I'm considering buying a niche dating site right now (it's in my own niche, so I understand it fairly well).

If I buy it, I'm wondering how to grow it though. How do you solve the chicken-egg problem?

All the mainstream 'successful' apps uses advertising on other social media networks + Apple and Google Ads. They quickly ask / require money to be paid when you join to cover the acquisition costs as part of the on-boarding flow.

Nearly $100k/yr in side income at the low end is very impressive. Do you work full-time as a developer in addition to this?

Ignoring rent income, I only made ~$75k in side income in 2022.

why would you ignore rent income

I guess that would be because that is making money by having money and not readily accessible to those who don’t already have money.

I’m basically losing money. I spend like $1.20 to earn $1.

Assuming it's a capital repayment mortgage, you're neglecting that you are erasing debt, only the interest payment is really a cost here.

But yeah I think it makes sense to exclude it anyway, needs/wants might change and you no longer have the room(s) available to let or whatever, and it wouldn't really be a useful comparison of your 'side project' earnings to compare a year as a landlord with one not, it's a different thing.

Insurance ($97/mo) + Mortgage ($3,400/mo) + Property taxes ($444/mo) + trash, water ($100/mo) = $4k/mo. My mortgage is new and is only paying down principle ~$120/mo. This means I pay about $900/mo for my room, except I have had an average of $1k/mo in home repairs since I bought the house.

The real value I am capturing is my personal housing _might_ be cheaper than if I rented myself.

I am sure in 10 years, I will be in a good spot, but not today.

My mortgage is $3.2k/mo. It’s basically a net zero for me.

What is your niche dating app?