Typically, slotting cost starts at $100 for entry into one brand name retailer. That’s after you have all startup cost, and can ensure to keep your slot packed.

Realistically, that’s closer to 200k to even start.

At 50k, you are bootstrapping like 5 hour energy.

It can be done, but you’d have to create so much direct to consumer demand that you can even get meetings with distributors to even get them to consider making an order.

They like to start with a small order of 1 million usd at minimum ( at least in my area) and then more the next month.

If you can’t fulfill that or future orders you won’t be doing business with them.

At your budget, you are direct to consumer.

I also, already have home made beverages that would do great in market, however I don’t have 200k to get it going, nor would I attempt a 50k direct to consumer launch.

Not unless it was literally 50k to burn with a lot more money flowing in.

Most of it is intuitive or just learned in the massive research stage of your business plan

I have a substantial sales and management background. At tesla my ideas were rolled out nationwide, and over the 3 years I was there, I made significant impact. At my previous roles, it was the same.

In terms of sales, I am a master. Innovation, I have proven to be a top asset, I won’t consider myself a master at that until I’ve made innovation from a business I launch, though in terms of a corporate innovator, I mastered that.

Marketing I have been doing as long as sales, and more of a natural marketer than I am at sales. I’m consider my level to be above average, but not yet mastered.

That said, even though I’ve mastered sales, a true master remains a student for life, don’t get it twisted.

I also have pretty decent business network at well.

TLDR: I am much more qualified and with a proven track record, that those random individuals.

That said.

Most ideas suck. The one that doesn’t suck can still fail with bad management and marketing.

While partnership do and can exist, they are more rare and take a degree of trust/vetting/proper contract. I can you tell you though, if I did find one, we’d both be very rich.

Regarding pay types: I would be equally as hesitant to give up any % of ownership or profits as a dev would be to partner 50/50. It would take more selling on their part, as I know the potential value, as the entrepreneur willing to take the risk.

Risk/reward.

That being said, there is then flat rate as well flat plus bonus.

As you can see many people have varying prices and skills.

Everyone listing their flat rate. ( I imagine the top rates are high level individuals just humble flexing and not interested in side work. Other are top level, and would take a side job if it met their standard but they are not really looking.

Then, you have the people who listed the rate they make at work/ some slightly above.

You then have your businesses. Most of which badly trying to market and sale over priced services ( or market rate)

I am familiar enough with this industry and employee pay to know when an offer has a large profit margin attached. Which is fine, depending on the output and the performance.

In all things, there will be a sweet spot. I actually think the meeting I set in the first hour of this post I will be hiring and develop a long relationship with. They are 2 individuals in a small startup.

You know, pretty much every big idea, most sit on the side of inaction because they do not see the vision of the entrepreneur.

That’s why their is the visionary, and then the guy with the technical knowledge. Sure, one could do both, but with the rise of ai, it is and will continue to be more rare. When an entrepreneur could instead work on his public speaking , sales and marketing skills.

That said, I plan to slim launch 2 local businesses.

The software/app developed for either, can not only work for the business, but also be an asset that be can be resold. ( if I decide to)

There surely is many devs out of work, or with lots of free time, that could and should partner with entrepreneurs to launch projects.

It’s unlikely the dev will come up with the innovative idea, and unlikely the upcoming entrepreneur can afford them.

In this case, I do have some money, and can afford to pay, and would prefer to pay to maintain profits.

Any dev can throw out a number, it doesn’t mean it’s a realistic market rate.

One could say $50/hr, another $100 hour, another $25 an hour.

The price they ask for is usually disconnected from the quality and skill they bring to the table.

Either the individual is worth the money and it’s a steal, or they are vastly over quoting their own work, and never going to get any side income. ( ironically those are the devs who should be partnering for free as they’ll never make a side buck)

I agree, the vast majority of “ideas” or potential partnerships will mean nothing, but there will be also be people who succeed.

I can handle proper value analysis of the people posting in terms of evaluating their rate for services offered.

Being a free market, I will land on a team who matches my target pay rates, that can also perform what’s needed.

If and when we reach a future project they can not handle, I will go up the ladder.

There is also then pay rate + bonus.

I make the offer on the rate, and we negotiate bonus. In this type of pay, the net pay would exceed the original ask price, if the platform succeeded, it would be the dev taking a personal stake in the project.

For most projects, not likely to find someone.

But it may be the right fit for someone with a 300k + salary who wants to invest in the startup space.

Ultimately, once funds start flowing in, the value perspective diminishes its relevance in the face or more funds, and other devs then become options.

So, there two levels of what one could provide.

Bare minimum they want

1- a roadmap. ( a breakdown of app features, think of a instruction manual for the app builder )

2- which is even better, I forget the term for it, but if you can actually visualize and draw out the ui for then, even better.

That said. If you asked for basic knockoffs, they really should already have the majority of the info they need.

If it’s a new custom app I understand, but to get serious with any development you should provide 1 or both.