There’s no question that the SaaS industry is growing. In fact, it’s expected to reach $143 billion in 2022. But as the industry grows, so does the competition. And for startups, that can be a big obstacle to overcome.
Fortunately, there’s a way to build a micro SaaS startup quickly and efficiently — without code. By using no-code tools, you can get your business up and running in just 30 days. And best of all, you don’t need any prior coding experience.
Table of Contents
What is Micro SaaS?
Micro-SaaS startups are focused on solving specific problems for individual contributors, rather than for organizations as a whole.
You typically have a narrower scope than traditional SaaS companies, and your products are designed to be used by an individual contributor rather than by a team.
While you may not have the same reach as larger SaaS companies, micro-SaaS companies can be very successful by catering to a specific niche.
Benefits of Building a Micro-SaaS Product
Micro-SaaS products can be a great way to enter the software market with a minimum viable product. By definition, a micro-SaaS product is a small, self-contained software application that solves a specific problem.
Often they are faster to develop than traditional software applications, and they can be a great way to get your foot in the door of the software market.
There are a few key benefits to building a micro-SaaS product.
- First, It’s a great way to validate your business idea. If you have an idea for a software product but are not sure if it will be successful, developing a micro-SaaS product can help you test the waters.
- Second, micro-SaaS products can be a great way to generate revenue quickly. If you are able to develop a micro-SaaS product that solves a real problem for customers, you can start generating revenue right away.
- Finally, micro-SaaS products can be a great way to build a customer base. If you are able to create a micro-SaaS product that customers love, they will be more likely to spread the word and help grow your business. This is because micro saas founders often build in public.
Common Types of Micro SaaS Startups
There are a few different types of micro SaaS startups out there. The most common include:
- B2B SaaS: These startups offer software that helps businesses with some aspect of their operations, like customer relationship management or accounting.
- B2C SaaS: These startups offer software that helps consumers with some aspect of their lives, like fitness tracking or budgeting.
- Vertical SaaS: These startups offer software that is specific to a certain industry, like healthcare or retail.
- Location-based SaaS: These startups offer software that is specific to a certain geographic area, like a city or country.
Each of these types of micro SaaS startups has its own unique challenges and opportunities. The key is to find the right fit for your specific business idea.
Overview of How The Micro SaaS Business Model Works
With the help of no-code tools, you can build and launch your micro saas product in just a few weeks without any coding experience.
Typically micro saas startups are low-cost, with most products requiring less than $1,000 in investment.
This is because Micro SaaS businesses are usually focused on a specific niche or market, which allows them to be lean and efficient with your resources.
Additionally, they typically have low customer acquisition costs, as you are able to target your marketing efforts toward a specific group of people by building in public.
As a result, Micro SaaS businesses can be extremely profitable, with many businesses generating $1,000 to $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
If you’re convinced, follow the 5-step framework below to build your micro SaaS startup with no-code tools within 30 days.
Step 1: Build in Public to Attract an Audience
We’ve been taught to use the build, measure, learn feedback loop to create a minimum viable product. Micro SaaS startups have taken this method to the next level with a concept called building in public.
Build a niche audience and then share micro SaaS ideas until you have a validated product.
There are a number of ways to attract an audience while you’re documenting your journey. The two most effective methods are growing an email newsletter or community (Slack or Discord) by sharing your lessons learned on a daily bases.
This will allow you to connect with others who are interested in what you’re doing and build a following of people who can provide support and advice. In addition, sharing your journey can also help you reflect on your progress and learn from your mistakes.
Step 2: Find A Micro-SaaS Idea
Now that you’re consistently building in public and growing your audience, begin seeking to solve your community problems with micro-SaaS ideas.
Brainstorm Micro SaaS Ideas
When you’re trying to come up with ideas for your micro SaaS product, it can be helpful to start by looking at problems you’ve experienced in your work or industry.
You likely have first-hand knowledge of the pain points that exist, and you may even have some ideas about how to solve them. Even if you don’t have all the answers, starting with a problem you understand is a good way to begin brainstorming possible solutions.
Find Micro SaaS Ideas in Startup Directories
However, if you’re failing to identify micro saas ideas based on your on experience tap into existing audiences.
A smart approach would be to tap into communities and directories within your niche.
For example, here are some popular directories for B2B micro SaaS startups.
- Product Hunt
- App Sumo
- Betalist
Your ideal customer profile (audience) determines which communities, directories, and social media platforms you should be active on.
Find Micro SaaS Ideas in Niche Communities
Communities are a great place to ask your ideal customer profile (audience) about the current challenges they are experiencing and see if there are any SaaS solutions that currently exist.
Also, if you’re not building a B2B SaaS product this would be the best route to go. By asking people about their challenges, you can get a better understanding of what kinds of solutions they are looking for.
And by seeing if there are any SaaS solutions that could help, you can get an idea of what kind of product you can build.
- List of Slack Communities (More B2B Focused)
- List of Discord Communities (More B2C Focused)
Once you have a few micro saas ideas, start doing some competitor research by writing down all of the product features and developing a hypothetical product roadmap.
If you find an existing SaaS product doesn’t exist that’s a signal not to attempt creating a micro SaaS startup. Our goal is to solve one problem for an individual that they will be able to easily relate to.
Step 3: Validate Your Micro SaaS Idea
Now that you’ve identified your Micro SaaS idea the best way to validate your idea is to gather feedback from your audience and understand whether your product has viable market demand.
This is an important step in the product development process, as it allows you to gauge whether or not your idea is something that people actually want or need. It also allows you to get feedback from potential customers so you can make improvements to your product roadmap.
There are three steps to validate your micro SaaS idea:
- The Landing Page: Creating a landing page is a great way to gauge interest in your product and see if people are actually willing to pay for it. It’s also a low-cost way to get started, and you can always add more features and functionality later on. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of landing page builders out there that can help you get started quickly and easily.
- The Pre-Order Page: If you want to validate your idea quickly and with minimal effort, you can create a pre-order page. This is a simple page where people can sign up to be notified when your product is available. This is a great way to gauge interest and get a feel for what people are willing to pay for your product. You can also use this page to collect email addresses so you can start building a list of potential customers.
- The Lifetime Deal: It’s a win-win situation when doing pre-sales to validate your micro saas idea: your audience gets a great deal on your product, and you get a chance to build a relationship with your audience to get customer feedback to continuously make product improvements. It’s common practice to charge the annual rate of your base subscription. For example, if you plan on having a $10 monthly subscription your lifetime deal would be for $120.
These three steps will allow you to get an accurate pulse on whether people would actually use your product, and what you think of it. If you can validate your idea with a small group of users, then you can move on to building your minimum viable product (MVP). If not simply give all customers a refund (no harm, no foul).
Decide On Your Micro SaaS Pricing Model
The pricing model you choose for your micro SaaS will have a big impact on your business. You need to consider your target market, your competitors, and your own costs when making this decision.
There are a few common pricing models specifically for micro SaaS, including subscription, usage-based, and freemium. Each has its own pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the one that’s right for your business.
The Lifetime Deal Model: is when you offer your product at a deeply discounted price for a limited time. This kind of pricing can be very effective in acquiring new customers. It’s a great way to introduce your product to a larger audience and get them to try it in exchange for product feedback. With Micro SaaS startups I recommend using this pricing method for your first 50 to 100 customers and then switching to one of the three pricing models below.
The Subscription Model: is the most common, and it’s simple to understand and implement. With this model, customers pay a recurring fee to access your software. This can be a monthly or annual fee, and it’s usually based on the number of users. The main advantage of this model is that it provides predictable revenue. However, it can be difficult to increase prices, and customers may cancel their subscriptions if they’re not using the software regularly.
The Freemium Model: offers a basic version of the software for free, and customers can pay for additional features or services. This model is becoming increasingly popular, as it allows customers to try the software before they commit to a purchase. The main disadvantage of this model is that it can be difficult to get customers to upgrade to the paid version.
The Usage-Based Model: charges customers based on how they use the software. This could be a per-use fee, a monthly fee, or a combination of both. This model is flexible and can be tailored to the individual user. The main advantage of this model is that customers only pay for what you use. However, it can be difficult to track usage, and some customers may be discouraged by the fees.
No matter which pricing model you choose, it’s important to be clear and transparent with your customers. you should know exactly what you’re paying for, and what you’ll get in return. The right pricing model can help you attract and retain customers, so choose carefully.
Step 4: Create Your Micro SaaS MVP
Once you have validated your micro SaaS idea and decided on a pricing model, you can start building your MVP. This doesn’t have to be a complicated process, and in fact, the simpler the better. Keep your MVP focused on the core features that will provide value to your users and you’ll be on your way to building a successful product.
This is usually a stripped-down version of your product with only the essential features. The point of an MVP is to get your product out to your users (who you pre-sold to) as quickly as possible so you can start gathering feedback and prioritizing improvements within your product roadmap.
Best NoCode Tech Stack For Micro SaaS Founders
To quickly get your product to customers use no-code tools. They are growing in popularity because they allow founders to launch products without learning to code.
This is a major trend that is only going to grow in popularity in the coming years.
There are a lot of different NoCode tech stack options out there for micro SaaS founders. But which one is the best?
The answer may surprise you.
The best NoCode tech stack for micro SaaS founders is the one that can build 90% of startups.
Google Workspace: (formerly G Suite) is a cloud-based productivity suite that includes Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. As a micro SaaS founder, you can use Google Workspace to stay organized and connected with your team. With Gmail, you can create custom email addresses for your business (e.g., info@yourcompany.com). Docs, Sheets, and Slides let you create and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, respectively. You can also use Google Calendar to schedule and track events and deadlines. Google Workspace is an affordable and easy-to-use tool that can help you run your business more efficiently.
Notion: It’s a powerful tool that allows you to create, manage, and share your work. It’s perfect for micro SaaS founders who need a way to organize their thoughts and ideas. With Notion, you can create beautiful docs and websites, and share them with your team. Notion is easy to use and has a ton of features, so you can get started quickly and easily. Plus, it’s free for individuals, so you can get started without spending any money.
Webflow: If you’re looking for a no-code solution that will allow you to build a beautiful and functional website, then Webflow is a great option. With Webflow, you can create custom designs without having to write any code. And, if you do know how to code, you can use Webflow to create even more complex designs. Webflow is a great option for micro SaaS founders who want to create a professional website without spending a lot of money on development.
Zapier: Micro SaaS founders need to be able to move quickly and efficiently, and that means having the right tools in place. Zapier is a great option for those who want to automate your workflow and connect different applications. It’s easy to use and has a wide range of integrations, making it a valuable addition to any micro SaaS founder’s toolkit.
Airtable: It’s a great tool for quickly building prototypes and MVPs for Micro SaaS businesses. It’s fast, easy to use, and doesn’t require any coding. Plus, Airtable integrates with a variety of other tools to help you automate your workflow and get your business up and running quickly.
Memberstack: If you’re looking for a way to quickly and easily add membership functionality to your site or app, Memberstack is a great option. It’s a no-code platform that makes it easy to add features like member login, signup, and profile management. Memberstack also has a robust set of features for managing your members, including member profiles, member groups, and access control. And best of all, it’s very affordable, starting at just $10/month.
Stripe: It’s a payment processing company that provides businesses with the infrastructure they need to take payments online and in mobile apps. Stripe makes it easy to accept credit and debit card payments, and also supports ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Stripe has been a popular choice for micro SaaS founders because it is easy to use and has a low learning curve.
Step 5: Launch Your Go-to-Market Strategy
Your MVP is built and it’s time to start acquiring customers. How will you do it?
You need a go-to-market (GTM) strategy.
A GTM strategy is a plan for how you will reach your target market and achieve your business goals. It includes everything from your messaging and positioning to your sales and marketing initiatives. It’s important to have a well-defined GTM strategy before you launch your product because it will help you focus your efforts and resources on the right things.
There are many factors to consider when crafting a GTM strategy, but a few key elements include:
- Your target market: Who are you trying to reach?
- Your value proposition: What are you offering that is of value to your target market?
- Your channels: How will you reach your target market?
- Your budget: What resources do you have to invest in your GTM strategy?
Once you have a clear understanding of these elements, you can start to develop a plan of action.
The most important thing is to get started and learn as you go. The best GTM strategies are focused on building in public, measuring results, and optimizing along the way.
The build, measure, learn feedback loop is a key part of any micro SaaS startup’s go-to-market strategy. By building in public, you can acquire customers and get feedback on your product quickly and efficiently. This feedback loop will help you improve your product and attract more customers.
Conclusion
The beauty of the micro saas business model is that it is highly iterative. You can launch a new product, see how it performs, and then make adjustments as needed. This allows you to constantly learn and improve your offering. It also means that you can quickly pivot if something isn’t working.
The key is to constantly learn from your results so that you can make informed decisions about whether to persevere or launch a new micro saas startup.
Starting a Micro SaaS business doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With the right tools and a little bit of creativity, you can build your micro saas startup with no-code tools within 30 days. And once you see your first paying customers, you’ll be hooked!
