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Ok guys, I would like to hear your opinions. No judging, no darth choke force, just want to see how others are reacting to this.
Is normal, many people already know me and think that I am some kind of guru. Not at all, I am just a guy writing bitcoin guides from experience.
But let's say you got this message into your telegram group from a fellow bitcoiner member from a group. And I know well the person, is not a scammer or something, just a newbie.
How you would respond? Take in consideration:
  • you are busy with your regular work
  • your level of bitcoin knowledge
  • the timing of this message (maybe you are in the middle of a large holiday or a big project)
  • is a friend of yours
  • you do not want to lose the opportunity to onboard a new merchant
Let's play this like a game. Shoot your answers.
Probably a BTCPay server guide, a link an inbound liquidity service (probably LNBig) and maybe if you have it maybe an LSP integration guide (I know breez has an SDK but do they have a BTCPay server plug-in? Seems like a missed opportunity if they don't). Along with some plug-ins I've seen to integrate with quickbooks maybe a link to satoshi pacioli accounting (https://satoshipacioli.com/about-us/)
Put a different way, I would gather resources I know are useful to questions I get a lot and shove them into a folder marked with what its for then copy and paste the contents.
You can see this style of organizing information on the "Bitcoin SOP" Github repo I made: https://github.com/nerd2ninja/bitcoin-sop
And yeah its a little messy. Maybe you like Lopps way of doing it better: https://www.lopp.net/bitcoin-information.html
Alternatively, you could give your consultation fee rates and take the job.
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Truth is, its still really f-ing difficult to accept BTC/LN on a website in a self-sovereign way.
As a new business owner, you should focus 110% of your energy on bringing value to customers. Figuring out how to accept their money really shouldn't cost more than 1% of your time IMO.
So bite the custodial bullet and use a turn-key custodial solution. If BTC becomes a significant portion of revenue, then consider migrating to a self custody solution.
Better to be all-in on the business in the early days, than also try to dabble in server administration, networking, and becoming an expert at managing LN liquidity. Or spending big $$$ hiring someone to do it or consulting fees.
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Hi @nullcount , yes, it can be difficult. NixOS and https://github.com/fort-nix/nix-bitcoin have made it a LOT easier these days to run your own bitcoin node and lightning node.
That inspired us to create the Sovran Pro, to make it super easy for folks for the whole package.
If you need help, just reach out and I can help answer any questions so you can do it yourself.
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Anyone can run a node real easy. Umbrel is way easier than nix for most. Just one curl script, then browser app to install apps.
But neither umbrel nor Soveran makes it simple to accept LN payments on a publicly accessible website hosted at home.
Users still have to port-forward/proxy their BTCPayServer or LNBits, connect it to wordpress woocommerce or build a custom site.
Wish there was an easy tor-only version of wordpress, that came preconfigured to use LN, it would be huge.
Custom shop platforms like SqueakRoad and Super's MagicWebstore are easy to host and integrate with LN, but missing the rich suite of plugins and themes of Wordpress.
Would be cool if Sovran offered a proxy service so clearnet apps hosted at home could use sovran's servers to proxy apps. Maybe for a subscription. Yunohost does something like this for their self hosted apps.
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Thanks for the suggestions regarding the proxy service. I will look into. So far, clearnet seems to still be the standard when one needs a to serve a web service to customers.
Yes with Sovran_SystemsOS and the Sovran Pro there is nothing to install (server end). It runs out of the box. So it is simpler to set up then Umbrel. No terminal needed.
We walk the user through opening up ports on their router. So, they get one-on-one attention with that.
Yes, correct the user will still have to learn how to use the frontend software on BTCPayserver, Wordpress, and RTL (if they wish to use Lightning). However, this is the same as using any other custodial company as they have their own proprietary user interfaces the customer has to learn.
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Can always send a customer an invoice manually thru chat if they want to pay in BTC. Sure the UX, etc. isn't as good. But your first customers are there for the product not the UX.
Tell him come back to you when the business has at least a dozen customers paying BTC per month. (Then you can potentially charge him a higher rate at a time when you are less busy)
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Ask for more info about his business idea. Because there might be already existing options like vida.live
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I think this is the best answer until now
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I usually try at the start of my conversation with them to focus on the terminology they already understand and use on daily basis. I immediately show a live version this speeds up their thinking of how they might want to show their product or service.
Here's an example of one of the sites
It uses Shopify WITH Ibex for the payment method IT ONLY ACCEPTS BITCOIN.
sharkenvy.com

If they want to see an example of invoicing a customer who might still want to pay with credit card, Bank ACH or Bitcoin. I email them a zaprite invoice. At this point I usually do not push things.

Simple comparisons
  1. Make an invoice.
  2. Send the invoice.
If their customer does NOT want to pay in Bitcoin I can show them to accept the "order" and send their customer in invoice using zaprite.com
The customer can pay you however they want ACH, Credit Card, Bitcoin.
I try and stay to continue the discussion with them of that maybe their good customer is not YET using Bitcoin, that's okay, "your customer will start seeing the option for them to start paying in Bitcoin when they are comfortable".
Then they usually ask
How will their customer get some Bitcoin ? How can "I" get some Bitcoin ?
I usually ask if they have an Android or Apple phone, and if their comfortable I show them a Phoenix wallet on one of my phones and show them that if they install a wallet on their phone right now I can send them some Bitcoin.
If that takes place I start talking about Lightning, or show them Ibex POS on my phone or website and show that they can get daily SATS sent to the wallet they want.
I TRY AND POINT OUT THE GOAL IS TO USE BITCOIN NOT TO CONTINUE TO ACCEPT FIAT.
I guess this is a short answer, some of my wholesale friends, customers, I've know for many years. Some are highly educated but over think everything.
Some have attended a Bitcoin meeting with me and are now focused on part 2, pricing in SATS issues.
Kinda related Food for thought........
I get some negative comments online from some people that criticize that I'm still showing in USD first and then transaction convert to SATS. I understand their point of view, but I would say the majority of those people are not actually in a B2B ownership, do not yet actually work with companies in other Countries.
They also do not YET understand there are duties and other costs that need to be declared at some point in their Country when they receive goods from the USA, in the USD. So eventually in a few years pricing in SATS will be part of the norm, I repeat part of the norm.
Hope some of my comments might help
Thanks Rich
p.s. I'm migrating globalmerchant.io to the Shopify with Ibex AND adding my own form that would populate the details for a zaprite invoice. should up and running next week.
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There are tens or hundreds of people who ask me: hey you know Bitcoin. Lets have a whatsapp chatgroup about the topic and I will invite more people.
I used to say yes. But then I join the chatgroup and realize after a month that Iā€™m the only one posting.
Iā€™m the only one bringing stuff. 99% of the other people are just listening. Never taking action.
If you are the ā€œsmartest kid in the classroom you are in the wrong classroomā€.
When you send them the 10 hour plus youtube series of what is money of Robert Breedlove and Micheal Saylor they say: it is sooo long. When you send them the website of Darth they say: these guides are too long. Donā€™t you have a shortcut?
So they never see the hours you put into it.
Iā€™m a bit sarcastic about this and a bit grey or dark.
But my experience is people want your knowledge often for free. Your time for free.
I saw my father as a kid working 8 hours to repair a car of his friends on his Saturdays. And when they finished my father would say when the asked him his price: give me something you feel it is worth.
They would put their hand in their pocket and give my father 5 dollars. For a whole day of work. For his free time!!
I would look at that as a boy of 7. And I would swear: this is never going to happen to me.
I know my price. I know my worth.
If somebody ask me: what is the price? I would say: 10 million sats. For 1 hour.
I only give my time for free when I choose to. If Iā€™m volunteering for a foundation. But just a stranger coming to me for free time, to work for their business and their vision where they make the money? I say no or I put a high price for my time they cannot pay.
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If you are the ā€œsmartest kid in the classroom you are in the wrong classroomā€.
100 % agree, I feel that .
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I would say, Thanks for thinking about me. But please take some time to look at one of my guides so you can help yourself. Or go to youtube and search for how to receive payments on your website with lightning step by step.
And you will sure get a guide how to.
I do consultancy for some projects but my fees starts at 10 million sats per hour.
Darth
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Don't involve yourself with someone else who is "soon to launch a new business" and plan on having you do their leg work.
pass.
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Yep. I felt in this trap a lot of times. I want to pick your brain they said. For free. I now know.
When I hear pick your brain I say: it took me 25+ years to create this brain. I donā€™t work for free for people who make money. I only work for free for projects I care about.
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You should respond with, "Did you check my guides?"
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I'd tell them it's called Lightning Network, not lightening network šŸ˜œšŸ»
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Great point! Many newbies are making this mistake and what is strange is that are not even non-native english speakers... So is quite strange that they are making this huge mistake.
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Trust your gut. If you feel a moment of hesitation, it's not worth it.
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yeah, depending on which business it is, you might don't want your brand related to it. TDV!
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  • Most important: 30 minute call where you dive into exactly what the other party wants to accomplish
  • Clearly communicate the limitations to your knowledge & availability
  • Leave them with a call to action such as: "Let me think this over and I will either decline or shoot you a proposal for deliverables + compensation"
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I'd just say I'm busy with other projects & maybe recommend someone you think might be interested in it.
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You could offer to let him use your name as a partner in the project / for marketing purposes, subject to you signing off on anything that is published on the site. Ask him to propose a revenue share if you even want it. For the build out of the site you could just introduce him to someone you trust and let them take it themselves from there
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@Natalia gave a very good answer. But, I'm sure that the real answer coming from Darth will be less politically correct and more straight to the cheese.
I'll like to see the real reply!
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As I said, I am just watching the answers, do not comment on them or dunk on them.
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I would say: Ask Chatgpt. Darth
PS: Darth donā€™t kill me. Itā€™s a joke. I know you hate AI, for good reasons!
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joke taken. I like jokes. Next time use a meme and get more sats... PoW man Who doesn't like jokes (even if are about himself) is a douchebag...
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chatGPT has very old information, I don't think it would be suitable for state of the art stuff like the latest lightning vendors.
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I would help for a fee i guess(assiming i had the goodwill which i dont). What is the harm?
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You could also say:
Hey great idea!!! Please take a number and join the queque. There are 1 million people in front of you with the same request.
Thanks Darth
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Watch this video and you will know even more... pay attention to details https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xO8FQyHUkw
sorry to feed you "conspiracies"...
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candle is ready šŸ˜‚
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now I go where digital nomads or noisy marketers don't go šŸ¤£
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