From Zero to $1.5K MRR: Simon’s 10-Month Journey with CartFox.io

Introduction

Simon Terbovšek was running his own small online shop when he kept seeing shoppers add products to their carts and then disappear. Rather than ignore that leak, he coded a quick script to send reminders and offer discounts. After noticing a spike in recovered orders, he realized this could be a standalone product. CartFox.io launched as a simple SaaS that tracks abandoned carts, sends tailored emails, and nudges shoppers back to check out.

The Early Problem

In e-commerce, roughly 70% of carts get abandoned. Simon dug into why: shipping fees stacking up, clunky checkout steps, or customers just browsing. He experimented with free shipping prompts and one-click popups. Every tweak added recovered revenue. But manual work on each order wasn’t scalable. He built CartFox.io to automate those actions.

Building the MVP

Using PHP and MySQL, Simon set up a web app that integrates via a plugin and tracks cart events. It stores cart contents, sends a personalized email after one hour, follows up with a discount after 24 hours, and can trigger exit-intent popups. Developers find the stack familiar and extendable.

Landing the First 50 Clients

Cold emailing store owners was labor-intensive. Simon built a list on LinkedIn Sales Navigator, then personalized each outreach message. It took nearly a year to get 50 signups. Paid ads were tested but burned budget without real leads. He learned that direct contact with clear ROI data resonated more than generic ad copy.

Scaling to 110 Customers

Once Simon gathered testimonials, he ramped up on content marketing. Blog posts on cart-abandonment best practices, how-to guides, and case studies drove organic SEO traffic. He added an affiliate program, teaming up with Shopify consultants. In month ten, CartFox.io hit 110 paying stores and $1,500 in MRR.

Product Features

• Automated, personalized email reminders
• Time-sensitive discount and free shipping offers
• Exit-intent popups with special deals
• Streamlined checkout widget
• Data analytics dashboard
• A/B testing for messaging and timing

Technology Stack & Tools

CartFox.io runs on a LAMP-style stack. Simon uses Google Workspace for docs and email, Skype for team calls, and ChatGPT to draft marketing copy. This lean setup keeps costs low and onboarding fast.

Lessons Learned

• Retaining existing users costs less than chasing new leads, so focus on churn reduction early.
• Clear metrics and real customer feedback win trust faster than paid ads.
• Keep the code stack simple—use widely known languages and databases for easier hiring.
• Content marketing and partnerships drove sustained growth after the initial slow phase.

Conclusion

CartFox.io shows how a narrow focus on one pain point—abandoned carts—can turn a side tool into a revenue-generating SaaS. By listening to early users, automating outreach, and investing in direct relationships, Simon scaled to over a hundred clients and predictable monthly income.