Business idea · SaaS
Automated Shipping Solutions
Automated Shipping Solutions: Creating an automated shipping solution that integrates with live selling platforms to streamline order fulfillment and shipping logistics for sellers. This can involve label printing, inventory tracking, and shipping management. It was pitched on The Side Hustle Show in the episode "740: This Part-Time Pastor Sold $2M On Whatnot Last Year" (aired May 21, 2026).
At a glance
| Podcast | The Side Hustle Show |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Nick Loper |
| Episode | 740: This Part-Time Pastor Sold $2M On Whatnot Last Year |
| Aired | May 21, 2026 |
| Category | SaaS |
| Real companies on the episode | Golf HQ, Whatnot, Shopify, WhatNot |
The problem it solves
Shipping logistics can be a significant pain point for sellers, especially during high-volume sales events; this solution simplifies the process and reduces errors.
How it makes money
The business can charge a subscription fee for the software or a per-label fee, depending on the volume of orders processed.
Skills you need
Technical skills in software development, logistics management, and an understanding of e-commerce operations are required to build and maintain the system.
The market, and why this works now
Shopify's 2024 app-revenue policy allows for more flexible pricing structures for third-party apps, making it easier for automated shipping solutions to gain traction. A solid first-revenue move could involve listing the software on the Shopify App Store to attract e-commerce sellers. A technical hurdle the founder will face in the first 12 months is integrating with various shipping carriers, which often have different APIs and requirements, complicating the implementation of a unified solution.
Our analysis, written after the episode. Not a quote from the show.
Real companies discussed on this episode
- Golf HQ
Golf HQ is a brick-and-mortar golf shop that expanded its sales through the Whatnot platform, focusing on golf products.
- Whatnot
Whatnot is a live shopping platform that allows sellers to sell products directly to buyers in real-time through live streams.
- Shopify
Shopify is a commerce platform that helps businesses build online stores and find customers through various marketing tools.
- WhatNot
WhatNot is a live selling platform that allows users to sell items in real-time auctions, significantly speeding up the sales process.
Where this idea came from
Podcast: The Side Hustle Show, hosted by Nick Loper
Episode: 740: This Part-Time Pastor Sold $2M On Whatnot Last Year
Aired:
Summarized from the episode transcript. The show does not say which speaker raised each idea, so we credit the show, not a person.