28 Business Ideas For Software Architects [2024]

Updated: September 3rd, 2024

Interested in starting a business as a doctor in 2024?

If managed well, building a business as a doctor could be more lucrative than employment. So, which are the best business ideas for Doctors?

We put together 28 of some of the best doctor business ideas you can start in today.

For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other doctor businesses to help you see what it takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a micro saas ($82.9K/month)

As a software architect, delving into the micro-SaaS arena presents a compelling opportunity to generate supplementary income or even establish a full-fledged business. By leveraging your existing expertise in software design and system architecture, you could create highly specialized solutions that cater to niche markets. This targeted approach allows for the delivery of customized, value-driven products that address specific pain points, setting your offering apart from more generic SaaS solutions.

Identifying a unique problem and developing a solution tailored to a niche audience can help you build a loyal customer base, fostering deeper relationships and ensuring ongoing demand for your product. Furthermore, by focusing on customer feedback, you could continuously refine and improve your micro-SaaS application, securing its relevance and success in the long term. This focus on precision and customization makes the micro-SaaS model a viable and attractive choice for entrepreneurial software architects looking to make a meaningful impact while supplementing their income.

How much you can make: $117 — $1,766,666/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How We Developed A $29K/Month WhatsApp Plugin For Shopify

SuperLemon, a WhatsApp plugin for Shopify eCommerce stores, crossed $29,000 in MRR as of July 2020, with 20,000 users from 50+ countries and 1700+ paying customers, all acquired through organic marketing strategies and a relentless focus on customer service and satisfaction.

Read by 23,512 founders

2. Start a wordpress maintenance services ($24.3K/month)

As a software architect, you could seamlessly transition into the realm of WordPress maintenance services, leveraging your technical expertise to manage, update, and optimize WordPress websites. This side business caters to a growing market of website owners who lack the time or technical skills to handle essential tasks like security updates, plugin and theme management, speed optimization, backups, and troubleshooting.

WordPress maintenance services offer the allure of recurring revenue through monthly service plans, creating a steady income stream. Moreover, this business model is highly scalable, allowing you to hire specialists or adopt automation tools as it grows. By maintaining and improving existing platforms rather than developing new ones, you can provide invaluable peace of mind to your clients while turning your technical skills into a profitable venture.

How much you can make: $600 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $550 (?)

How long does it take to build: 22 days (?)

How I Started A $1.4K/Month WordPress Support Service

Work Hero is a WordPress support and maintenance service that went from working with one website in December 2019 to 13 recurring customer sites today, earning ~$1470/month with most customers paying an unlimited fee of $149/month.

Read by 7,824 founders

3. Start a shopify ecommerce agency ($105K/month)

Starting a Shopify eCommerce agency could be a lucrative venture for a software architect looking to diversify income streams. Given your existing proficiency in web development and system design, you could seamlessly offer services such as Shopify store setup, custom theme development, and integration of advanced functionalities to optimize the user experience.

Leveraging your technical expertise, you could also provide SEO services and eCommerce marketing strategies that drive traffic and boost sales for your clients. Additionally, focusing on a niche market could help you stand out and quickly grow your clientele.

By transitioning into this role, you could utilize your architectural skills to design efficient, scalable solutions for online retailers, ultimately enabling them to achieve their eCommerce goals while supplementing your own income.

How much you can make: $20,000 — $300,000/month

How long does it take to build: 95 days (?)

How I Started A $100K/Month Shopify Ecommerce Agency

Velstar, a UK-based Shopify Plus partner agency, has seen impressive year-on-year revenue growth of at least 100% every year, due to their focus on building engaging and conversion-focused eCommerce websites, and highly effective growth marketing for direct-to-consumer brands on Shopify, with big ambitions for 2020 including launching a local Shopify Plus meetup, an eCommerce podcast, investing in content marketing and hiring their first business development personnel.

Read by 9,103 founders

4. Start an ecommerce platform ($202K/month)

As a software architect, launching an ecommerce platform could be a strategic way to supplement your income or even become a full-fledged business endeavor. Given the constant rise in online shopping—over 2 billion people prefer shopping online—there is a ripe market waiting to be tapped into. Your technical expertise would be invaluable in building a robust, scalable, and secure ecommerce platform that stands out in this growing industry.

Furthermore, your knowledge in software design and architecture would enable you to create custom solutions tailored to specific niches, offering features like enhanced user experiences and seamless integration with various payment and logistics systems. This could give you a competitive edge, making your platform more appealing to a broader customer base. By utilizing your existing skills, you could not only generate extra income but also potentially lay the groundwork for a future-proof business.

How much you can make: $100 — $2,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How I Left My Job To Start A $9K/Month CAD Design Business

A 3D CAD designer and product inventor who started as a side hustle and averaged $9,000 a month in revenue, shares his insights on the ups and downs of owning a service-based business alongside an eCommerce store, as well as lessons learned in customer acquisition and in generating multiple streams of passive income.

Read by 20,164 founders

5. Start a tech talent platform ($852K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your deep technical expertise and understanding of the industry's demands to start a tech talent platform. Your insights into the complexities of software development make you uniquely positioned to create a platform that effectively matches skilled developers with suitable projects and employers.

By curating a niche marketplace focused on high-caliber tech talent, you could supplement your income and potentially build a thriving business. This platform could offer additional features such as skill assessments, project management tools, and community forums, providing value to both employers and talent while differentiating your offering in a competitive space.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $5,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 133 days (?)

We Bootstrapped A Tech Talent Platform To $1.2M Sales In Our First Year

CloudDevs, a tech talent platform that sources and vets freelance tech talent and matches them with companies, has achieved $1 million in GMV in its first year, plans to achieve 100% growth year on year, and focuses on customer loyalty through its Net Promoter Score metric.

Read by 17,238 founders

6. Start an ai platform ($402K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your deep understanding of systems and software development to launch an AI platform that simplifies the integration of artificial intelligence into various business operations. By offering ready-made solutions for data analysis, machine learning models, and automation, your platform could minimize the technical barriers that many businesses face when adopting AI technologies.

Imagine empowering organizations to optimize their processes, make informed decisions, and boost productivity with AI—all without them needing to hire specialized teams. The demand for AI solutions is skyrocketing, and many companies are eager to adopt these technologies but lack the expertise to do so. An AI platform provides a plug-and-play solution that bridges this gap, presenting a potent opportunity for you to supplement your income or even create a highly scalable business.

Starting such a platform would require a robust foundation in AI and software development, skills you likely already possess. The potential rewards in terms of growth and long-term impact are significant, making this an enticing venture for entrepreneurial-minded software architects.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $3,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

The App I Built In 12 Hours Now Makes $15K/Mo

A founder shares how he built AudioPen.ai, a tool that transcribes voice notes, generating $15,000 monthly with minimal costs and no paid marketing, highlighting the importance of focusing on the product, word of mouth, and personal communication with users for sustainable growth.

Read by 14,034 founders

7. Start a no code platform ($308K/month)

Leveraging a no-code platform could be an excellent way for you, as a software architect, to supplement your income or kickstart a side business. By capitalizing on your deep understanding of software design principles, you could create sophisticated applications quickly using intuitive graphical interfaces rather than coding from scratch. This efficiency not only opens up more opportunities to generate revenue but also allows you to focus on high-level problem-solving and creative innovation.

Building solutions with a no-code platform can help you tap into the growing demand for digital solutions without the overhead of extensive coding. You could develop anything from websites and mobile apps to data analysis tools, enabling you to attract a diverse client base. This can also democratize app development for small business owners, hobbyists, and other entrepreneurs who lack technical expertise, positioning you as a vital resource in the tech ecosystem.

How much you can make: $3,000 — $3,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $749 (?)

How long does it take to build: 85 days (?)

How I Started A $7K/Month Marketplace To Connect Companies With No-Code Talent

Codemap.io is a freelance & agency marketplace for no-code, low-code, and automation, enabling anyone to hire no-code experts to build their products, MVPs, and apps up to 10x cheaper and faster than with traditional development, with 900+ clients, close to $2,000,000 in created projects, and 110+ hires made, all achieved in less than 6 months.

Read by 10,756 founders

8. Start a saas company ($176K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your technical expertise and deep understanding of system design to create a successful SaaS (Software as a Service) company. SaaS products, delivered via the internet on a subscription basis, offer tools such as project management, automation, and workflow design, making them essential to businesses looking to streamline operations and reduce IT costs. Your strong technical background would enable you to develop high-quality software, a critical component for any successful SaaS company.

Moreover, the SaaS business model provides substantial flexibility and can lead to high margins, which is attractive for entrepreneurial endeavors. Exploring this avenue could allow you to generate additional income, either as a supplemental side business or a primary venture. Drawing inspiration from leading companies like Salesforce, which generates the majority of its revenue from SaaS tools, could guide your path in building an innovative and profitable SaaS product.

How much you can make: $20 — $4,160,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

I Turned My Side Project into A $26K/Month SaaS Tool

AI-powered web application, Excelformulabot.com, generates Excel formulas within seconds for a subscription fee of $6.99/month or free for five formula requests per month, resulting in $14k/month in recurring revenue since its launch in September 2022, accruing millions of visitors through word of mouth, influencer marketing, SEO, and PPC, implemented through no-code web application Bubble.io, while preparing to penetrate a B2B market and focus on B2B outreach in the future.

Read by 21,981 founders

9. Build a chrome extension ($72.8K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your programming and coding skills to develop a unique Chrome extension. These small software programs allow users to customize and enhance their browsing experience, providing a fertile ground for innovation and practicality. You could create an extension that boosts productivity or offers enhanced security, thereby addressing common pains and needs within the browser ecosystem.

By selling the extension on the Chrome Web Store or offering it for free with revenue generated through advertising, you could supplement your income and potentially scale it into a full-fledged business. This venture not only showcases your technical expertise but also allows you to capitalize on the growing demand for useful browser enhancements, making it a practical and profitable side project or main enterprise in 2024.

How much you can make: $10 — $450,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 21 days (?)

How We Started A $350K/Month Business Developing Software Tools For Ecommerce Brands

SkyVerge, a software company, has grown rapidly with revenue of $350,000 per month, over 100,000 eCommerce customers, and a globally distributed team of 30 people, all through starting with consulting projects and building focused and solutions-based products, acquiring small products from other developers, and focusing largely on content marketing and providing excellent customer support.

Read by 39,152 founders

10. Become a mobile app builder ($153K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your expertise to develop a mobile app builder that empowers non-developers to craft, customize, and publish mobile apps with ease. Given the growing demand for mobile solutions, such a platform would find a ready market among small businesses, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists eager to launch apps without diving into code.

By creating a user-friendly, robust, and scalable platform, you provide a valuable tool that brings users' ideas to life efficiently. Developing this platform aligns perfectly with your coding skills while tapping into a burgeoning industry ripe with opportunities. Through continuous updates and strong user support, you'd ensure the platform evolves with tech trends, maintaining its relevance and appeal.

How much you can make: $7,500 — $700,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A $150K/Month App Agency That Works With The Fortune 500

Imaginovation, a technology and app development company in Raleigh, NC, was recently named one of the Top Technology Companies in North Carolina by Clutch and has grown an average of over 40% in revenue every year since it was founded in 2011 by co-founders Michael Georgiou and Pete Peranzo.

Read by 5,562 founders

11. Start a food equipment business

As a software architect, you could leverage your technical and project management skills to launch a food equipment business. Utilizing your expertise in analyzing systems and ensuring efficiencies, you could innovate smart kitchen appliances that automate food preparation or improve kitchen logistics. For example, you could design and develop software-driven food equipment like intelligent ovens, automated slicers, or IoT-enabled refrigerators, appealing to tech-savvy consumers and commercial kitchens.

Furthermore, your strong understanding of both hardware and software integration could enable you to create solutions that offer seamless user experiences. This venture could be a lucrative side business, providing a supplementary income while fostering your entrepreneurial spirit. With your unique skill set, you might find niche markets that larger, less personalized companies overlook, allowing you to establish a competitive advantage.

12. Start a B2B sales app ($144K/month)

As a software architect, leveraging your technical expertise to develop a B2B sales app could be a strategic move to supplement your income or build a new business. Your deep understanding of system design and software integration would allow you to create a robust platform that streamlines the sales process for businesses, which is highly valued by 72% of B2B buyers who appreciate the convenience of self-service access to accounts and orders.

You could design an app with features such as automated lead generation, lead scoring, and follow-ups to significantly enhance sales performance. Additionally, having the ability to provide customers with access to a comprehensive product catalog for self-ordering could set your app apart in the market. To validate this idea, consider reaching out to sales professionals for feedback on their current solutions and gather insights on what could be improved.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $666,667/month

How much does it cost to start: $550 (?)

How long does it take to build: 80 days (?)

How We Created A $40K/Month 1-Click Integrations Platform

Integrately founder Abhishek A Agrawal built a 1-click integration platform which acquired around 1,500 paid customers within the first month of its launch, showing that people are looking for an easy way to automate their processes.

Read by 11,812 founders

13. Start a CRM app business ($135K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your expertise to start a CRM app business, focusing on creating tools that help businesses streamline communications, track leads, and nurture customer relationships. Given your background, you are well-positioned to envision and design efficient, scalable solutions that address the pain points companies face in managing customer interactions.

Imagine the opportunities as you provide businesses with the capabilities to boost their sales and improve customer satisfaction. With an increasing emphasis on personalized customer experiences, a well-designed CRM app could become an indispensable tool for businesses aiming to enhance their customer relationships.

To make this venture a reality, you could define core features, collaborate with skilled developers, and implement targeted marketing strategies. While it requires significant effort and coordination, the substantial rewards and potential for growth in the CRM market make it an enticing entrepreneurial pursuit.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $375,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

On Starting A $160K/Month CRM & Automations Company After A US Air Force Career

GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.

Read by 11,998 founders

14. Start a cloud management software ($129K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your expertise to create cloud management software, an essential tool in today's digitally transforming landscape. This venture involves developing robust back-end systems and user-friendly interfaces to help businesses efficiently manage their cloud resources, from data storage to security compliance.

You'll be addressing a significant need as more organizations across various industries, including healthcare and finance, migrate their operations to the cloud. This business opportunity allows you to utilize your technical acumen in a rapidly growing market with high demand. If you're driven by solving complex problems and enjoy software development, cloud management software could be the entrepreneurial venture that not only supplements your income but places you at the forefront of technological advancement.

How much you can make: $25,000 — $330,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How We Partnered With Salesforce To Develop A $330K/Month Laboratory Information Management SaaS

Third Wave Analytics developed the world's first cloud-based and customizable LIMS platform on Salesforce, generating $330k monthly revenue from clients such as Ohio State University and Boston University School of Medicine while partnering with the University of California-Berkeley for a COVID-19 study; founder Savitra Sharma advises aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on clear objectives to meet their goals.

Read by 8,111 founders

15. Start an user feedback app ($31.4K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your technical expertise to create a user feedback app that provides businesses with invaluable customer insights. This platform could seamlessly integrate with websites, mobile apps, and email campaigns, ensuring a smooth user experience while collecting real-time feedback. By offering businesses actionable data to refine their products, services, and customer satisfaction processes, you position yourself as an essential ally in their decision-making journey.

This venture taps into your strengths in app development, data analysis, and user experience design, allowing you to craft a technically robust and user-friendly product. The potential for recurring revenue through subscription models makes this a promising and sustainable business idea. Plus, having direct insight into customer needs and preferences could set your app apart in the market, providing a competitive edge for your entrepreneurial efforts.

How much you can make: $100 — $150,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How I Created A Conversion Rate Optimization Software And Landed The #1 On Product Hunt

Conversion Crimes is a software with a service geared towards small businesses and agencies to help them with conversion rate optimization and user experience, which recorded just shy of $10k in its first month after launching in September 2020.

Read by 7,921 founders

16. Start an interview coaching business ($12.5K/month)

Starting an interview coaching business makes perfect sense for a software architect looking to supplement their income or pivot into a side business. Leveraging your in-depth industry knowledge, you could offer specialized coaching that helps clients, especially aspiring software developers and tech professionals, navigate the often intimidating job market. Your experience in hiring and technical screening provides you with unique insights into what top companies look for, allowing you to offer tailored advice and mock interviews that could significantly boost their chances of landing their dream job.

Beyond the obvious financial benefits, this business also offers the personal satisfaction of making a meaningful impact on someone’s career. With a relatively low startup cost and the flexibility to operate it part-time, interview coaching could be both a fulfilling and lucrative endeavor. If you have strong people skills and a natural talent for mentorship, this could be an ideal way to diversify your professional activities while utilizing your existing expertise.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $15,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $80 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

Left My 7-Figure Job At Apple To Start My Career Consultation Business [$10K/Month]

instamentor is a job interview coaching platform launched in Jan 2021 with $120K annual revenue, helping young professionals and fresh college graduates break into the tech industry by offering 1:1 paid coaching sessions with experienced industry mentors and career consulting.

Read by 2,975 founders

17. Start a data analytics software business ($454K/month)

Starting a data analytics software business as a software architect could be a highly rewarding entrepreneurial venture. Given your detailed understanding of system design and software development, you could identify a specific industry or niche with unmet data analysis needs and develop tailored solutions. Your expertise would be invaluable in creating user-friendly software featuring custom reporting tools, dashboards, and other functionalities that help clients visualize and interpret their data effectively.

Moreover, by utilizing your knowledge of scalable architecture, you could build robust tools that grow with your clients' evolving data needs, thereby enhancing your software's value proposition. Marketing your solution would involve highlighting its efficiency, ease of use, and how it facilitates better decision-making processes for businesses. This targeted approach could significantly boost your chances of building a successful data analytics software business that provides real value to your customers.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $4,200,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

Diesel Laptops: From Selling on eBay to Making $20M/Year

Diesel Laptops, a B2B company that sells diesel diagnostic hardware, software, and services, successfully doubled revenue each year to make $20 million annually within three years, grew from its founder's garage and dining room table to a 21,000 square foot facility with over 90 employees by listening to customer pain points and offering the bundled products, technical support and repair information to attract and retain diesel technicians and repair shop owners.

Read by 18,805 founders

18. Start a consultancy business ($43.3K/month)

Starting a consultancy business could be a logical and lucrative extension of your career as a software architect. With the demand for business consultants projected to increase by 11% in the next few years, companies are actively seeking expertise in IT, operations, and engineering—areas where your skills are already highly developed. As a software architect, you have the deep technical knowledge and experience that can help businesses streamline operations, optimize their software solutions, and seamlessly integrate new technologies.

By offering consultancy services, you could provide specialized advice on complex projects, guide companies through digital transformations, or help them achieve better software architecture strategies. You could decide to focus on specific industries or technical disciplines that align with your interests and strengths. Furthermore, becoming a consultant would not require you to leave your full-time job immediately; you could start this venture as a side business and gradually scale it as demand grows, offering flexibility and additional income.

Joining industry groups and networks can help you gain the essential skills and credibility needed to succeed in this entrepreneurial path. With your background and a targeted approach, a consulting business could provide both financial rewards and professional fulfillment.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

How I Started A $10K/Month Financial Planning And Investment Management Company

Third Eye Advisors is a boutique Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) providing customized financial planning and investment solutions to millennial business owners, founded by Arthur Robertson with start-up costs of approximately $10,000 to $15,000, recouping those costs within three months of serving clients, while the team is currently expanding and looking for Financial Advisors to come on board in Q4 2020.

Read by 6,782 founders

19. Start an ecommerce marketing agency ($411K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your technical expertise to start an eCommerce marketing agency that capitalizes on the growing demand for online business solutions. With your deep understanding of system architecture and software development, you could create sophisticated, scalable eCommerce platforms that enable online sellers to achieve their business goals efficiently. This technical foundation allows you to offer end-to-end services, from website development to digital marketing, all while ensuring seamless integration and performance optimization.

In the rapidly evolving eCommerce industry, businesses struggle to keep up with trends, making your agency's tech-savvy approach highly valuable. By combining creative and marketing skills with your technical prowess, you could help eCommerce brands stay competitive without the need for them to hire full-time staff. This business model not only supplements your income but could also grow into a thriving venture that leverages the full spectrum of your architectural skills.

Ultimately, starting an eCommerce marketing agency could be a profitable and fulfilling endeavor for a software architect. By staying educated on current trends and focusing on digital innovation, you could build a niche service that meets the complex needs of online sellers, ensuring both their growth and your business success.

How much you can make: $7,500 — $8,300,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A $120K/Month Online Course For Social Media Marketing Agencies

Iman Gadzhi made over $1.2M in profit within two years with his social media marketing agency and education company, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to start and scale a profitable SMMA, with over 45 of his students making over six figures with their SMMA, and over 300 students having quit their regular jobs.

Read by 15,779 founders

20. Start an audio sharing app ($60K/month)

As a software architect, starting an audio-sharing app could be a lucrative side business or even a full-time venture. Leveraging your expertise in software design and architecture, you could develop an application that streams high-quality audio content, delivering music, podcasts, or even unique soundscapes to users without the need for downloads. Given that the global music streaming subscriber base is projected to reach 2.81 billion in the next few years, there is ample opportunity to tap into a rapidly growing market.

You could begin this entrepreneurial journey by researching the core features that make audio-sharing applications popular, such as personalized playlists, social sharing capabilities, and seamless user experiences. With your technical background, you would be well-equipped to lead a team of developers in creating an intuitive UI/UX design and ensuring the technical infrastructure supports a scalable, reliable service. Securing the necessary licenses and focusing on a minimum viable product (MVP) approach could allow you to enter the market swiftly and start capturing users' attention.

Ultimately, building an audio-sharing app aligns well with your skills as a software architect and offers a pathway to supplement your income or establish a new business. Taking advantage of the current trends in the music streaming market, you have the potential to carve out a niche and generate substantial revenue. The key is to get started as soon as possible and consistently iterate based on user feedback and market demands.

How much you can make: $20,000 — $100,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How We Launched A $75K/Month Audio Sharing App For Podcasters

Wavve, a SaaS product helping podcasters and audio creators promote their content on social media, has grown to $75k in monthly recurring revenue with over 70,000 signups and clients including ESPN Radio, Dave Ramsey, and BBC.

Read by 10,608 founders

21. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)

As a software architect, creating a mobile app could be a strategic extension of your skill set, allowing you to supplement your income or even build a full-fledged business. Leveraging your expertise in designing complex systems, you could easily manage the development process, from planning the user experience to ensuring robust functionality and user engagement.

Starting a mobile app business doesn't necessarily require advanced coding; with your architectural background, you could prototype ideas and hire skilled developers to bring them to life. The growing dependency on mobile apps for everything from productivity to entertainment opens up vast opportunities for innovative solutions that cater to everyday needs. By combining your technical acumen with a clear vision and a strong marketing strategy, your app could not only solve real-world problems but also generate significant revenue.

How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

We Started A $6M/Year Bachelorette Party App

BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.

Read by 10,958 founders

22. Start a mobile app development business ($141K/month)

As a software architect, starting a mobile app development business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income or transition into entrepreneurship. With your strong technical background, you would be well-equipped to develop high-quality mobile applications that meet the diverse needs of users, ranging from productivity tools to gaming and social networking apps.

The mobile app market continues to expand, offering ample opportunities for reaching new clients. Your existing knowledge in software architecture will also be beneficial in understanding the complex systems and integration points that mobile apps often require, providing an edge in delivering robust and scalable solutions. Moreover, having a good grasp of marketing and sales strategies could help you effectively position and sell your apps, ensuring business growth.

How much you can make: $6,000 — $700,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How I Started A $6K/Month SEO And Digital Marketing Agency In Bangladesh

This case study features Md. Yousuf Ali, the founder of Rank Trends, who shares how he started a successful digital marketing agency, which generated a revenue of over $6k per month through SEO and video production services.

Read by 12,488 founders

23. Become an IT consultant ($27.4K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your deep technical expertise and strategic vision by starting an IT consulting business. This role allows you to analyze and diagnose companies' IT infrastructures, offering tailored solutions that align with their business objectives. By addressing complex IT problems using your extensive experience, you could help clients streamline their operations and enhance their technology ecosystems.

The demand for skilled IT consultants is ever-growing, making this a lucrative side business or even a full-time entrepreneurial venture. Your background in software architecture provides a solid foundation for understanding the intricacies of different IT environments and designing effective strategies to optimize them. This opportunity not only supplements your income but also broadens your professional network and keeps your skills sharp in a dynamic industry.

How much you can make: $2,100 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

How I Started A $6K/Month SEO And Digital Marketing Agency In Bangladesh

This case study features Md. Yousuf Ali, the founder of Rank Trends, who shares how he started a successful digital marketing agency, which generated a revenue of over $6k per month through SEO and video production services.

Read by 12,488 founders

24. Start a spa retreat center

As a software architect, you could translate your analytical and problem-solving skills into creating a serene spa retreat center, offering yoga, meditation, healing treatments, and counseling sessions. Your ability to design complex systems can help ensure that the facility operates efficiently, delivering an excellent experience for your clients. Additionally, the demand for wellness services is on the rise, turning this venture into a profitable side business or even a full-time career shift.

To start, you could leverage your project management skills to identify your target market and establish a well-equipped facility. Whether you opt for a physical retreat center or a mobile service, your tech-oriented background would enable you to integrate innovative solutions such as booking apps or wellness tracking systems, enhancing the customer experience. By adapting your current expertise, you can successfully navigate and thrive in the wellness industry while offering a much-needed service.

How much you can make: $275,000/month

How long does it take to build: 300 days (?)

How My Spa Makes $3.3M/Year Through A Robust Recurring Membership Model

Glosshouz is a full-service day spa that offers aesthetic and wellness services and has grown to over 1000 monthly members, earning $3,311,338 in revenue in 2022, and will soon be offering franchises.

Read by 2,513 founders

25. Start an AI SaaS business ($39.3K/month)

As a software architect, leveraging your skills to start an AI SaaS business could be a lucrative and innovative way to supplement your income or venture into a new business. Imagine offering cutting-edge technology solutions without the overhead of extensive infrastructure. By designing and deploying cloud-based software powered by artificial intelligence, you could create applications ranging from natural language processing tools to predictive analytics systems.

The demand for AI solutions is high, with many businesses preferring to subscribe to ready-made, sophisticated tools rather than developing them in-house. Your expertise could save these companies considerable time and resources, making your service highly valuable. Moreover, the scalable nature of SaaS allows for recurring revenue, turning this side venture into a potentially substantial income stream.

To start this business, you would need proficiency in AI and software development, along with a sound understanding of various industries' needs. Ensuring a robust cloud infrastructure and assembling a capable development team are also crucial steps. If you are tech-savvy and have an entrepreneurial spirit, an AI SaaS business offers a promising path to a thriving, scalable enterprise.

How much you can make: $150 — $200,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 20 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped My Notion Form Builder $180K ARR

NotionForms, a SaaS company offering a form builder integration to Notion, boasts an impressive total of 26k users, 850 paid subscribers, and an ARR of $182k, with steady growth since its launch and being used internally by many huge tech companies.

Read by 8,371 founders

26. Start a niche newsletter ($38.1K/month)

As a software architect, starting a niche newsletter could be a lucrative side business or even a primary venture, allowing you to share your specialized insights with a wider audience. By curating content on topics such as advanced software design patterns, scalable systems, or the latest software architecture trends, you could attract a highly engaged readership eager for this targeted information. The demand for high-quality, focused content is strong, and professionals in your field are often willing to pay for knowledge that enhances their skills and helps them stay competitive.

Creating a niche newsletter would require consistent research, writing, and possibly integrating sponsorships or advertisements to monetize your efforts. However, the rewarding potential is considerable, as you would not only supplement your income but also establish yourself as a thought leader in your area of expertise. Over time, a successful newsletter could open up additional opportunities, such as consulting gigs, speaking engagements, or even the basis for larger informational products like eBooks or online courses.

How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,055 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

How My Blog With Body-Safe Sex Toys Reviews Turned Into A $2K/Month Side Hustle

Sex blogger turns a free WordPress blog into a $2,000 a month part-time digital business by investing in education, self-hosting, and building relationships within the NSFW community.

Read by 18,356 founders

27. Start an email marketing software ($4.31K/month)

As a software architect, starting an email marketing software allows you to leverage your expertise in designing scalable and robust systems while tapping into a lucrative market. You could develop a platform that helps businesses create, manage, and optimize email campaigns by offering features like automated email sequences, A/B testing, and detailed analytics. This approach could make it easier for companies to communicate effectively with their customers, nurture leads, and drive conversions.

Furthermore, the constant demand for improved marketing tools means there is significant growth potential in this field. With your background in software development and a keen understanding of business needs, you could create a solution that stands out in the market. If you're passionate about both technology and marketing, this venture could be a rewarding way to supplement your income or even launch a successful side business.

How much you can make: $120 — $8,500/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How We Created A $8.5K/Month No-Code AMP Email Marketing Tool

Mailmodo, an email marketing software that enables marketers to send app-like interactive emails, accelerated to 100k+ ARR in just five months after launching the public version in January 2021, with a focus on attracting and retaining customers through organic growth and product-led solutions.

Read by 7,846 founders

28. Become a business consultant ($205K/month)

As a software architect, you could leverage your comprehensive expertise in software design, development processes, and project management to offer business consulting services. Companies across various sectors continuously seek ways to optimize their technology infrastructure and elevate their software solutions, providing a fertile ground for your consulting business. Given the growing demand for business consultants, you could find ample opportunities to help organizations streamline their operations, achieve their goals, and navigate the complexities of software implementation.

Moreover, your analytical skills and strategic foresight could guide businesses in adopting emerging technologies and best practices. By becoming a certified business consultant, you could establish a professional network and build a strong web presence to attract and connect with potential clients. This venture could not only supplement your income but also provide a pathway to a full-fledged consulting business in the future.

How much you can make: $1,500 — $1,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,600 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

I Built $140K+ MRR SaaS With No Audience & Sold It For $3.5M

This case study is about a founder who launched a paywall platform for content creators in 2019, bootstrapping it from $0 and eventually selling it for $3.5M on Flippa, with the platform generating between $125,000 - $142,000 in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) on 95% margins.

Read by 9,982 founders

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.