OpenCart business model?

Daniel wrote: to behonest the quote requests i get are not enough money for me to live off. I'm going to let others advrte there services rather than do the work myself.

This is sad. What's it going to take to get it to where you can make enough to live off of? I don't want to take you on as a personal dependent, but I would think that with the folks you are gathering from around the world with your efforts developing this cart there would be some way to make it worth your while.

Or maybe get you set up sort of like an affiliate for those selling as a result of your efforts. I don't mean to hang Q out to dry, but he is the most visible. There are also others selling templates and mods. If you could get a cut of all such sales, or have a fee for listing here, etc.

Not trying to put the burden on the sellers, just thinking out loud as to how to help you make your efforts a financial success.

I'll admit, I'm sitting on my wallet until I can use a stable V1.4.x, but I'd be willing to throw some in the pot to help you make this a full time effort.

peteVA wrote:

Daniel wrote: to behonest the quote requests i get are not enough money for me to live off. I'm going to let others advrte there services rather than do the work myself.

This is sad. What's it going to take to get it to where you can make enough to live off of? I don't want to take you on as a personal dependent, but I would think that with the folks you are gathering from around the world with your efforts developing this cart there would be some way to make it worth your while.

I think Daniel means that with these requests he gets are to small to make a living of. Not that he cant make a living out of coding.

Or maybe get you set up sort of like an affiliate for those selling as a result of your efforts. I don't mean to hang Q out to dry, but he is the most visible. There are also others selling templates and mods. If you could get a cut of all such sales, or have a fee for listing here, etc.

Not trying to put the burden on the sellers, just thinking out loud as to how to help you make your efforts a financial success.

This is very difficult as how will you let others pay for something you give a way for free?
How will you have others pay for creating a template, a module or an add-on?
People like Q not only make a living (or a small buck) by selling their services but also contribute a lot to this community so as far as I can see this is in balance. So does it with most of the others that contribute here and offer their payd services.

I know that the founder of osCommerce never cashed what he could have because he never took up any advice from his teammembers on how to set-up his business. He also never listen to his teammembers on how to proceed with osCommerce and that is why most, if not all, of his teammembers left him/the project. And that is why there is no osCommerce v3.x atm. and looking at the whole situation there never will be.
I'm confident that Daniel is much clever

I'll admit, I'm sitting on my wallet until I can use a stable V1.4.x, but I'd be willing to throw some in the pot to help you make this a full time effort.

Same here, and I have contributed not only to Daniel but to some other comunity members as well just because they provide a great service here on these forums and helped me in a way that I think they diserve it.

I have no info on how much or how many community members or commercial organizations that use OC have made a donation but I'm sure that this could be much more. I for one do donate to a project as soon as I make money by using it or as I find it worthy enough.

i2Paq wrote:

Or maybe get you set up sort of like an affiliate for those selling as a result of your efforts. I don't mean to hang Q out to dry, but he is the most visible. There are also others selling templates and mods. If you could get a cut of all such sales, or have a fee for listing here, etc.

Not trying to put the burden on the sellers, just thinking out loud as to how to help you make your efforts a financial success.

This is very difficult as how will you let others pay for something you give a way for free?
How will you have others pay for creating a template, a module or an add-on?
People like Q not only make a living (or a small buck) by selling their services but also contribute a lot to this community so as far as I can see this is in balance. So does it with most of the others that contribute here and offer their payd services.

This is all true, but without Daniel and OC they would not have this income. Maybe with another cart, maybe not.

I am not trying to put a burden on anyone, simply throwing out ideas as to how Daniel could profit by getting a little from a lot of people. I would think that someone who would pay $5 for a mod or template would also pay $6.

Most of my sales, both dropshipping and hosting, come from forums, and I pay to advertise. Not even banners. Just pay to be able to "sell" in threads and to have links in my signatures. And I make a full time living online.

The CubeCart modders have a separate forum, with a Catalog. Many modders, but not all, list there. I have never asked, but I would think someone is making a cut on each sale. Maybe just 5 or 10%, but the modders are getting exposure, and they do not pay until something is sold. (If that is the case, as I said, I am not certain of that.)

Open Source does not have to mean Free. Again, please do not get me wrong. Free is good, I love it. But with some thought there should be a way for Daniel to be rewarded for his efforts. I'm not saying I have the answer(s), just trying to get some ideas flowing.

peteVA wrote:The CubeCart modders have a separate forum, with a Catalog. Many modders, but not all, list there. I have never asked, but I would think someone is making a cut on each sale. Maybe just 5 or 10%, but the modders are getting exposure, and they do not pay until something is sold. (If that is the case, as I said, I am not certain of that.)

I know that the contribution section is up for a make-over and maybe this idea of yours could be implemented

Open Source does not have to mean Free. Again, please do not get me wrong. Free is good, I love it. But with some thought there should be a way for Daniel to be rewarded for his efforts. I'm not saying I have the answer(s), just trying to get some ideas flowing.

Like I said, I agree with you and I think others to.
I'm certain that Daniel has his business model coffered.

Is there a simple way to be rewarded for their work.
Would only proceed in this direction:

1 - create a stable version of OpenCart;
2 - include only the modules required to operate strictly (cart, categories, information and accessories for the payment such as PayPal and standard delivery).

This is the basic package!

Later, Daniel can develop many additional modules and also on request.
For each module can take a lump sum payment.

I am sure he would do a lot of money because each user OpenCart easily spend € 20/30 to expand the capabilities of its online store.

Moreover, the modules pay to be covered by copyright.
This will also avoid selling a form and whoever buys it is being transferred to other users for free

by blogexecute

cartit wrote:I am sure he would do a lot of money because each user OpenCart easily spend € 20/30 to expand the capabilities of its online store.

Moreover, the modules pay to be covered by copyright.
This will also avoid selling a form and whoever buys it is being transferred to other users for free

by blogexecute

this is exactly how PrestaShop is doing! Their baseline version is, however, a lot more comprehensive than what you have suggested.

While it is nice to see how the community is thinking about a business model for OC, I would suggest to come back on topic and - if needed - open up a new thread to discuss this issue.

I can only suggest but only Daniel to make this revolution method

joomx wrote:While it is nice to see how the community is thinking about a business model for OC, I would suggest to come back on topic and - if needed - open up a new thread to discuss this issue.

I don't think it is an issue, it's just a discussion about a business model for OC
But this should be done in a separate topic I agree, so I've split the two discussions in a new topic.

In my humble opinion I can say that only Daniel is able to make this important decision.
Only he knows the state of things, users who use OpenCart and what are the potential for a possible division of the software: opensource and paid for.

OpenCart is common because it is an excellent tool for commerce.

A lower frequency of releases brings more time with Daniel and other developers to develop other features of the store and work for custom modules for personal customers.

I am more happy if things are broken: less confusion for users and more serious in developing addons (few but good)

I would also add that not all shops need modules unnecessary and that slow down your system.
Some modules can be useful for some users and not for others.
I have a simple example: I think google talk is not interested at all stores but only those that offer special services.

I believe in the basic package opensource there should be only the following modules:
1 cart;
2 Category:
3 brands;
4 information.

by blogexecute

Do not exclude even the possibility that some users may develop modules free as they do today.
This is a decision that each developer could undertake.

Believe me, there will be a great relief for everyone.

Try to imagine a good store of good company: do you think these problems would have to spend a few dollars to customize their store?

I wish that Daniel understood these little hints.

Of course, some users will not be in agreement with this, but will have free choice to switch to another script.

by blogexecute

cartit wrote:In my humble opinion I can say that only Daniel is able to make this important decision.
Only he knows the state of things, users who use OpenCart and what are the potential for a possible division of the software: opensource and paid for.

True, only Daniel knows but it is "fun" to have a discussion like this

I would also add that not all shops need modules unnecessary and that slow down your system.
Some modules can be useful for some users and not for others.
I have a simple example: I think google talk is not interested at all stores but only those that offer special services.

I believe in the basic package opensource there should be only the following modules:
1 cart;
2 Category;
3 brands;
4 information.

There should be a basic package of Payment and Shipping modules in the package, any other modules should be downloaded from the contribution site.
There should also be some more basic functionality in the current OC, but this will get there in time I'm sure.

Certain! OpenCart is full of payment methods and methods of delivery is not complete!
They must not be an integrated feature incomplete.

In addition, installation must choose whether to insert the examples or perform a clean install of the database



A clean install, no feature installed: Each module will install the features you want, payment and delivery

I believe that these small suggestions should be taken seriously because the happiness of many users would


by blogexecute

Your idea of business by having a free core end selling modules is not possible. You cant do that with OpenCart because of the GPL which states that linked programs (i.e modules here) must be under GPL too. So, you can take a fee for distributing your module, but the buyer can place your module in free downloading for everybody, bypassing your business model. Thats the GPL.

PrestaShop or Magento on the contrary are under OSLv3
Paying a buck for removing the Copyright at bottom could be an issue.
NB: Copyrighted by WHO ? Not precised, so this mention is useless at the moment.

I think the idea of creating 1 big marketplace for all modules and mods is very smart... expand heavily on the extensions page here, everyone with their own webshop, like Q, selling mods and modules, have them offer them on the opencart.com website, this works on all levels;
- the creator / seller (like Q) still makes some money
- Daniel can get a cut (10%? 20%? 1$?)
- ALL modules and mods are centralised so easier access for the community

With just this in place I'm sure a lot of problems are solved, and this means no other changes need to be made in the way business is being done now.

gob33 wrote:Your idea of business by having a free core end selling modules is not possible. You cant do that with OpenCart because of the GPL which states that linked programs (i.e modules here) must be under GPL too.

OC would not be the first supplier using a model like this.
Many very successful software providers are using this and have great success.
To understand also that selling software under GNU/GPL (or LGPL) is possible, read this: http://commercialgpl.com/

gob33 wrote:So, you can take a fee for distributing your module, but the buyer can place your module in free downloading for everybody, bypassing your business model. Thats the GPL.

Well spoken and true.
But would you rather like to buy at the original supplier or at some place where the code could be manipulated?

It is fact that many scripts are manipulated in a way that sensible data can be stolen or the orginal code is manipulated in that way that you will have many (invisible) links to obscure sites.

And who is maintaining the original?
Who will publish updates?

I for myself trust more the original supplier than some obscure sources.

My daily work shows me, that if a customer thought that he will make a good business in downloading a program from an obscure source (e.g. a warez site), he has more damage as he would have bought it at the original supplier.

Finally, the holder of the copyright can do some fine legal things with such people/companies.

my plan is to create a new extension page where people can not only give their work away for free but also sell the work. i plan to use paypal adaptive payments to make 10% off each sale.

its going to take a while to do this and I want to get the next version out before i start it.

I have a new template line up and will propably have logo competition or somthing.

Daniel wrote:my plan is to create a new extension page where people can not only give there work away fro free but also sell there work. i plan to use paypal adaptive payments to make 10% off each sale.

its going to take a while to do this and I want to get the next version out before i start it.

I have a new template line up and will propably have logo competition or somthing.

perhaps we as a community can help setting up the new opencart.com website, you have plenty on your plate with OpenCart itself, that is something we can't pitch in on... perhaps this way we can take some load away from you?

I think it is a reasonable solution for the problem. However I wonder If you have any plan or conception about upload policy, licence, merging modules into OC etc.

Daniel wrote:my plan is to create a new extension page where people can not only give their work away for free but also sell the work. i plan to use paypal adaptive payments to make 10% off each sale.

its going to take a while to do this and I want to get the next version out before i start it.

I have a new template line up and will propably have logo competition or somthing.

IMHO the best we can do is supporting newcomers, improving the documentation and wiki. Generally it is a heavy load on developer(s).

burrito wrote:

Daniel wrote:my plan is to create a new extension page where people can not only give there work away fro free but also sell there work. i plan to use paypal adaptive payments to make 10% off each sale.

its going to take a while to do this and I want to get the next version out before i start it.

I have a new template line up and will propably have logo competition or somthing.

perhaps we as a community can help setting up the new opencart.com website, you have plenty on your plate with OpenCart itself, that is something we can't pitch in on... perhaps this way we can take some load away from you?