Strategies for Achieving Financial Freedom as a Software Professional. Option 3: Software Reselling (Passive Income Way)
You don't have to be a highly productive developer to earn continuous passive income.
In this Strategies for Achieving Financial Freedom as a Software Professional series:
Option 1: Working at a Promising Software Company with Share Options as a Loyal Employee
💡 My Advice to Excel as a Software Engineer at a Top Software CompanyOption 2: Solopreneur / Micro-ISV / Start-up Founder: Develop your own apps.
💡 My Advice for Software Engineers Pursuing the Path of Solopreneurship, Micro-ISV, or Startup *Option 3: Software Reselling (Passive Income Way)
💡 My Advice for Achieving Financial Freedom as a Software Professional: Software Reselling (Passive Income Way)Part 4: Choose the One that Suits You Best *
Clearly, the first two options entail a high level of technical proficiency. How about software professionals who are not technically excellent, such as ordinary software engineers, ordinary SDETs, software architects who can’t do hands-on coding anymore, software managers, or even business analysts? Yes, there is a way to accomplish financial freedom via reselling software.
This article explores how ambitious software professionals can achieve financial freedom by leveraging their industry connections and expertise in reselling software.
Understand Software Sales
Software engineers often have biases against salespeople—I used to be one of them. But I was wrong.
1. A significant portion of wealthy individuals possess sales experience
Have you noticed that some of your relatively wealthy classmates, despite not excelling academically, often had careers in sales? This has been true for my classmates, as well as those of my sister and brother. Strong sales skills can be a powerful path to wealth.
2. Developing software requires specific skills, and effective marketing demands its own distinct expertise.
A great example is Apple. Steve Wozniak designed the Apple II, while Steve Jobs focused on marketing and sales. Notably, Jobs had a strong understanding of technology and was deeply involved in design, enabling him to make many brilliant technical decisions.
In contrast, most software project managers struggle to demonstrate their own applications effectively.
3. A good salesman makes a whole world of difference
I once came across a saying: “If even one customer likes and purchases a product, a good salesperson can sell it to many more.” Truly exceptional salespeople, like top-tier software engineers, are rare—I have yet to meet one.
My apps—TestWise, ClinicWise, SiteWise, BuildWise, and WhenWise—all have commercial customers, with initial sales made by me. However, due to my limited focus and capability in marketing, business growth has been less than ideal. Over the years, various colleagues, customers, and friends have expressed interest in marketing these products as a side hustle. While some managed to close a few sales and earn generous commissions, none proved to be truly skilled salespeople.
New and Better Sales Model Thanks to Advancements in Technologies
1. Reach far greater customers much more easily and quickly at a much lower cost.
Imagine a door-to-door insurance salesman in the 1960s—how many deals could he close in a day? Today, a software salesperson can reach a thousand times more customers through websites, YouTube, TikTok, and other digital platforms.
2. Global Market
It's important to remember that software isn't just for English speakers—people worldwide can use it. With the growing number of users in countries like India, localization (using I18n) can make an application accessible to Chinese and Japanese speakers, unlocking a market of over a billion more potential users.
3. Live Demo, Training, or Problem-Solving via Video Conference
Post-COVID, people have become accustomed to working through video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Meet, creating valuable new opportunities for sales.
4. Accumulated Growth
A satisfied customer can help spread the word about an app through word of mouth, though this process takes time. Sometimes, a major turning point—like a mention from a renowned tech influencer or adoption by a software giant—can trigger rapid growth, reducing the need for further promotion.
Impatient salespeople who prioritize quick, high commissions often fail to recognize this potential.
In the next article, I’ll share my specific advice.
