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Month 6 Reality Check (Wins, Numbers, Mistakes) 🔥
6 months in. Time for honest update.
THE NUMBERS:
Active clients: 5
Monthly recurring revenue: $3,200
Setup revenue (total): $8,400
Hours per week: 20
Hourly rate: $40/hour (ongoing)
Not quitting my day job yet. But real progress.
THE BREAKDOWN:
Client 1: $200/month (invoice automation)
Client 2: $300/month (invoice + form automation)
Client 3: $250/month (invoice automation)
Client 4: $400/month (invoice + data sync)
Client 5: $300/month (invoice automation)
Plus scattered one-time setup projects.
THE TIMELINE:
Month 1: Built samples, no clients
Month 2: First client closed ($1,200)
Month 3: Clients 2 & 3 ($2,600 total)
Month 4: Client 4 ($1,400)
Month 5: Client 5 ($1,500)
Month 6: Focus on delivery, no new clients
THE WINS:
✅ Proven I can get clients
✅ All 5 clients still active
✅ Built template library
✅ Positive cash flow
✅ Learning constantly
THE MISTAKES:
❌ Overbuilt first 2 clients (wasted time)
❌ Undercharged clients 1 & 3
❌ Didn't ask for referrals early enough
❌ No systematic outreach (inconsistent pipeline)
❌ Said yes to one bad client (fired them)
THE HONEST STRUGGLES:
Some weeks: No new leads, scared
Some clients: Unclear needs, frustrating
Some builds: Took 3x longer than quoted
Imposter syndrome: Still hitting hard
THE UNEXPECTED POSITIVES:
Client relationships: Actually enjoy them
Problem solving: So satisfying when it works
Learning curve: Faster than expected
Flexibility: Work when/where I want
THE TOOL COSTS:
Make.com: $47/month
PDF Vector: $97/month (Pro plan for all clients)
Airtable: Free tier
Notion: Free tier
Total: $144/month
Margin: $3,056/month (after tools)
THE HOURLY REALITY:
$3,200/month ÷ 80 hours = $40/hour
Not amazing. But:
- Working 20 hours/week (not 40)
- Learning valuable skills
- Building asset (recurring revenue)
- Room to scale
THE NEXT 6 MONTHS:
Goal: 10 clients, $6,000 MRR
Strategy: Systematic LinkedIn outreach, referrals
Pricing: Increase to $1,800-2,200 setups
Second service: Add data syncing to upsell existing clients
THE ADVICE I'D GIVE MYSELF 6 MONTHS AGO:
Start asking for referrals immediately.
Charge more from client 1.
Build templates first, not custom everything.
Say no to wrong clients earlier.
Consistent outreach beats sporadic hustle.
THE REAL TALK:
This isn't "I quit my job in 3 months" story. It's "building something real slowly" story.
$3,200/month isn't life-changing. But trajectory is.
6 months ago: $0/month, no clients, no confidence
Today: $3,200/month, 5 clients, proven system
Next 6 months: Scale what's working.
THE MOST IMPORTANT METRIC:
Not MRR. Not client count.
It's this: All 5 clients happy and staying.
That means I'm solving real problems. Building trust. Delivering value.
Money follows that.
Where are you in your journey?
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Month 6 Reality Check (Wins, Numbers, Mistakes) 🔥
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