One page per big idea in independent business: what it means, where it came from, and what real makers in the directory show about it.
Indie hacking
An indie hacker is someone who builds an online business on their own, usually alone or with one partner, and funds it from its own revenue instead of investors. Indie hacking is that practice: picking a small problem, shipping a product quickly, charging for it early and keeping full ownership and control.
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Bootstrapping
Bootstrapping a business means starting and growing it without outside investment: you fund it from savings, a job, consulting income or, as soon as possible, revenue from customers. Founders keep 100% ownership and control, in exchange for slower, profit-driven growth.
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Solopreneur
A solopreneur is an entrepreneur who runs a business entirely alone, with no co-founder and no employees. They may use freelancers, software and AI, but they make every decision and do most of the work themselves, and the business is designed to stay that size.
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Micro SaaS
Micro SaaS is a small software-as-a-service business, usually run by one person or a tiny team, that solves a specific problem for a narrow niche. It is self-funded, has low costs and high margins, and typically earns from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars a month.
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Side projects
A side project is something you build in your spare time, outside your main job, usually with no pressure to make money. Many become businesses: Gmail, Slack and Gumroad all started as side projects, and most indie makers ship several before one earns enough to quit.
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Looking for step-by-step advice instead? See the guides, the glossary and the 2026 indie maker report.