What is a SaaS Business? (Software as a Service)
A SaaS business delivers software over the internet, allowing users to access applications without the need for installation or maintenance
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A decade ago, if you wanted to build a SaaS product as a solo founder, you needed either thousands of dollars to hire a developer or technical skills to build everything yourself, along with many months to validate your idea. It was a steep uphill battle for any solo founder. But things have drastically changed in recent years.
Today, with the rise of no-code platforms, automation, AI tools, and accessible cloud services, building a SaaS on your own is possible if you have a problem-solving mindset or a willingness to learn new things.
While it's possible, it doesn't mean it’s easy. There are challenges, but if you're a determined solo founder, it's absolutely within your reach. This article will guide you through the steps, challenges, and best practices you need to know to build your SaaS product on your own.
Why Solo Founders Are Rising
In the past, building your product required developers, designers, marketers, and business strategists. Today, many solo founders are creating SaaS businesses from scratch. One reason for this is the availability of tools that let you build without coding or deep technical knowledge. Platforms like Bubble.io, Webflow, and Glide enable you to create fully functional SaaS applications with a drag-and-drop interface.
Additionally, there is a growing culture of bootstrapping, where founders use their own resources instead of seeking outside investment. This encourages solo founders to keep their operations lean, doing most of the work themselves.
What Does It Take to Build a SaaS Solo?
Building a SaaS on your own requires a mix of skills, but you don’t need to be an expert in everything. However, there are key areas you’ll need to focus on:
Product Development
The first and most obvious part is building the actual software. If you’re not a developer, no-code tools like Bubble or Webflow can help you create an MVP (minimum viable product) without writing any code.
It takes time to become proficient in no-code platforms, but you can also hire no-code agencies to build your product with expertise and best practices.
Marketing
It's not enough to just build the software; you also need to attract users. Marketing is a crucial skill to learn, especially as a solo founder. You'll be responsible for writing blog posts, sending emails, and promoting your product on social media. There are marketing tools available to automate your social media posting and engagement.
Customer Support
Once you launch your product, you’ll need to interact with your users, answer their questions, and resolve their issues. Managing customer support by yourself can be overwhelming, but tools like Intercom or Zendesk can help simplify the process.
Sales and Revenue Generation
You need to figure out how you’ll make money from your SaaS. Will you offer a subscription model, a one-time payment, or a freemium model where users can try a free version before upgrading? As a solo founder, understanding the revenue side of your business is just as important as the technical side.
The Benefits of Building a SaaS as a Solo Founder
There are several advantages to building a SaaS by yourself:
- Full Control: You don't need approval from co-founders or investors. You have complete control over your product's direction, features, and pricing. This allows you to pivot quickly if needed.
- Lower Costs: By handling everything yourself, you save money on hiring developers, designers, and marketers. This is especially helpful in the early stages when cash flow might be tight.
- Faster Decision-Making: Without a team to debate decisions, you can move faster. You can test new features, launch updates, and make improvements without waiting for team discussions.
Challenges You’ll Face as a Solo SaaS Founder
While there are benefits to building a SaaS solo, there are also challenges:
- Time Management: Juggling multiple roles—developer, marketer, customer support, etc.—can stretch you thin. One of the biggest challenges is managing your time efficiently.
- Loneliness and Burnout: Running a business alone can be isolating. There’s no one to share your frustrations with or to help you when things get tough. Burnout is common among solo founders, especially in the early stages when progress can be slow.
- Limited Expertise: No one is an expert in everything. As a solo founder, you might struggle with areas outside your expertise. For instance, if you’re a great coder, you might find marketing or customer service difficult to manage. Conversely, if you’re a marketer, you might struggle with the technical aspects of building a product.
- Limited Resources: Without a team, you might lack the resources to scale quickly. You’ll also have to rely on outside contractors or freelancers when you need specialized skills, which can get expensive.
How to Overcome These Challenges
Despite the difficulties, there are ways to overcome the challenges of building a SaaS business as a solo founder.
- Automate Repetitive Tasks: Automation tools like Zapier or Integromat can save you time by automating tasks such as email marketing, customer onboarding, or data entry. By automating repetitive tasks, you free up time to focus on more critical areas of your business.
- Outsource When Necessary: You don’t have to do everything yourself. Outsourcing specific tasks, like design or content creation, can give you more time to focus on your product. Websites like Upwork or Fiverr allow you to hire freelancers for small projects, so you can focus on what you do best.
- Take Breaks and Prevent Burnout: It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re managing everything on your own. Take regular breaks to recharge, and don’t hesitate to seek support from online communities or mentors.
Success Stories of Solo SaaS Founders
There are many examples of solo founders who have successfully built SaaS businesses:
- Pieter Levels built and grew Nomad List, a platform for digital nomads, entirely on his own. He has built multiple businesses as a solo founder and now makes over $100,000 per month in revenue.
- Balsamiq, a wireframing tool for designers, was started by Peldi Guilizzoni as a solo founder. It has grown into a multimillion-dollar business.
- Nathan Barry created ConvertKit, an email marketing platform, as a solo founder. Today, ConvertKit generates millions in annual recurring revenue (ARR).
These examples show that it’s entirely possible to build a successful SaaS business as a solo founder.
Build SaaS Without Coding
Can a solo founder build a SaaS? Absolutely. While it requires a lot of work and comes with unique challenges, it’s not impossible. With the right tools, a solid strategy, and a lot of determination, you can turn an idea into a successful SaaS product.
But do you need to do it all by yourself? Not necessarily. With a platform like Bubble and a team like Zeroqode by your side, you can focus on your strengths—your vision and your business strategy—and leave the technical development to the experts.
Over the last 8 years, we've successfully built more than 300 apps on Bubble. If you have any idea for your SaaS, feel free to reach out. We’d be happy to help. Check out our portfolio and explore our range of Bubble plugins to see what we can do for you.
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