To own a firearm in Canada you have to pass a certain test. I made a simple quiz app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca2.testprojec...) that would help people prepare for that test. My main goal was to learn how to make apps. It did generate revenue in the beginning but it was enough to buy coffee a few times a week. Then the government updated the firearm regulations and now everyone has to take a mandatory course before they write the test.
This change effectively made my somewhat useful app almost completely useless, at least in my eyes, because now there's little incentive to self study.
I could have tried harder to market it but I'm glad I left it alone.
Lessons learned:
- Politics suck. Any business related to firearms is going to be vulnerable to government regulations.
- Money matters. Once you start charging for something, you automatically feel the need to deliver a product of higher caliber. You also get immediate validation on whether or not your idea is worth it and how much it could be worth.
I took an A+ Hardware at a state college and it didn't even tell us about the certificate test. I'm actually still not certified and am training myself for CompTIA idiosyncrasies using test preps like yours...
Even with the mandatory course, are failure rates too low to make it worth pursuing as a simple study aid? Assuming pass/fail stats are even available.
It's still useful to some people (works offline, quick/easy access to important info, less to cram in your head during the course) but it's a small part of an already small niche. Population of Canada is 10x smaller than the US and not as firearm friendly.
This change effectively made my somewhat useful app almost completely useless, at least in my eyes, because now there's little incentive to self study.
I could have tried harder to market it but I'm glad I left it alone.
Lessons learned: - Politics suck. Any business related to firearms is going to be vulnerable to government regulations. - Money matters. Once you start charging for something, you automatically feel the need to deliver a product of higher caliber. You also get immediate validation on whether or not your idea is worth it and how much it could be worth.