Ask HN: Thinking about open-sourcing my paid software

3 points by rubi1945 1 year ago | 2 comments

Hi startup experts, I work on Lokal.so for 4 month , but there is another thing I'm need to focus on

now, I really need a suggestion

What I'm gonna do with Lokal is:

1. Making it open source but with BSL License 2. Making it free for personal use (non-profit related) 3. License key needed if you are going to use the software for commercial/profit-related purpose. 4. The cloud version is still there 5. Offer the enterprise version

after that I'm going to move on another thing while I can just wait for Lokal sales

now, is this all are the "correct" way? or there is another better path?

Your comments really means a lot to me

brudgers 1 year ago |

I can just wait for Lokal sales

Yes, and that will be easier than selling. But it probably won't result in sales because free (as in beer) software optimizes for people who are willing to pay zero dollars. And you won't have enough money to sell to enterprise customers.

Enterprises want financially stable vendors because stability matters. Betting on a product or service has many associated costs. Those costs outweigh the actual cost of the software. If you aren't making money and are off doing other things, the bet has a high risk.

Selling is hard. Most people will avoid it because rejection sucks so much that a failed business is psychologically preferable to constant rejection.

Picking a license is also easier than selling and feels like work. It isn't work -- being easier is a tell, work feels like work. It's also mostly a waste of time because your license matters to the degree you have the wherewithal to enforce it (in other words, a license matters in proportion to your legal budget).

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the pretend work of license schemes and avoiding selling by making free plans. It's just worth recognizing that they are poor business decisions.

If you want to make money, pursue customers with money who are willing to spend it and then charge them money.Hope is not a plan. Good luck.

fsflover 1 year ago |

Why not AGPLv3 with double-licensing for sale?