Built and Launched a SaaS Company: A Friendly Guide to Success in the Tech World

I’ve always been fascinated by the world of startups and entrepreneurship. After leaving my previous job, I found myself at a crossroads. Should I invest in other companies or take the plunge and build my own? The idea of creating a SaaS company from the ground up was too tempting to resist.

My years of experience working with small businesses had given me valuable insights. I’d noticed that many were struggling with call tracking and management. This gap in the market sparked an idea. Why not develop call-tracking software that could help these businesses thrive? With this vision in mind, I set out on an exciting journey to bring my SaaS company to life.

Key Takeaways

• Building a SaaS company from scratch can be more rewarding than angel investing
• Identifying a market gap is crucial for creating a successful product
• Developing call-tracking software can help small businesses improve their operations

Selecting the Perfect Designer

Finding the right designer for my SaaS project was crucial. I knew that a great design would make a massive difference in attracting and keeping customers.

I decided to use Dribbble to search for talented designers. It’s a brilliant platform where creatives showcase their work. To contact designers, I had to pay a £16 yearly membership fee. It was well worth the investment.

I spent a whole day browsing through portfolios, searching for terms like “b2b dashboard” and “saas dashboard”. After hours of looking, I narrowed it down to my top 10 favourites.

I reached out to all 10 with a friendly message explaining my project. Here’s how it went:

• 10 messages sent
• 8 replies received
• 7 designers available for a chat
• 1 perfect match found

The designer I chose was brilliant. They had relevant experience and really understood my vision. I wanted someone who could be a thought partner, not just follow orders blindly.

We agreed on a fixed price for the project, with payments made after completing each deliverable. The design package included:

1. Brand identity
2. Landing page
3. Main dashboard
4. User onboarding flow
5. Mobile responsive designs

While the cost was higher than I initially planned, I believe it’s a smart investment. A beautiful, user-friendly design can lead to happier customers who stick around longer.

To help you in your own search, here are some tips:

• Look for designers with SaaS experience
• Check their portfolio for similar projects
• Have a clear brief ready before you reach out
• Be prepared to discuss your budget openly
• Look for someone who asks thoughtful questions

Remember, good communication is key. During our initial chats, I made sure to:

• Clearly explain my project goals
• Share my budget expectations
• Discuss timeline requirements
• Ask about their design process
• Get a feel for their communication style

Outlining Your Product’s Blueprint

Synopsis

I’ve found that setting out clear product guidelines is crucial. To do this, I created several key documents that paint a vivid picture of what we’re building and why.

First, I drafted a basic design overview and a features list. These help everyone understand the big picture and the specific bits we need to include.

Next, I wrote up a real-world example. This shows how our product solves actual problems people face. It’s a great way to make sure we’re on the right track.

I also put together a document about the issues we’re tackling and how we’re fixing them. This keeps us focused on providing real value.

My designer suggested we write user stories. These are short snippets that describe how different people might use our product. They’re brilliant for keeping the user at the heart of what we do.

We used a worksheet based on the Hook model too. This helps us think about how to make our product habit-forming. It’s based on a brilliant book called ‘Hooked’ that I’d recommend to anyone in product development.

Here’s a quick list of what we ended up with:

• Design overview
• Features list
• Real-world example
• Problems and solutions doc
• User stories
• Hook model worksheet

These documents were super helpful. They made sure everyone on the team understood what we were trying to achieve. They also gave us a solid foundation to build on as we moved forward with the design process.

I found this stage really exciting. It’s where our ideas started to take shape and become something real. We could see how our product might fit into people’s lives and make a difference.

The next step was to work with our designer on the agreed deliverables. But that’s a story for another time!

Design Process and Tools

During the design phase, I worked closely with my designer. We chatted on Skype all day, bouncing ideas back and forth. It was brilliant!

First, we focused on wireframes. This took ages, but it was crucial for nailing the user experience. We went through loads of scenarios to get it just right.

Once the wireframes were sorted, we moved on to the actual designs. My designer would send mock-ups, and I’d give feedback until we were both chuffed with the result.

We used a few nifty tools to keep things ticking along:

• InVision: For sharing design previews
• FreshBooks: For invoicing milestones

Here’s a quick rundown of all the tools we used:

The whole process was dead easy and transparent. My designer always made sure everything was easily accessible, which I really appreciated. It made the whole experience a breeze!

Picking the Right Person to Build My Product

After sorting out the design, I needed someone to actually build my SaaS product. This step was crucial, and I had to make some important choices before I started looking.

First, I thought about whether I wanted someone local or overseas. Then, I considered how much experience they should have. Lastly, I wondered if I should hire a freelancer or someone from a company.

I made a little table to help me think about the costs:

In the end, I decided to go for a senior developer in India who worked for a company. This way, I got someone skilled and had project managers to keep things on track.

I used a website called Upwork to find my developer. I put up a job post explaining what I needed. Lots of people applied – 39 to be exact! I picked 6 to interview.

To choose who to talk to, I looked at three main things:

• What other clients said about them
• How successful they were at finishing jobs
• How many hours they’d worked through Upwork

The person I chose had done over 9,000 hours of work on Upwork. Even better, they had a perfect score for making clients happy. These numbers are real and can’t be faked, so I felt good about hiring them.

Finding the right person to build your product is really important. It’s worth taking the time to think about what you need and to look carefully at who’s out there. Don’t rush it – the right developer can make all the difference to your project!

Step 5: Bringing the Software to Life

Building software from scratch is no small feat. I had to tackle a mountain of tasks, from setting up the project’s backbone to creating a robust database. It was a whirlwind of coding, troubleshooting, and fine-tuning.

My developer was a godsend. Every four weeks, he’d give me a progress report on our milestones. But that’s not all – I’d wake up to a daily email detailing his plans for the day. It was brilliant having such clear communication.

We were in constant contact, bouncing ideas off each other at all hours. My developer wasn’t just writing code; he was a true partner in the project. He’d spot potential issues I’d missed and come up with cracking ideas to improve the product.

After six months of hard graft and over 850 hours of work, we finally had something to show for our efforts. Our baby was ready to face the world!

Here’s a snapshot of our journey:

• Project architecture setup
• Database creation (schemas, tables, triggers)
• API webhook configuration
• Login credential validation
• Daily progress updates
• Fortnightly milestone reviews
• Constant brainstorming and problem-solving

It was a long road, but seeing our product come to life made every hour worth it.

Getting the Word Out and Making Sales

After creating my product, I needed to sell it. I started by setting up a simple online presence. I bought a domain from GoDaddy and used WPEngine for hosting. I also set up branded emails with Google Apps.

For my website, I chose WordPress and hired someone on Upwork to design a landing page. It cost me £120 and took two days. They used the Divi theme, which is brilliant for building sites without coding know-how.

Once the site was ready, I ran some Facebook ads to attract visitors. I then called everyone who filled out my contact form. To keep track of what worked, I wrote different phone scripts.

This approach helped me get my first paying customers. I set up their accounts manually and charged them through Stripe. Then I emailed them the login details for the software.

My early customers loved being involved in shaping the product. Their feedback was invaluable. One of them sent me a lovely email saying how much they enjoyed using the software and suggesting new features.

Here’s a quick list of what I did:

1. Set up a domain and hosting
2. Created a WordPress landing page
3. Ran Facebook ads
4. Called leads personally
5. Tested different sales scripts
6. Manually set up customer accounts

I found this hands-on approach really helpful in the early days. It let me talk directly to customers and learn what they needed. This personal touch made a big difference in turning leads into sales.

As the business grew, I started to automate more of these processes. But in the beginning, doing everything myself helped me understand my customers better and improve my product.

Remember, selling a new product takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t take off straight away. Keep talking to your customers, learning from their feedback, and improving your offering.

Wrapping Up My SaaS Journey

I reckon my experience shows that building a SaaS company doesn’t have to break the bank. With about £32,000, I managed to get my product off the ground. It’s a bit of a different path from the usual fundraising route, and it lets you keep more control over your company.

Now, I won’t sugarcoat it – it’s no walk in the park. You’ll need to put your nose to the grindstone and stay laser-focused. But if you can find a top-notch developer and designer, you’re well on your way.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need:

• A cracking idea
• A talented team
• Loads of determination
• About £32,000

I hope my story gives you a bit of a boost to start your own SaaS venture. Remember, you don’t need pots of cash or venture capital to make it happen. With some elbow grease and clever planning, you can create something people will love.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start building!

Common Queries About Starting a SaaS Business

How can I get a SaaS venture off the ground with no money?

Starting a SaaS company without capital isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible. I’ve found that focusing on a minimum viable product (MVP) is crucial.

I’d suggest using free development tools and platforms, offering pre-sales to early adopters, bartering services with other professionals, and seeking out angel investors or crowdfunding.

What options do I have for building a SaaS product if I’m not a coder?

Not being a programmer shouldn’t stop you. Here are some routes I’ve seen work:

1. No-code platforms (e.g. Bubble, Webflow)
2. Hiring freelance developers
3. Finding a technical co-founder
4. Outsourcing to development agencies

The key is to have a clear vision and manage the process effectively.

Can you recommend some SaaS business ideas for newcomers?

Certainly! Here are a few ideas I think are worth considering:

• Project management tools for niche industries
• AI-powered content creation assistants
• Virtual event platforms
• Sustainability tracking software for small businesses
• Health and wellness apps with subscription features

What are the essential steps to launch a SaaS company?

Based on my experience, these are the crucial steps:

1. Develop a solid idea
2. Conduct thorough market research
3. Create a prototype or MVP
4. Gather feedback and iterate
5. Build a strong team
6. Develop a pricing strategy
7. Launch and market your product

Is it possible for one person to create and manage a SaaS platform?

Yes, it’s possible, but it’s challenging. I’ve seen solo founders succeed by:

• Automating as much as possible
• Focusing on a niche market
• Outsourcing non-core tasks
• Using self-service models to reduce support needs
• Gradually building a team as the business grows

What are some examples of thriving SaaS companies and their offerings?

Here are a few successful SaaS companies I admire:

These companies have all found unique ways to solve common business problems.