The hard truth about SaaS:
It’s the most hyped business model online. It’s also the hardest to get right.
Why SaaS is hard:
- You need to build before you can sell (long feedback loop)
- Churn kills you slowly even when acquisition is working
- Technical debt compounds fast
- Competition is brutal in most categories
Why people still do it:
- Recurring revenue is powerful
- Software scales infinitely
- AI has dramatically reduced build costs
Before You Build SaaS
Ask yourself:
- Have I validated this problem with real customers?
- Can I pre-sell before building?
- Do I have 6-12 months of runway?
- Am I building because it’s the right model, or because I saw someone on Twitter make it look easy?
What’s Coming
Guides in development:
- How to validate a SaaS idea before building
- MVP development with AI assistance
- SaaS architecture for solo founders
If you’re starting your first business: Consider content sites or lead gen first. They validate faster and teach you skills you’ll need for SaaS anyway.