Stop Wasting Time on SaaS – Do THIS Before You Build Anything
Stop Building SaaS… Unless You Do This First
If you’re stuck building SaaS after SaaS and getting nowhere, you’re not alone. Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs fall into this trap: spending months or even years building something nobody asked for. In this post, let’s break down exactly why that happens—and how to fix it.
Why Most SaaS Projects Fail (And How to Avoid It)
Most failed SaaS products don’t flop because of bad code or poor design. They fail because they lack direction.
You need to start with clarity:
- Who are you building for?
- What problem are you solving?
- Why should anyone care?
If you can’t answer those three questions in one sentence, you’re in trouble.
How to Come Up with SaaS Ideas That Actually Work
Forget about building “cool” tech. Focus on solving specific, annoying problems. Here’s a step-by-step method to uncover strong SaaS ideas:
- Look at your daily habits
- What tools or processes do you use regularly?
- What annoys you or slows you down?
- Mine your work experience
- What did people at your last job complain about?
- What tasks were repetitive, boring, or broken?
- Listen to niche communities
- Visit subreddits, Facebook groups, and forums
- Look for posts where people vent frustrations
- Spot inefficiencies
- Anything people do manually or with multiple steps is ripe for automation
The Power of Micro-Niches
“Fitness” is too broad. “Meal plans for diabetic truck drivers” is specific.
Examples of strong micro-niches:
- Canvas painting tutorials for beginners
- Diet plans for PCOS sufferers
- Custom dashboards for RV rental businesses
Specific problems = specific solutions = paying customers.
If You’re Already Stuck with a SaaS…
Maybe you’ve already built something and it’s not working. Here’s how to troubleshoot:
- Does it solve a real pain point? If not, pivot or refine it.
- Is it too broad? Narrow your niche.
- Are you trying to build too much? Strip it down to one clear, valuable function.
- Are people using it? Get feedback. Even 5 honest users can guide your next move.
B2B SaaS? Solve for Breakage
Businesses pay to avoid losing money. That loss is called breakage.
Common breakage sources:
- Theft (e.g., retail shrinkage)
- Wasted time (e.g., manual data entry)
- Errors (e.g., wrong file formats or missed emails)
Build tools that prevent or reduce these, and you’ve got demand.
Small Tools Win Big
You don’t need to build a massive platform. Solve one problem, and solve it completely.
Examples:
- A QuickBooks-to-Excel converter
- A WordPress plugin that creates AI-driven content plans
- A browser extension that formats resumes
Real-World Example: A Micro SaaS Plugin That Works
The video shows a demo of a tiny SaaS plugin that:
- Helps users define their niche
- Automates logo and background generation
- Creates blogging plans using AI
It’s not revolutionary tech. It’s focused and useful. And yes, it has paying users.
Why Hosting Is Your First Step
You can’t test or build anything serious without hosting. Here’s what hosting gives you:
- A playground to experiment with plugins or MVPs
- A way to share your work with others
- Full ownership (no surprise takedowns)
Free platforms are like renting. Hosting is ownership.
Want to Build a SaaS That Actually Succeeds? Start Here ✨
Solve one painful, specific problem for one clear group of people. That’s the secret.
The rest? Just experimentation and iteration.