Building a SaaS product: a guide for businesses

What makes a product SaaS?

SaaS (Software as a Service) is software used over the internet with no installs, usually paid for on a recurring basis such as monthly. Users sign in through a browser, data lives in the cloud, and the same product serves many customers at once. This model enables recurring revenue, but it requires a product that's developed continuously.

Start small: MVP first

Don't try to build the whole product at once. Pick one problem you solve better than others and build the smallest working version of it. That way you test demand before investing heavily. Read more on how to build an MVP the right way.

Architecture and scalability

A SaaS product's technical foundation determines how well it handles growth. From the start it's worth considering user management and security, support for multiple customers, integrations and APIs, and the ability to scale as users grow. But don't over-build: you need an architecture that survives the next growth stage, not an imagined million users.

Pricing and the subscription model

SaaS is usually sold as a subscription. The basic principle of pricing is to tie the price to the value the customer gets — for example the number of users, usage level or features. Simple, clear pricing is better at the start than something complex, and you can refine it as you learn more about your customers.

Maintenance and ongoing development

A SaaS product is never "done". After launch it's developed continuously: fixed, improved and extended based on feedback. This is the strength of the SaaS model — the product gets better over time — but it also means a development partnership is best when it's long-term.

How to get started

The best first step is to clarify the core problem and scope the first version. We help with that as part of SaaS development. Tell us what you're building and we'll work out the sensible path forward together.