4 mistakes that didn't kill our company | Building MarsBased

Building a bootstrapped software consultancy comes with unique challenges, unexpected financial gaps, and hard-learned lessons. In this episode of the Building MarsBased series, Àlex Rodríguez Bacardit examines four significant errors that could have derailed the company but didn't. Most startups operate on a razor's edge, but MarsBased was built on financial independence and optionality, allowing the team to turn these costly setbacks into fundamental business lessons.

The discussion covers the financial reality of working with long-term clients who stop paying and how a 100k€ loss eventually paved the way for a more resilient partnership years later. It also explores the hidden costs of starting and stopping the hiring process too frequently and why bringing in a dedicated specialist changed the company's growth trajectory.

Àlex also addresses the "unreasonable frugality" that often leads founders to wait too long before hiring operations and management roles. Finally, the episode details the importance of regular pricing reviews and how moving to auto-renewing contracts eliminated constant administrative friction. This is an in-depth look at building a healthy, sustainable business by learning to manage the mistakes that are often unavoidable in the early years.