How Do Indie Hackers Make Money?
Forget 'passion projects'. Here is the math behind profitable indie hacking. We break down the 4 most common revenue models with real numbers.
The internet is full of "passion project" advice. But Indie Hacking is a business. And businesses rely on Math, not passion.
Most successful indie hackers (making $5k - $50k/month) follow one of these exact models.
1. The B2B Micro-SaaS (Recurring)
You solve a boring problem for businesses who have a budget.
- Example: A tool that auto-generates invoices for freelancers.
- The Math: $29/month x 172 customers = $5,000/month.
- Why it works: Businesses don't churn if the tool saves them time.
2. The "One-Time" Asset (High Volume)
You sell a digital product once. No server costs, no maintenance nightmares.
- Example: A React Native Starter Kit (like VibeFast Pro).
- The Math: $199 license x 25 sales/month = $5,000/month.
- Why it works: Cash comes upfront. Great for funding your SaaS runway.
3. The "Productized Service" (High Ticket)
You sell a service, but wrap it like a product with a fixed price and scope.
- Example: "I will optimize your landing page SEO for $1,500."
- The Math: $1,500 x 3 clients = $4,500/month.
- Why it works: Easiest to start. You can start today with zero code.
4. The Ecosystem Play (The "Holy Grail")
This is what huge creators like Pieter Levels or Marc Lou do. They build multiple small apps that feed into each other.
- App A (Free tool) gets traffic -> sends users to App B (SaaS).
- App B makes money -> funds App C (Experiment).
Which One Should You Pick?
If you want Wealth, build a B2B SaaS. If you want Cash Flow Now, sell a One-Time Product.
The Strategy: Many indie hackers start with #2 (selling a template/course) to build a war chest, then use that money/time to build #1 (the SaaS).
VibeFast Pro fits into this ecosystem as the accelerator. It provides the tech stack to let you build #1 or #2 in a weekend, not a month.