Start a SaaS Business in Just 5 Steps: My Personal Experience

How to Start a SaaS Business in 5 Simple Steps

Starting your own SaaS company has never been easier. New tools make it simple for anyone to Start a SaaS Business with no code.

Gone are the days of raising millions, hiring developers, and racking your own servers. If you have a SaaS idea and a few hundred bucks, you’re in luck.

Today, we’ll show you the new way to Start a SaaS Business in 2024. We’ll break down how you can build your first SaaS in five simple steps with zero code.

At the end, we’ll share our launch strategy that got us hundreds of paid users on our first day. Our goal is to be as cost-efficient and time-efficient as possible.

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Step 1: Create a Wireframe of Your App

The first thing you’ll want to do is create a wireframe of your app. This is a good way to visualize what your app will look like without spending the time it takes to actually build functionality.

This is important because we have no clue if our idea is even good yet. To build a wireframe, Figma is going to be your best friend.

If you have an eye for design and you’re on a tight budget, Figma is very user-friendly and has all the components you need to lay out your app.

But if you have $200 to spare, you’re much better off hiring a professional on Upwork to do this. You’ll want to write down a description of what your app will do, list out all the features you want, and gather a few reference images.

Some screenshots of other apps that you want yours to look like are helpful. The more reference images you have, the better the designer will understand your vision and the faster they will get it done.

Here is an example of an Upwork listing we have used to hire Figma designers. A Figma design should be done relatively quickly and can be completed in a week, depending on the complexity of your idea.

Once you have your Figma design, it’s time to move on to the next step and Start a SaaS Business.

Step 2: Test Your Idea

Now that you have your Figma design, it’s time to figure out if people think your idea is good. This is what people typically call validating your software.

It’s best to see if people are even interested in your idea before you spend all this time building the functionality. Since you have a Figma, you can easily show people what the app looks like.

From the outside, it looks like a fully built app. Some advanced Figma apps are clickable, so people can navigate each tab and click through the app.

The first thing you want to do is find a few people who could potentially be interested in your app. Send them a message saying, “Hey, I’m working on a new software idea, and I’m curious if this existed, would you use it?”

Then, send them the Figma and see what they say. We are looking for brutally honest feedback and suggestions that we can use to improve the app to better fit their needs.

A lot of times, your friends are going to be supportive, so it’s best to find strangers who don’t care about hurting your feelings. You can find these people in Discord communities, Twitter, Reddit, or even LinkedIn by searching typical keywords that your target audience would naturally be searching on social media.

You can offer to pay them for their time, but you’d be surprised how many people are actually just happy to help you. Don’t be shy!

Getting their feedback on features they like or don’t like will help you prioritize what to include in your MVP. We’ll talk more about that in step three.

Next, you’ll want to create a quick landing page on Webflow and start a waiting list. Just a very simple website with a quick headline, a short description, and some screenshots of your Figma app.

Then, create an email submission form for people to sign up and join your wait list. Put that link to your landing page in your bio on social media.

Create three pieces of content to drive traffic to your website. This could be organic TikToks showing off your app, Twitter threads, Reddit posts, or probably the most effective, a $50 Facebook ad.

If people are signing up for the wait list, you might be sitting on a gold mine. When people sign up for your email list, email them and ask what they’re looking for, what they need it for, why they are looking for it right now, how they found it, and what else they’re considering.

When it goes well, ask them to hop on the phone. This strategy validates your idea, helps you discover your ideal customer profile, and helps you find customer acquisition channels that are going to help you in step four.

We know this sounds really uncomfortable, but this pain in the short term will save you months of misery. It’s all part of the process to Start a SaaS Business.

Side note: If you have a small following, some cheeky founders will do a pre-sale. They will offer lifetime access for a steep discount if the person pays before the app is released.

This is a way to fund the actual development of the app. Getting someone to actually pull out their credit card and pay you is the best form of validation.

It’s basically a clear sign that your idea is a winner. Now that your idea is validated, it’s time for step three.

Step 3: Build Your MVP

Building your MVP is the exciting part. An MVP is a common term in the SaaS world and stands for Minimal Viable Product.

Your goal is to build only that one core feature that people want and to launch as fast as possible. Perfectionism is the number one reason most first-time founders fail.

You will add the rest of the bells and whistles as you go, but the old way of doing things was to hire a developer and wait. Now, anyone can Start a SaaS Business thanks to no-code tools.

We use Bubble, Make.com, and Rapid APIs. Depending on what you want your app to do, odds are there’s already an API that can do it.

So instead of having to hard-code everything from scratch, you just use the existing pre-built features, also known as APIs. SaaS in 2024 is more about combining existing features in a unique way that solves a very specific niche problem.

It’s like building a computer. You just buy a pre-built hard drive, processor, graphics card, and motherboard, then piece them all together.

If you want to make a sports betting app, just use the Rapid API sports betting API. Then you have all of the odds, all of the recommended bets, and payouts in your app.

Just connect the Stripe API and you’re open for business. Make.com is the easiest no-code API builder to use because it’s 100% visual.

You just drag, drop, and connect each step. That’s what we use to power the backend of Revamped. Rapid API has just about every feature you could imagine, but you will need to be able to copy and paste a small line of code.

It sounds intimidating, but Bubble makes it super easy, we promise. Once you find the pre-built features that you want to use, it’s time to bring your Figma wireframe to life in Bubble.

Bubble is a drag-and-drop software builder where you can start adding all of your components, tying all your APIs together, and connecting all the buttons. Since it’s all visual, you can get the hang of it pretty quickly.

But we want to make one thing clear. We started this article saying software has never been easier, but that doesn’t mean you snap your fingers and it’s done.

There is still a learning curve. You need to understand SaaS lingo like servers, databases, admin panels, APIs, and even though Bubble is 90% faster than traditional coding, you still have to learn where everything is, how to configure apps, and the overall flow.

We can’t cover all the technicals here, but that’s why we created our new no-code SaaS course, Future Dev, where we teach you how to use Bubble, Make.com, and Rapid APIs.

The course is designed to take you from complete beginner to being able to Start a SaaS Business and build virtually any SaaS idea that you have. The course walks you through the entire process of how to combine all of these tools to build SaaS with no code.

Future Dev will give you the full picture and all the technical details. This is a brand new way to build SaaS and it’s not being talked about anywhere else.

So if you’re serious about bringing your SaaS idea to life, go to wgmiacademy.com to join right now. A yearly subscription is only $147.

This is the lowest price that the WGMI Academy will ever be offered for, and if you sign up today, you will be locked in at this annual rate for life.

We will continually be building new course material, including our personal brand content creator course, Creator Eyes, in the coming months. So click the link, join the WGMI Academy, and Start a SaaS Business by building your MVP now.

Step 4: The Pre-Launch

What we like to do is start building up media assets as we’re building our MVP. The earlier you start doing this, the more money you’re going to make when you launch.

By media assets, we mean Instagram accounts, Discord communities, newsletters, and Twitter accounts. This is where you have to know your own personal strengths.

Some people are good at writing, others are good at talking. Maybe you’re good at video editing or making banger memes.

It doesn’t matter what style of content you’re good at, but you need a content strategy in 2024. Content is king.

So to set your SaaS up for success, you just need one content style on one content platform. This could be memes on Reddit, threads on Twitter, AI-generated ads on Instagram, or our personal favorite, paying UGC creators for TikTok.

The goal of this is to build an audience of people in your target audience. We want to make one thing clear: you’re not making an account under your software company’s name.

We are making what we call disguise accounts. You’re just an innocent account giving people free content.

For example, if you’re making a SaaS for people who flip cars, you can Start a SaaS Business by creating an Instagram account called “Everyday Car Guy” and start educating people on the car market.

Whether that’s cars for sale in a certain area, news on the car market, or trending models, you are trying to attract people who will naturally be interested in your SaaS when you launch.

You attract them by giving them content upfront and for free. Another example is if you’re making that sports betting app, create a Twitter account and start tweeting your picks for popular games.

Write threads on your strategy and your theses, or even just make memes that are culturally relevant in the sports betting community. Then, when your sports betting app is ready, you can start advertising your tool organically through your content.

This is called content marketing and it is by far the most effective way to launch SaaS in 2024. You don’t even have to use your own face or voice.

You can use AI-generated voices, make graphics on Canva, or hire UGC creators. Just get creative. The future is pretty cool.

Step 5: Launch

It’s time to prepare for the launch. The first thing you’re going to need for your launch is a sales page.

This is going to be similar to the waitlist page you created in step two, but you’re going to need a demo video and a signup page. The demo video can be a simple Loom video of you walking them through how the app works with voiceover and screen recording.

Your signup page should just clearly display your pricing and encourage them to sign up for a 7-day free trial. Just make sure your Stripe is connected properly.

We do cover this in the WGMI Academy, but it’s pretty straightforward. Next, you’ll want to make the copy on your sales page as concise as possible.

Do not get bogged down in all of the details of your app. Only focus on the outcome that they will get and the problem that your app solves.

People should be able to understand what it does and who it is for in only two sentences. Lastly, visual step-by-step images with short descriptions breaking down how the app works will be very helpful because not everyone will be able to watch the demo video with volume on.

Now that our sales page is ready, you’re ready to launch on Product Hunt. Product Hunt is a curation of the best new products every day where people go to discover the latest mobile apps, websites, and technology products that everyone’s talking about.

Launching on Product Hunt can make or break your SaaS. If you become the number one product of the day, you will get thousands of users, but you only have one shot at it, so listen closely.

Here’s how it works. First, you submit your product, create your product page, and then schedule your launch day.

You can schedule your launch up to one month before your launch day. That way, you can tease it, drive traffic, and collect followers before your big day.

For the best results, you’ll want to schedule your launch for 12:01 a.m. PST on a Sunday. This gives people the full 24 hours to view your product on the least competitive day.

Start a SaaS Business and when you launch, dozens of early adopters, tech people, entrepreneurs, and people who just like new products will view your page. If they like it, they’re going to give you an upvote.

Each vote moves you up the leaderboard, but remember, you’re competing against hundreds of other apps that are launching on the same day. You have 24 hours to try and climb the leaderboard to the number one spot, which is essential when you Start a SaaS Business.

This is where those media assets that we have been building for the last few months will give you an unfair advantage. Promote the launch on your social media accounts, on your email list, and text all of your friends to vote for your product.

If your app does get the most votes, you will be featured on their homepage, in their newsletter, and you will get thousands of new users overnight. Also, you will receive the coveted “Number One on Product Launch” badge that you can proudly display on your website, which is great social proof.

This can literally change your life overnight and help you successfully Start a SaaS Business. But even if you don’t get the number one spot, you’ll still get a lot of page views and it’s a lot of fun.

Conclusion

Starting a SaaS business has never been easier, and with the right strategy and tools, anyone can do it. By following these five simple steps, you can Start a SaaS Business and bring your idea to life without any coding experience.

Remember to validate your idea, build your MVP using no-code tools, create a pre-launch content strategy, and launch on Product Hunt for maximum exposure. With dedication and hard work, you can Start a SaaS Business and achieve success in 2024 and beyond.

FAQs:

H3: How much does it cost to start a SaaS company?

The cost of starting a SaaS company can vary greatly depending on factors such as the complexity of your product, the tools you use, and whether you hire additional help.

However, with the availability of no-code tools and affordable resources, it’s possible to Start a SaaS Business with a budget of a few hundred dollars.

The main costs include purchasing domain names, hosting services, no-code tools, and marketing expenses. As your business grows, you may need to invest in additional features, infrastructure, and talent.

H3: How profitable is a SaaS business?

SaaS businesses can be highly profitable due to their scalability, recurring revenue model, and relatively low overhead costs compared to traditional businesses.

Once you’ve built your product and acquired customers, the marginal cost of serving each additional customer is often minimal, allowing for high profit margins.

However, profitability depends on factors such as your pricing strategy, customer acquisition costs, retention rates, and operational efficiency. Many successful SaaS companies have achieved significant profitability by focusing on delivering value to their customers and continuously improving their products and services.

H3: How to startup your own SaaS?

Starting your own SaaS involves several key steps:

Identify a problem or need in the market that your SaaS product can solve.
Validate your idea by gathering feedback from potential customers and analyzing competitors.
Create a wireframe or mockup of your product using tools like Figma.
Build your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) using no-code tools such as Bubble, Make.com, and Rapid API.
Develop a pre-launch marketing strategy to build anticipation and acquire early adopters.
Launch your product on platforms like Product Hunt and start onboarding customers.
Continuously gather feedback, iterate on your product, and scale your business.

Remember, starting a SaaS business requires dedication, hard work, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Joining communities and courses like the WGMI Academy can provide valuable guidance and support throughout your journey.

Can I make money with SaaS?

Yes, you can make money with SaaS. Many entrepreneurs and companies have built successful and profitable businesses by offering software as a service.

The SaaS model allows you to generate recurring revenue by charging customers a subscription fee for access to your product. As your customer base grows, so does your revenue.

To make money with SaaS, you need to focus on creating a product that solves a real problem, pricing it appropriately, and acquiring and retaining customers.

This involves continuous marketing efforts, providing excellent customer support, and regularly updating and improving your product based on user feedback.

While building a profitable SaaS business takes time and effort, the potential for scalability and recurring revenue makes it an attractive option for entrepreneurs looking to Start a SaaS Business.