$100k with AI-Coded Apps

Back in the day, you needed someone technical (or paid someone technical) if you wanted to build any kind of software.

Today, with the popularity of AI tools, not so much.

Pete McPherson from doyouevenblog.com is earning $100k by using AI tools to help build a series of small-ish web apps, usually built to solve a very specific problem for a very specific customer.

And he’s here to share with you how he built all of this… without being a developer himself.

Tune in to Episode 659 of the Side Hustle Show to learn:

how AI tools make building software faster and easier even if you’re not a developer
why partnerships and recurring revenue are key to scaling and selling your SaaS products
the essential tech stack that helps you launch apps quickly with minimal costs

Table of Contents show

The Biggest Thing That Changed

The biggest thing that’s changed is AI. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and other LLMs can now do the heavy lifting when it comes to coding.

It’s never been easier or faster to build software — even if you’ve never written a line of code. You create something once, and you can monetize it over and over again.

And it’s not just big companies pulling this off. Individual creators are making real money, too.

Pete’s built tools like Aff Tracker (affiliate link tracking), Topical Map (SEO keywords), and Fabb.ai (an autonomous blog builder that he later sold). Small, specific web apps solving very specific problems — and they’re making real money.

Just solve one small problem. Maybe it’s formatting text from Google Docs before pasting to WordPress (my problem that I’d very much like solved) or automating flight price checks so you know when to rebook.

After that, you might just surprise yourself with what you can create with the help of AI coding tools and a little creativity.

How to Come Up with SaaS Ideas: Pete’s 3 Proven Methods

How do you come up with a software idea that people actually want? Here are Pete’s strategies:

1. Scratch Your Own Itch

Start with a problem you face in your day-to-day life. For Pete, it was needing quick math calculations while playing a game. So he built a Chrome extension with AI.

Simple problem, simple solution. But it saved time and worked perfectly.

2. Unbundle Tiny Features from Favorite Tools

Look at tools you already use (like Ahrefs for SEO) and identify one specific feature that you love.

Instead of building a full competitor, just recreate that one feature. Like if you only need a specific feature of a software, imagine offering a mini tool that does just that, at a fraction of the price.

That’s what Pete did with Ahrefs’ site explorer.

3. Rebuild a Cheaper Version of Popular Software

Think about tools that are too expensive for most people — like Zapier, Make, or various affiliate tracking platforms.

Pete built Podpromo because he didn’t want to pay for podcasting tools. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked for what he needed. And platforms like AppSumo have shown that people love affordable alternatives with just the core features they need.

Choosing the Right Tools and Focus

When it comes to building your app, pick one specific focus and stick with it. Pete chose web apps, using JavaScript and SveltKit.

But you could specialize in Mac apps, Chrome extensions, WordPress plugins, Shopify apps, or Wix extensions. Each has its own audience and marketplace, so the opportunities are huge.

It’s not a problem if you’re not a coder. With tools like ChatGPT, you can literally type out what you want and get a functional app in minutes.

And if something breaks, you can also just ask AI to fix it. Plus, platforms like Firebase make it easy to add user logins and store data without needing a developer.

Competitive Analysis and Building an Audience

Look at what’s already out there and test your idea with a small audience. The easiest way to know is if people are already paying for a similar tool, that’s a good sign.

“I do have an existing email list that I’ve been cultivating for years, and I generally send it to them within a couple of weeks of having the idea like, ‘I built this MVP,'” Pete shared.

Even if your audience is small, like Pete’s 5,500 subscribers, that’s enough to see if anyone’s interested. For the first version, keep it simple and cheap — think lifetime deals at low price points.

He sold his TopicalMap for $39 lifetime, just to see if anyone would buy.

Another product he called EZCour.ze was supposed to help people build online courses, but it flopped.

“Is anyone going to pay for this at all? That’s what I was going for,” Pete said.

From Idea to Prototype in 2-20 Hours

The first app Pete built took six weeks. The next one was less than a week.

Now, with AI, he can whip up a working prototype in just a few hours. And it’s all about using AI code editors — what developers call IDEs (Integrated Development Environments). Pete’s go-to tools are VS Code and Cursor.

The process goes like this:

Ask AI for the big picture: “I want to create a WordPress plugin that does X, Y, and Z. What are the big steps, and what tools should I use?”
Choose tools like Firebase (free from Google) to handle user logins and store data.
Start building with AI: Tell Cursor or ChatGPT what you need. It generates the code and creates files automatically.
Test and troubleshoot: Open the app, try it out, and when something doesn’t work, ask AI, “Why isn’t this working?”

The process gets faster with practice, and what takes 20 hours the first time might take just 2 hours down the road.

Things will go wrong. That’s part of the process. If you have no idea what the problem is, you can always figure it out with the help of AI tools.

Marketing, Pricing, and Selling Your SaaS

Pete learned pretty quickly that some marketing tactics only sound good on paper but don’t always deliver. Case in point: Hacker News.

Pete tried launching three different products in the forum, but it didn’t work at all. This is not to say that this method does not work ever. But in his case, partnerships did better. Specifically, 50/50 partnerships with people who already have an audience.

His partner handled everything regarding marketing, while he handled everything else. Now, if you’re thinking about selling your app, Pete recommends going with a recurring subscription model (monthly or annually) because that’s what buyers want.

When Pete sold Fabb.ai, he hadn’t touched it for nine months. Still, it sold for $45,000 through Acquire.com, a marketplace that connects SaaS creators with buyers.

The standard valuation was around 30x-35x monthly net revenue. Other marketplaces like Empire Flippers and Flippa are good options too.

Backend as a Service

One of the best parts about building software is that the overhead is almost zero. Pete hosts all his apps on Vercel, free hosting with SSL certificates included. And for back-end functionality like user logins and databases, he uses Firebase — also free for most use cases.

It took a while for Pete before he even figured out what the backend means, which is a database hosted on a server somewhere. “What even is a server? A server is just a computer.”

This “backend as a service” approach saves both time and money, making it easier to launch quickly and scale without huge infrastructure costs.

And if you’re building desktop apps like the Clop Mac app, a simple tool that compresses images automatically, you can keep things lightweight with minimal maintenance.

With tools like Vercel and Firebase, you can run a profitable SaaS business with almost no expenses. And when you’re ready to sell, SaaS marketplaces are ready to help you cash out.

Tech/Tools

Pete’s toolkit is a mix of AI coding platforms, hosting services, and backend solutions that make building and running apps fast and affordable.

ChatGPT and Claude – AI for coding, troubleshooting, and ideas
Cursor – AI code editor that generates features from prompts
VS Code – Versatile code editor with many extensions
Firebase – Free backend for databases and authentication
Vercel – Free web hosting with SSL certificates
Stripe – Process online payments and billing
Acquire.com – Sell SaaS products quickly and easily
Empire Flippers and Flippa – Marketplaces to buy and sell apps

A Day in the Life

So what’s it like building apps with AI as a side hustle? Pete McPherson’s day is a mix of creating, testing, and partnering.

His workflow is fast and focused, thanks to AI tools and a clear strategy.

He usually starts by working on whatever app he’s building that week, whether it’s coding in Cursor, testing features, or fixing bugs. Then he checks in with any partners he’s working with.

No heavy marketing, just building cool stuff and letting his partners promote it to their audience.

Any Mistakes or Surprises

Pete realized that you no longer need to be a developer to build software anymore. “I am not a developer. I didn’t go to school for this. I’ve never went to a coding bootcamp,” he shared.

It’s wild that we can all do this now. Every week, AI tools get faster and better. What used to take weeks now takes hours.

What’s Next for Pete?

Pete’s always thinking about the next app he can build with AI. Here are a few ideas he’s excited about (that he says you can steal):

Halftime Text App: a simple app that sends a text when halftime ends so you don’t miss the game.
AI Mastermind Group: an app where you can chat with AI versions of business mentors like Tony Robbins or Warren Buffett — each with their own personality and advice.
Dirt Cheap Affiliate Tracking Software: a low-cost alternative to tools like Rewardful and LinkMink, designed for indie creators who don’t want to pay expensive expensive affiliate softwares.

Pete’s #1 Tip for Side Hustle Nation

“Quit quicker.”

Episode Links

Looking for More Side Hustle Help?

Start Your Free $500 Challenge. My free 5-day email course shows you how to add $500 to your bottom line.
Join the free Side Hustle Nation Community. The free Facebook group is the best place to connect with other side hustlers and get your questions answered.
Download The Side Hustle Show. My free podcast shares how to make extra money with actionable weekly episodes.