About this episode
Can you build a multi-million-dollar SaaS business without raising a single dollar of venture capital?
At just 23 years old, Hamish McKay did exactly that.
In this episode of From Garage to Growth, Hamish shares how he bootstrapped Order Editing, a Shopify app solving one of e-commerce’s most frustrating customer problems, into a business generating more than $27,000 in monthly recurring revenue. Along the way, he built in public, attracted global brands, and proved that sustainable growth doesn’t always require outside investment.
Finding the Right Problem
Great startups begin with real problems.
Hamish explains how his experience working in customer service exposed a recurring pain point for online retailers and how that insight became the foundation for Order Editing.
Instead of chasing trends, he focused on solving a problem customers were already willing to pay to fix.
Building in Public
One of Hamish’s biggest growth strategies wasn’t paid advertising it was transparency.
He shares how documenting both the highs and lows of entrepreneurship on LinkedIn helped him build trust, grow an engaged audience, and attract customers organically. By openly sharing failures, milestones, and lessons learned, he turned authenticity into one of his greatest competitive advantages.
Why Patience Pays Off
Unlike many founders who rush to launch, Hamish deliberately waited.
He spent two years building new skills, creating financial stability, and preparing himself before taking the leap into entrepreneurship. He explains why patience, preparation, and long-term thinking ultimately gave his business a stronger foundation.
Turning a Cost Centre into a Revenue Driver
Order Editing began by helping businesses reduce customer support requests.
But Hamish soon discovered another opportunity: giving customers the ability to modify orders also created new upselling opportunities, transforming what was once a support expense into an additional source of revenue for merchants.
The Power of Backward Planning
Hamish attributes much of his success to a simple planning technique: backward mapping.
Rather than focusing only on ambitious goals, he worked backwards from the outcome he wanted, identifying the practical steps required to get there. It’s a framework that helped him make better decisions and stay focused throughout the journey.
Winning Customers Through Authenticity
One of Hamish’s earliest breakthroughs came from simply sharing his journey online.
He tells the story of how a transparent LinkedIn post helped secure one of his first major customers and why genuine human connection continues to outperform polished marketing for many early-stage founders.
Whether you’re building a SaaS company, bootstrapping your first startup, or interested in the power of building in public, this episode offers practical lessons from a founder who grew a successful business on his own terms.
About the Guest
Hamish McKay is the founder of Order Editing, a leading Shopify app that enables merchants to give customers greater flexibility after checkout while reducing support costs and increasing revenue opportunities.