of deciding what technology to go with in creating my Web app. ie., choose between PHP based web apps Vs going with Ruby/Rails. I loved your post on stitching together Ruby pieces for one of your web sites.
Thanks for your articles. They keep me motivated.
Striker

Brian Armstrong

July 6th, 2010 at 6:22 am

Hi Striker,

No problem scaling them so far. I think ruby is a big advancement over php for web apps. With computing power getting cheaper and cheaper with Moore’s law, what people are realizing is that programmer efficiency is more important than computer efficiency. You can always optimize it later, but for the vast majority of projects you just need to get it working first – and hope you actually get a million uniques a day. Hope it helps!
Brian

Troy

July 12th, 2010 at 8:43 am

Hello, I just read your ideas for this tutoring website and I think it’s a FANTASTIC IDEA!!! I recently spoke with some prospective college students and they are actually a part-time tutor for kids around the San Fernando Valley, CA. This is a great invention that makes it easier for studious kids to find a tutor and it’s totally going to change the way people network to find these great tutors. Good Luck this!

Troy

Brian Armstrong

July 13th, 2010 at 5:59 pm

Thanks Troy! Appreciate the kind words and welcome to the site.

Breaking Free

From New Idea To Business Launch In One Month (with pictures)

48 Responses

Leave A Comment

About this blog

Most Popular Posts

You should follow me on Twitter here.