u/rickiestm0rty

My startup is a SaaS that helps small hotels organize their bookings. So the reason I built a Property management software was because of my family's guesthouse in Bantayan Island. We were using whiteboard and notebooks before and of course, it was prone to human error.

I started building this two years ago and we are using this for the past 2 years. Didn't really market it to other businesses because I always second-guessed myself.

Then a month ago, I started to have so much motivation on marketing and distributing my app. I don't know what happened but I have been working on this everyday now. First thing on my mind when I wake up and last thing I do when I go to sleep.

I started marketing on facebook since most small hotel owners live there but not much signups there. I did attract some Airbnb hosts but I don't think they feel "double booking" pain enough since they only manage 1 unit most of the time.

Then I tried TikTok. Short videos, no script, just me showing the app and talking about the problem. Two people signed up and one of them actually messaged me asking for more details. That felt good.

Then last week, someone upgraded to Plus. A real paying customer. Not a friend, not a family member, not someone I begged. A stranger who found the app, tried it, and decided it was worth paying for.

I don't know if this is going to turn into something big. But that first payment hit different. It meant someone else had the same problem I had, tried my solution, and thought it was worth their money.

Still figuring out distribution. Still tweaking the product. But for the first time in two years, I feel like I'm actually building something, not just for my family's guesthouse, but for every small property owner sitting in front of a whiteboard trying to keep track of who's checking in tomorrow.

If you're building something and second-guessing yourself, just ship it. The first paying customer will make it real.

https://gooverbooked.com

So the reason I built a PMS was because of my family's guesthouse in Bantayan Island. We were using whiteboard and notebooks before and of course, it was prone to human error.

I started building this two years ago and we are using this for the past 2 years. Didn't really market it to other businesses because I always second-guessed myself.

Then a month ago, I started to have so much motivation on marketing and distributing my app. I don't know what happened but I have been working on this everyday now. First thing on my mind when I wake up and last thing I do when I go to sleep.

I started marketing on facebook since most small hotel owners live there but not much signups there. I did attract some Airbnb hosts but I don't think they feel "double booking" pain enough since they only manage 1 unit most of the time.

Then I tried TikTok. Short videos, no script, just me showing the app and talking about the problem. Two people signed up and one of them actually messaged me asking for more details. That felt good.

Then last week, someone upgraded to Plus. A real paying customer. Not a friend, not a family member, not someone I begged. A stranger who found the app, tried it, and decided it was worth paying for.

I don't know if this is going to turn into something big. But that first payment hit different. It meant someone else had the same problem I had, tried my solution, and thought it was worth their money.

Still figuring out distribution. Still tweaking the product. But for the first time in two years, I feel like I'm actually building something, not just for my family's guesthouse, but for every small property owner sitting in front of a whiteboard trying to keep track of who's checking in tomorrow.

If you're building something and second-guessing yourself, just ship it. The first paying customer will make it real.

https://gooverbooked.com

https://preview.redd.it/76q8x2eibe1h1.png?width=1113&format=png&auto=webp&s=03a5c5be72fea6789a40fd60b4955793a87539b0

I've been very envious of how other founders got their first paying customers. I second-guessed my app multiple times. Started seriously distributing a month ago, but built this for our family business (guesthouse) a year ago already.

Before building this, I thought that since the pain was validated (our guesthouse felt it firsthand), finding users would be easy. Damn. Distribution is hard. The one good thing it does is force you to think about why your product even matters. And then figure out how to say that to a stranger.

I started with generic pubmats on Facebook. Didn't work. People are wary of ads. Wasted around $20 on Meta ads.

Then I started talking to guesthouse owners directly. Some of them are very wary of free plans. "What's in it for you?" I tried explaining there are paid plans too. Still skeptical. I think B2B owners expect to pay for something if it means they'll actually get more back. My pitch was not refined, so none of them tried it.

Then I listened to a podcast about Airbnb's early years. They had a problem where users weren't taking good photos of their listings. Classic onboarding issue. So I fixed mine to be less "explore and figure it out" and more "do these two things first."

Then TikTok. Just 7 to 15-second videos of me using my MacBook with the app open. 600 views in a day. I duplicated it with small variations. Then someone messaged me.

He asked if the app solved one specific problem. We talked. He tested it for a few days. Then he subscribed before the trial ended. I didn't even have a payment channel built yet. He just sent it to my e-wallet. Wanted to lock in the early user discount.

First sale. Next up: 10 paying users.

My app is https://gooverbooked.com if you want to check it out

Guest checks out at 10pm, new guest arrives at 11pm. Do you charge the first guest a full extra night, half day, or hourly? And how do you track that in your system so the room doesn't get double booked? I think the term is rolling check ins

If so, I’d like to ask for your honest opinion.

Some of my users also accept facebook inquiries and they signed up to use my web app for internal use, even though they already have airbnb’s calendar. however, they didn’t continue using my app after the initial room type creation.

What pain points did you experience when accepting facebook inquiries and airbnb ones (or other channels for that matter)? Maybe the features I have do not solve any pain points.

So context on my app and its features is that it shows a visual calendar, prevents bookings on the same date if no availability, expense tracker, and analytical dashboard.

any tips?