Label Live

Project Overview

Label.live is a Mac application designed to simplify barcode label design and printing, developed by a solo entrepreneur as a side project in 2023. After five years of development, the project has grown from a personal frustration to a $5-figure weekly revenue business, with an additional hardware component selling label printers.

Business and Technical Strategy

The creator adopted a flexible pricing model featuring both one-time licenses and subscriptions, which has proven effective. Approximately 20% of revenue comes from recurring subscriptions, while 80% stems from one-time license sales. The project was strategically developed using React and Electron, initially launched on the Mac App Store to validate market demand.

Marketing and Growth Insights

A critical turning point came from mentorship advice to prioritize marketing over continuous feature development. By shifting focus, the creator expanded beyond software into hardware sales, establishing a reseller network. The business strategy targets an ambitious goal of capturing 1% of potential worldwide business users, projecting potential $50M annual revenue over 10 years.

Operational Considerations

The project is managed under an existing LLC, with side hustles registered as “doing business as” entities. The creator maintains a consulting role while developing these independent revenue streams, demonstrating a pragmatic approach to entrepreneurial product development.