Costs of running a macOS app studio business
Running a small macOS app studio from Romania can generate a solid income, but it exposes sharp trade‑offs between financial optimization, personal freedom and a fragile local infrastructure. Commenters contrast Romania’s relatively low tax rates and cheaper services with Western Europe and the US, yet point out that corruption, weak public healthcare and soaring housing costs undermine any sense of security or fairness. The thread also explores how indie developers survive outside the App Store, the emotional toll of customer support and platform instability, and the broader question of whether higher consulting rates are worth sacrificing autonomy and time.
Indie macOS business economics
- Commenters view ~64% net margin on ~$84k revenue as exceptionally strong, especially given minimal recurring expenses (server, tools).
- Original poster’s path: years of a free app to build reputation, then adding a paid tier; income grew gradually by adding new apps and paid features.
- Feature strategy: make the core problem-solving feature free, then add more advanced or adjacent functionality as paid; improvements to existing free features stay free.
- Some note the hourly “consulting vs apps” comparison is misleading because app work front-loads effort, then generates ongoing income with lower incremental time.
Taxes, cost of living, and housing
- Many are surprised at complaints about ~15% business/income tax, calling Romania a “tax haven” relative to Western Europe, where effective rates near 50% are common.
- Counterpoint: low trust in the state and pervasive corruption make even low taxes feel unjust; citizens report poor healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
- Cost-of-living comparisons vs US/Western Europe are contested: everyday services and rent can be cheaper, but many goods, fuel, and “decent” housing are similar in price.
- Housing is a major pain point: high prices relative to income, widespread informal/unsafe arrangements, difficulty getting mortgages as a freelancer, and scams with permits/paperwork.
App Store, pricing, and distribution
- Mixed views on Apple’s ecosystem: some say App Store discovery is terrible and 15%+ fees are “horrifying”; others report sustainable businesses (even without subscriptions).
- Successful devs emphasize external marketing, a good website, and direct sales (Setapp, own store, Paddle, etc.), not relying on App Store search.
- Discussion of VAT and Merchant of Record services: confusion and corrections around who owes VAT, reclaiming VAT on expenses, and how EU one-stop schemes work.
Work, time, and lifestyle choices
- Strong thread around “buying time” over maximizing income: choosing indie apps or part‑time consulting to avoid Slack/Zoom/Agile grind.
- Some argue the only real escape from wage dependence is building a scalable business; others cite high-paying big-tech roles plus frugality as another path to early freedom.
Ageism and careers
- Multiple anecdotes of older engineers (50s–60s) struggling to get hired in startup-heavy ecosystems despite long track records.
- Legal remedies are seen as hard to use; people discuss coping by avoiding certain employers, accepting early retirement, or redirecting skills into volunteer/nonprofit or indie work.