Building Numbers First while figuring out what to build next

I was trying to come up with my next project and did not have an idea I was ready to commit to yet. Instead of sitting around waiting for one, I decided to make something smaller and see what happened.

That turned into Numbers First. It is a collection of free calculators for things like freelance rates, tax set-asides, loan payments, break-even points, savings, and other money decisions.

Why I made it

There is not a huge story behind this one. I wanted to keep building while I brainstormed the next bigger project, and I was curious whether a useful calculator site could pull in views over time.

I also wanted it to be useful if somebody did find it. The calculators are free, there are no ads in the way, and the goal is to give you the number you came for without making you dig through a bunch of extra stuff.

Seeing what happens

For now I am going to leave it out there, keep an eye on what people use, and see if it gets any traffic. Maybe it goes somewhere and maybe it does not, but I got to make something while figuring out what comes next.

If one of the calculators helps you, or there is another one you think I should add, let me know in the comments below or email me at jared@jcworkshop.com.