Ship a Chrome extension this weekend with Cursor and earn passively from the Chrome Store

Create a new folder, open it in [Cursor](https://cursor.com), and prompt: *"Build a Chrome Manifest V3 extension that [does X]. Include a popup when clicking the toolbar icon, a content script that runs on [target site], and a background service worker. Use vanilla JavaScript — no frameworks needed for v1."*

Cursor scaffolds the full extension structure: manifest.json, popup.html/js, content.js, background.js. From this scaffold, most simple extensions are finished in 4–8 hours — Cursor writes the code, you direct what to build and test in the browser.

The 80/20 rule: get the core feature working first. Don't spend 2 hours on the icon before the feature works. Ask Cursor to handle any errors: paste the error message and say 'fix this' — it resolves most issues in one shot.

In Chrome, go to chrome://extensions, enable Developer Mode (toggle top-right), and click Load unpacked. Point it at your extension folder. The extension appears in your toolbar immediately.

Test every realistic scenario: does it work on different sites? Does it handle errors gracefully? Does it break any page it runs on? Chrome extensions that inject content scripts into every page can cause subtle bugs on third-party sites you didn't test.

Ask Claude to review your content script: *"Here is my Chrome extension content script. What edge cases could cause this to break on pages I haven't tested? What should I add to make it more robust?"*

Pay the one-time $5 Chrome developer registration fee at the [Chrome Web Store Developer Dashboard](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/devconsole). This unlocks publishing forever — the $5 is a spam filter, not a real cost.

For your listing, use Claude to write: (1) a 132-character short description with your primary keyword first — *"Write a Chrome Web Store short description for an extension that [does X]. Include the keyword [keyword]. Under 132 characters. Lead with the benefit."* (2) a full description explaining the problem, the feature, and who it's for.

Take 5 screenshots of your extension in action. The first screenshot shows in search results — make it the most impressive moment of the extension's core feature. Show it doing the thing, not explaining what it does.

Freemium works well for extensions: free for the core feature, paid for advanced features or unlimited use. Start simple — a Stripe Payment Link (no backend required) that unlocks a premium feature after payment.

Ask Cursor: *"Add a Stripe payment link to this Chrome extension. When the user clicks Upgrade in the popup, open a Stripe Checkout URL. After payment success, store a license flag in chrome.storage.sync and unlock [premium feature]."*

For pricing, test two models: a one-time payment ($4.99–$9.99) or a subscription ($2.99/mo or $19.99/yr). One-time converts better in the Chrome Store — users distrust subscriptions for small utilities. You can always add a subscription tier later.

Chrome Store organic ranking is almost entirely driven by review count and rating. Extensions with 20+ reviews at 4.5+ stars show in category search and related extension suggestions — this is entirely passive distribution once achieved.

Get early reviews by seeding in niche communities: post in relevant subreddits, Discord servers, or Facebook groups as 'built this for myself, sharing in case it helps'. Don't spam — one post per community with genuine context. Ask each interested user to leave a review.

At 1,000 daily active users with $100/mo revenue, list on [acquire.com](https://acquire.com) for a price check. Chrome extensions sell for 3–5× annual revenue — a $100/mo extension is worth $3,600–$6,000 to the right buyer. Many developers sell early and use the cash to build the next one.