Get from 0 to £5K MRR in 90 Days
Zapp Active needs BOTH: - Supply Side: Businesses with offers/content - Demand Side: Users discovering and claiming
The Secret: Start with businesses FIRST, then flood users. Not the other way around.
Target: Local businesses in YOUR area (Lechlade or similar)
Day 1-2: Business Mapping - [ ] Use Overpass Turbo to map all businesses (target: 80 businesses) - [ ] Categorize: Coffee shops, pubs, restaurants, retail, services - [ ] Prioritize: Most foot traffic first - [ ] Create spreadsheet with: - Business name - Owner/manager name (find on social media) - Best time to visit - Current offers they run - Competition nearby
Day 3-4: Materials Creation - [ ] Design QR code poster template (A4, branded) - [ ] Create business one-pager: - What is Zapp Active? - What’s in it for them? - Example: “Coffee shop got 50 new customers in first month” - Pricing: £50/month, first month FREE - ROI calculator - [ ] Create tablet demo script - [ ] Print 20 QR code posters - [ ] Get business cards made
Day 5-7: The Pitch Create a 60-second pitch:
"Hi [name], I'm Paul from [street]. I've built an app
that brings locals into YOUR shop with exclusive offers.
Think of it like this: You put a QR code in your window.
When locals scan it, they see your offer - like 'Free
pastry with any coffee'. They show it in-store, you see
exactly how many people came from the app.
It's £50 a month, but let me prove it works first -
your first month is completely free.
I've already got [X businesses] signed up, and I'm
launching in 2 weeks. Want to be part of the launch group?"Target: 20 businesses, Goal: 5 sign-ups (25% conversion)
Day 1-3: First 10 Businesses - [ ] Visit in off-peak hours (10-11am, 2-3pm) - [ ] Ask for owner/manager by name - [ ] Deliver pitch - [ ] Show tablet demo - [ ] Leave one-pager even if they say no - [ ] Track: Yes/No/Maybe/Need time
Day 4-5: Follow-up “Maybes” - [ ] Visit again or call - [ ] Offer extra incentive: “First 5 get featured on launch” - [ ] Close the deal
Day 6-7: Setup & Content - [ ] Visit each signed business - [ ] Install QR poster in prime location - [ ] Take photos (before/after) - [ ] Create their offer in the app - [ ] Set up their analytics dashboard - [ ] Get testimonial quote for marketing
Expected Results: - 5 pilot businesses signed - £0 revenue (free month) - But you have SUPPLY ready for launch
The Strategy: Go HARD on local marketing all at once
Day 1: Digital Launch - [ ] Post in ALL local Facebook groups: ``` “🎉 NEW: Exclusive offers for [Village] locals!
I’ve partnered with [Business 1], [Business 2], [Business 3] and more to bring you exclusive deals you can only get through this app.
☕ Free pastries at [Cafe] 🍺 2-for-1 at [Pub] 🛍️ 10% off at [Shop]
Download ‘Zapp Active’ now - only for [Village] residents! [App Store Link] [Google Play Link]” ``` - [ ] Post in local WhatsApp groups (if any) - [ ] Post on Nextdoor - [ ] Local Twitter/Instagram if active
Day 2: Physical Presence - [ ] Print 50 flyers with QR code to download - [ ] Put on community board, library, post office - [ ] Drop flyers in every business (even non-partners) - [ ] Letterbox drop on main street (100 flyers)
Day 3-4: Guerrilla Tactics - [ ] Visit Saturday farmers market with iPad - [ ] Set up table: “Download & get free coffee!” - [ ] Help people download and show them around - [ ] Target: 20-30 downloads in 3 hours
Day 5: Press - [ ] Email local newspaper/blog:
"Local [Village] resident launches app to support village businesses. 5 businesses already signed up, offering exclusive deals to villagers."
- [ ] Include photos of QR codes in shop windows - [ ] Human interest
angle: “Local tech supporting local shops”
Day 6-7: Partner Promotion - [ ] Visit each partner business - [ ] Give them stack of flyers to hand out - [ ] Ask them to mention it to every customer - [ ] Post about them on social media - [ ] Tag them, they’ll share
Track Everything: - [ ] Daily active users - [ ] Which businesses get most scans? - [ ] Which offers get claimed? - [ ] User retention (3-day, 7-day)
Talk to Users: - [ ] Message first 50 users personally - [ ] “How are you finding it? What would make it better?” - [ ] Fix bugs immediately - [ ] Add requested features to backlog
Expected Results: - 100 users downloaded - 60 active users (60% activation) - 20 users claimed an offer - Real usage data to show businesses
Week 5: The Data Conversation
Visit each pilot business with their analytics:
"Here's your month of data:
📊 Your QR code was scanned: 87 times
🎫 Your offer was claimed: 23 times
💷 That's 23 new customers for £0 spent
Normally you'd pay £200-300 for a newspaper ad and
have NO IDEA if anyone came in.
For £50/month, you're getting trackable, local customers.
Want to continue? I can set up your next offer now."Conversion Target: 80% (4 out of 5) - [ ] Business 1: Close deal - [ ] Business 2: Close deal - [ ] Business 3: Close deal - [ ] Business 4: Close deal - [ ] Business 5: If they say no, ask why (feedback)
Week 6-7: Expansion Wave 1
With proof from pilots, go after 15 more businesses:
The Pitch (Now with Social Proof):
"Hi [name], I'm Paul. You might have seen my QR codes
around the village - we launched 4 weeks ago.
We already have [Business 1], [Business 2], [Business 3]
using the app, and they're seeing real customers come in.
[Business 1] got 23 new customers last month for just
£50. That's £2.17 per customer - cheaper than any other
marketing they do.
Want to get set up? I can have your QR code in your
window today and you'll start seeing customers this week."Target: 15 businesses, Goal: 5 sign-ups (33% conversion)
Week 8: Close Second Wave - [ ] 5 new businesses signed = £250/month - [ ] Total revenue = £500/month (£250 from original + £250 new)
Expected Results: - £500 MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) - 9 paying businesses - 150-200 active users
The Flywheel Effect: - More businesses → More offers → More user value → More users - More users → More claims → Better business ROI → Easier sales
Week 9-10: User Growth Push
Now you have 9 businesses with 18+ offers. The app has REAL value.
Marketing Tactics: - [ ] Run small Facebook ad (£100): Target [Village] residents only - [ ] Local newspaper ad (£100): “Check out these exclusive deals” - [ ] Partner with village newsletter: Free editorial - [ ] Village WhatsApp groups: Get someone to post about you - [ ] Word of mouth incentive: “Refer a friend, both get free coffee”
Target: 400 active users
Week 11-12: Business Closing Sprint
Visit remaining 10-15 businesses:
The Pitch (Now with Massive Social Proof):
"Hi [name], I've got 400 people in [Village] actively
using Zapp Active to find offers and businesses.
9 businesses are already on the app getting steady
customers. Your competitors [mention competitor if true]
are already on there.
Right now, those 400 people see your competitors'
offers but not yours. That's missed revenue.
For £50/month you get in front of those 400 locals.
Want to get set up before next weekend?"Target: 11 more businesses (go for 15, expect 11 at 73%)
Expected Results: - 20 paying businesses - £1,000 MRR - 400 active users - Breaking even on costs (depending on your dev costs)
Target: Small independent shops, cafes
Target: Busier restaurants, popular pubs
Target: Key anchor businesses
Path to £5K MRR: - 50 businesses at £50 = £2,500 - 20 businesses at £100 = £2,000 - 2 businesses at £200 = £400 - 1 anchor partnership = £100 - Total: £5,000/month
Why it works in villages: - You can literally visit every business in a day - Personal relationships matter - They trust locals - Immediate demo = higher conversion
The Process: 1. Research: Know their name, their business, their competition 2. Timing: Visit off-peak (not lunch rush) 3. Opener: “Hi [name], I’m Paul from [street]” (establish locality) 4. Problem: “I noticed [their problem]” (show you understand) 5. Solution: “I built something that helps” (brief pitch) 6. Demo: Show the app live (tablet/phone) 7. Social proof: “I’ve already got [X businesses]” 8. Offer: “First month free to prove it works” 9. Close: “Can I get your QR code up today?” 10. Follow-up: Visit weekly to check their analytics
When you expand to other villages:
Subject: “[Village] businesses are making £X with this simple QR code”
Hi [name],
I'm Paul, founder of Zapp Active - an app that's helping
small businesses in [Original Village] get more local
customers.
We put a simple QR code in your window. When locals
scan it, they see your exclusive offer. You see exactly
how many customers came from the app.
[Business Name] in [Original Village] got 47 new
customers last month for just £50. That's £1.06 per
customer.
I'm expanding to [Their Village] next month and looking
for 5 launch partners.
Interested? Reply and I'll send you more info.
Cheers,
Paul
[Village] resident & founder
P.S. Here's a photo of [Business] with their QR code
[attach photo]Offer to existing businesses: - Refer another business → Both get £10 credit - They’re more likely to trust a recommendation from a peer - Creates network effects
Identify the “hub” in each village: - The main pub everyone goes to - The most popular café - The community center
Sign them first: - They validate your app - Everyone else follows - Worth offering them Tier 3 pricing to get them in
Weekly: - [ ] New business sign-ups - [ ] Active paying businesses - [ ] MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) - [ ] Churn rate (businesses canceling) - [ ] Average offer claim rate per business
Monthly: - [ ] Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) per business - [ ] Lifetime Value (LTV) per business - [ ] LTV:CAC ratio (target 3:1) - [ ] Net Revenue Retention (target >100%)
Daily: - [ ] Daily Active Users (DAU) - [ ] App opens - [ ] Offer claims - [ ] New downloads
Weekly: - [ ] Weekly Active Users (WAU) - [ ] DAU/WAU ratio (target >0.3) - [ ] Retention: Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 30 - [ ] Avg offers claimed per user
Monthly: - [ ] Monthly Active Users (MAU) - [ ] User acquisition cost - [ ] Organic vs paid acquisition split - [ ] Referral rate
What: “Zapp Active Launch Party” at main village pub
How: - Partner with pub for the night - Free drinks for first 50 downloads - All partner businesses there with flyers - Local press invited - Live demos on iPads - Raffle prize: £100 of offers
Cost: £200 (free drinks) Expected: 50+ downloads, local press coverage, viral social posts
What: Hide special QR codes around village for prizes
How: - Place 10 hidden QR codes in partner businesses - Scan all 10 = Win £50 voucher - Creates game-like engagement - Drives foot traffic to all partners - Users must visit multiple locations
Cost: £50 prize + £20 for special QR codes Expected: 30% of users participate, visit all businesses
What: Every first Friday of month = extra special offers
How: - All businesses put their best offers live - Market it: “First Friday on Zapp Active” - Becomes a regular event - Creates habit loop - Drives monthly engagement
Cost: £0 (businesses provide offers) Expected: 50% spike in engagement on First Fridays
What: Once in 3 villages, create friendly rivalry
How: - Track total offers claimed per village - “Fairford vs Lechlade vs Cirencester” - Winner gets featured for a month - Creates community pride - Drives engagement
Cost: £0 Expected: 2x engagement during competition weeks
What: Case study content every week
How: - Interview one business owner - Show their actual numbers (with permission) - Post on social media - Use in sales pitches - Builds social proof
Cost: 1 hour/week Expected: 30% higher conversion in sales
“Hi [name], it’s Paul from Zapp Active. We spoke last week about getting more local customers into [Business]. Is now a good time for a quick chat?”
“So when we spoke, you mentioned [their problem - e.g., quiet Tuesday afternoons, tourists but not locals, competing with chains]. Is that still a challenge?”
“Right, so here’s how Zapp Active solves that specifically for you:
We have 400 people in [Village] actively looking for offers on the app right now. These are locals, not tourists.
You create an offer - something like ‘10% off for locals’ or ‘Free coffee with any lunch on Tuesdays’ - whatever works for you.
We put a QR code in your window. When they scan it, they see your offer. They show it to you in-store. You track exactly how many people came in.
[Business Name] got 23 customers last month from this. At £50/month, that’s £2.17 per customer. Can you get customers that cheaply anywhere else?”
“£50 is too expensive” “I get it. Let me ask - how much do you usually spend on marketing per month? [Wait] And can you track exactly how many customers that brings in? [No] With us, you know exactly the ROI. Plus, first month is free to prove it works.”
“I don’t do discounts” “Totally fair. Your offer doesn’t have to be a discount. Could be ‘Free starter with main’, ‘First drink on us’, or even just ‘Exclusive menu for locals’. What matters is giving locals a reason to visit you vs [competitor].”
“I’m too busy” “I hear you. Setting up takes 10 minutes. I come to you, install the QR code, set everything up. You don’t touch anything. I manage it all. Sound fair?”
“Let me think about it” “Absolutely. Can I ask - what do you need to think about? Is it the price, the setup, or something else? [Address specific concern]. How about this - I’ll pop by on [specific day] with my tablet and show you exactly what it looks like. No commitment.”
“Great! So I’ll get you set up. I’ll need about 10 minutes to install the QR code and set up your offer. When works better - today at 3pm or tomorrow morning?”
“Brilliant. I’ll pop by at [time]. And just so you know, first month is free to prove it works. If you don’t see results, you don’t pay anything. Fair enough?”
Week 1: - [ ] Map 80 businesses - [ ] Create all materials - [ ] Build pitch
Week 2: - [ ] Visit 20 businesses - [ ] Sign 5 pilot partners - [ ] Set up QR codes
Week 3: - [ ] Marketing blitz - [ ] Launch event - [ ] Get to 100 users
Week 4: - [ ] Engagement & iteration - [ ] Track usage data - [ ] Fix critical bugs
End of Month 1: - 5 businesses (free) - 100 users - Product validated
Week 5: - [ ] Show pilot data - [ ] Convert 4 to paying (£200 MRR)
Week 6-7: - [ ] Door-knock 15 more - [ ] Sign 5 new (£250 MRR)
Week 8: - [ ] Upsell 2 to Pro tier - [ ] Total: £500 MRR
End of Month 2: - 9 paying businesses - £500 MRR - 200 active users
Week 9-10: - [ ] User growth to 400 - [ ] Small ads (£200 total) - [ ] Press coverage
Week 11-12: - [ ] Visit all remaining - [ ] Sign 11 more businesses - [ ] Total: £1,000 MRR
End of Month 3: - 20 paying businesses - £1,000 MRR - 400 active users - Ready to expand to village #2
Much faster than Village #1 because: - You have proven model - You have case studies - You have refined pitch - You know what works
Timeline: 6 weeks instead of 12
Week 1-2: Rapid Setup - Map businesses - Visit 30 businesses over 2 weeks - Sign 15 (50% conversion with social proof) - Set up all QR codes
Week 3-4: Marketing Blitz - Copy everything from Village #1 - Launch event - Local press - Social media - Target: 200 users in 2 weeks
Week 5-6: Optimization - Track data - Upsell to Pro - Referrals to other businesses
Result: - 15 new businesses = £750 MRR - Total: £1,750 MRR
Same playbook, executed faster: - 4 weeks per village - 10-15 businesses per village - 150-200 users per village
By Month 12: - 5 villages covered - 60+ businesses - 1,000+ users - £3,500 - £5,000 MRR
Business Side: - Churn >10%/month = Your value prop isn’t working - <50% of pilots convert to paying = Pricing or ROI issue - Low offer claim rates = Either not enough users or offers aren’t appealing
User Side: - Day 3 retention <40% = Onboarding or value issue - <30% claim an offer in first week = Discovery problem - High uninstall rate = Something fundamentally broken
If after 3 months: - <5 paying businesses = Business model doesn’t work - <100 active users = User acquisition strategy broken - <£500 MRR = Won’t scale to profitability
What to do: - Survey businesses: Why didn’t you pay? - Survey users: Why didn’t you engage? - Pivot your approach based on feedback - Don’t throw good money after bad
Decision: Continue or pivot?
Decision: Raise funding or bootstrap?
Decision: Raise Series A or continue bootstrapping?
Pitch: “We drive foot traffic to local businesses, supporting the local economy.”
Pitch: “Your local franchise competes with independents. Stand out with local offers.”
Pricing: £100-200/month per location
You’re Local: You live there. You know the village. Trust matters.
You Can Code: No expensive agency. Fast iteration.
Small Market: 80 businesses you can actually reach. Not 10,000.
Personal Touch: You can visit each business personally. That’s impossible at scale.
Community Pride: Villagers want local businesses to succeed. They’ll support you.
Low Competition: Google/Yelp don’t care about villages. No VC-backed startups going after this.
Remember: Every big success started with one awkward conversation in a coffee shop.
Facebook started with “Harvard only.” Uber started with “San Francisco only.” Airbnb started with “Conference attendees only.”
You’re starting with “Your village only.”
That’s not a limitation. That’s your superpower.
Now go get ’em! 🎯