BraveBit App Studio Logo
I finally did it, I’m taking the PLUNGE. I’m going Indy!!!!!
I’m very pleased to announce BraveBit App Studio, my new company 
When did this happen?
August 2011 is when I quit my day job and formed an LLC. I’ve been busy traveling for conferences, consulting, and developing apps that I am a little late to get this blog post up.
Why start a company?
Because I’ve always wanted to! I can’t help it, there’s just something inside of me that chafes at the idea of being an employee. I’m looking forward to having more freedom in my schedule, more focus on my apps, interesting contract work, and more engagement in the developer community.
What’s the focus?
The two platforms I’m focused on are iOS and the web, in that order. Ultimately I want to continue making my products the best in their categories, while also creating new ones. Of course I’d love to say that my apps are doing so well that I can pay the bills with them, but unfortunately that is not the case; therefore, I am mostly focusing my efforts on contract work right now, and there’s plenty of that to go around.
I don’t have any plans in the near term to hire employees or grow a large studio. The main reason is because I want to remain accessible to my family. I don’t want to become too busy and lose sight of what matters most. So a small, manageable consultancy with independent app development feels right for us.
Why quit your day job?
Prior to working for myself I had been at Ministry Sync for the last 3 years. They make event-management software for non-profits that is completely web-based. It’s a great company, and the decision to leave my post was a very difficult one to make. It’s rare to find a job where you can work from home, where you trust and respect your employers and they do the same for you, where the clients you serve are actually saving lives and making the world a better place. I had a lot to “lose” by leaving Ministry Sync, but since the beginning we all knew that I was just meant to be there for a season. I’ve always wanted to be more independent, and the time had finally come.
Ministry Sync is a company on the rise, they have big things ahead of them, so I’m pleased to say I’m still very involved with the company. To make the transition easier for both of us, I proposed a retainer agreement. This helps them keep one of their main projects on schedule, while also helping me to start my company with some stable work coming in. I recommend this strategy for any aspiring Indy devs out there. It creates a win-win situation for everyone.
Is now a good time?
Since I began learning iOS, I’ve had a lot of amazing experiences and met a lot of great people. By going to conferences, blogging and building respectable apps I’ve earned my place in a booming industry. There have been several companies, some with household names, that have approached me with full or part-time work.
The market for people with mobile app design and development skills is unprecedented, so the door couldn’t have been more open. This is important to note because I view the entirety of last year’s work as an investment. The markets have been a mess for a while, so I decided to stop investing in what I could not control, and start putting my money into my own skill set. Learning iOS development has cost me thousands of dollars in time and training. I’m not one to spend that much on just a hobby, I’ve been seeding this company, waiting for the right time to officially launch it.
How have things been going so far?
I LOVE IT! I really, really do love running BraveBit App Studio. My wife and I are partners in everything, including this business, so it’s been fun to work together on it and let the Lord lead us.
There are a lot of logistical challenges of course, things like health insurance, business insurance, bank accounts, negotiating contracts, invoicing work, pursuing leads, etc. But it’s all part of the fun. It does take longer than you might expect to “manage” the business, but there’s so much more satisfaction in it. It’s like owning a home. You have a lot more headaches than if you were renting, but ask any home owner if they would trade in those headaches for their old apartment, and I think most would say “no way”.
As for business, it’s fun to watch the Lord lead us and provide for what we need at each new step. Work has been coming in, too much to take on in fact. I’ve actually been growing a waiting list of clients because I’m booked until the new year!
The only down side to this is that my own apps take a back seat to the client work. I’m actually looking forward to the company’s first “dry spell” because then I can actually catch up on some of my own projects.
God is so good, and He always provides for his children. One thing He knows we all need is support and encouragement. He has certainly provided that. My family and friends have all shown a lot of faith in the business and have prayed for me and cheered me on. Even my former employer, Ministry Sync, sent me off with their prayers and best wishes.
I’m truly blessed. I thank the Lord and I thank all of you. I’m excited to finally be taking the next huge step in my appventure! I plan to continue posting on the blog and keeping you all informed.
If any of you has questions about going Indy or would like prayer for your appventure, please drop me a line anytime!
Great read about your transition into your own business Scott. As one who worked closely with you the marketing side at Ministry Sync, I know without a doubt that you have what it takes to soar to great success. Your keen ability at tasteful design, your mindfulness for creating intuitive user experiences, and your whatever-it-takes attitude will make you a force to reckon with in the independent app developer space. May the Lord continue to bless you my friend.
Hi Scotty:
Congrats on going Indy. There are many advantages, not the least of which is being able to have the flexible schedule so that you can spend precious time with your family. I’m extremely proud of all the software I’ve written and the companies I’ve co-founded and founded.
When it’s all said and done, the thing I’m most proud of in my life is being a good husband and father.
Best of success with your new venture.
John
Scott,
I just discovered your blog over the weekend, and read through it all. This post was the most inspiring of all, since with this announcement you achieved the goal that I began chasing about 4 months back. It’s especially inspiring to see how relatively quickly you were able to go independent.
I’m still in the “teaching myself iOS and Cocoa Touch” part of the journey, working through the Big Nerd Ranch’s excellent “iOS Programming” book, but should be finished in about a month, and then I plan to move on to working on my first app. Fortunately, I have prior programming experience, but it’s still a LOT of stuff to learn, especially for someone who has a very demanding full-time job, a wife, two sons, and a home to take care of!
I see my own children growing up so fast that I feel a real urgency to create my own business that will allow more flexibility, and not have to miss important moments like I do now because someone at work scheduled a meeting I have to attend, or some such reason.
If you’re looking for more posting ideas, I’d love to hear more about how you handle the contract work side of your business. Is it iOS programming that you’re doing there? Any helpful info on how you went about building up and maintaining that part of your business would be great to learn about.
Thanks for sharing all you have, and best of luck in the future!
God bless,
Doug