How to Build a SaaS from Scratch in 2026 [Complete Guide]

Last updated: January 2026

> Quick summary: Building a SaaS costs between $6,000 (lean MVP) and $60,000+ (complete platform). The process takes from 60 days (MVP) to 12+ months (mature product). In this guide, I share the process we use at Aegis AI to help 47+ startups and companies launch their SaaS.

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What is SaaS and Why Build One?

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a business model where you offer software via subscription, hosted in the cloud. Your customers pay monthly to use it, without installing anything.

Examples of Successful SaaS Companies

Why is SaaS Attractive?

1. Recurring revenue: Financial predictability
2. Scalability: One customer or 10,000, same server
3. High valuations: 5-15x ARR multiples
4. Low marginal cost: Each new customer costs almost nothing
5. Total control: You define roadmap and pricing

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📋 The 6 Steps to Build a SaaS

Step 1: Validate the Idea (2-4 weeks)

Goal: Confirm real demand exists before spending $10k+

What to Do:

1. Identify the Pain

• What specific problem do you solve?
• Who has this problem? (specific persona)
• How do they solve it today? (competitors, spreadsheets, manual)
• Why would they pay to solve it?

2. Research the Market

• Google: "[problem] software"
• Analyze 3-5 main competitors
• Identify gaps: What's missing in them?
• Validate market size (TAM/SAM/SOM)

3. Talk to Potential Customers

• Interview 10-20 people from your target audience
• Ask about the pain, not the solution
• Discover: How much would they pay? How do they buy today?

4. Create a Simple Landing Page

• Describe the problem and solution
• Capture emails from interested people
• Use Google Ads/Instagram to generate traffic
• Success metrics: 100+ emails = green light

Validation Cost:

• Landing page: $100-400
• Test ads: $100-400
• Time: 2-4 weeks
• Total: $200-800

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Step 2: Define the MVP (1-2 weeks)

Goal: Identify the minimum necessary to launch

What is MVP?

MVP (Minimum Viable Product) = only the essential features to solve the main pain. Nothing more.

How to Define Your MVP:

1. List ALL desired features

• Write everything you imagine in the final product
• Don't filter anything yet

2. Classify by Priority

3. Cut Ruthlessly

• MVP = only Must-have
• Remember: You can add later
• Golden rule: If in doubt, cut

Real Example: CRM MVP

Dream Version ($60k):

• Lead management
• Sales pipeline
• Email marketing
• Follow-up automation
• AI reports
• Integration with 10+ tools
• Mobile app
• Multi-language

Real MVP ($10k):

• Lead registration
• Simple pipeline (kanban)
• Follow-up reminders
• Basic sales report

Result: Launched in 60 days, validated with real customers, then added features.

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Step 3: Choose the Technology (1 week)

Goal: Stack that balances speed, cost, and scalability

Recommended Stack for SaaS in 2026

Frontend:

• React + Next.js (SEO, performance, market)
• Alternative: Vue.js + Nuxt

Backend:

• Node.js + Express/NestJS (development speed)
• Alternative: Python + Django/FastAPI
• For enterprise: Java/Spring Boot

Database:

• PostgreSQL (reliable, free, scalable)
• For multi-tenant: Row Level Security with Supabase

Authentication:

• Supabase Auth or Auth0 (don't reinvent the wheel)
• Alternative: NextAuth.js

Payments:

• Stripe (global standard)
• For subscriptions: Stripe Billing

Hosting:

• Vercel (frontend) + Railway or Render (backend)
• For enterprise: AWS/GCP with Kubernetes

Multi-Tenancy: The SaaS Secret

What it is: Same code serves multiple customers (tenants) in isolation.

Strategies:

1. Database per tenant: Total isolation, expensive to maintain
2. Schema per tenant: Good balance, medium complexity
3. Row-level security: Same database, filter by tenant_id ✅ (recommended for MVP)

Infrastructure Cost (Monthly)

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Step 4: Develop the MVP (8-16 weeks)

Goal: Build and launch the MVP

Development Options

Option A: Develop Internally

• ✅ Total control
• ✅ Knowledge stays in-house
• ❌ Need to hire team
• ❌ Slower to start
• Cost: $4-10k/month in salaries

Option B: Hire Software Agency ⭐ Recommended for MVP

• ✅ Experienced team ready
• ✅ Defined timeline and cost
• ✅ Focus on business, not dev management
• ❌ Higher initial cost
• Cost: $10-30k fixed

Option C: No-Code/Low-Code

• ✅ Extremely fast
• ✅ Very low cost
• ❌ Technical limitations
• ❌ Hard to scale
• Cost: $1-4k
• Ideal for: Validation before real code

Development Process at Aegis AI

Week 1-2: Discovery and Design

• Understand business deeply
• Map user flows
• Create wireframes/prototype
• Define technical architecture

Week 3-4: Setup and Foundation

• Configure development environment
• Implement authentication
• Database setup
• CI/CD pipeline

Week 5-10: Core Development

• 2-week sprints
• Functional delivery each sprint
• Testing each delivery
• Feedback and adjustments

Week 11-12: Polish and Launch

• Final tests
• Performance optimization
• Production configuration
• Soft launch

Real MVP Costs

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Step 5: Define Pricing (1-2 weeks)

Goal: Revenue model that maximizes ARR

Pricing Models for SaaS

1. Per User/Seat

• Charge by number of users
• Example: $15/user/month
• Ideal for: CRMs, productivity tools

2. By Feature (Tiers)

• Plans with different features
• Example: Free, Pro ($29), Enterprise ($99)
• Ideal for: Most SaaS

3. By Usage/Consumption

• Charge by volume of use
• Example: $0.01 per transaction
• Ideal for: APIs, sending tools

4. Freemium

• Limited free version + paid plans
• Works when: high volume expected
• Risk: many free, few paying

How to Set Your Price

1. Calculate Cost per Customer

• Infrastructure (~$1-4/customer/month)
• Support (~$2-10/customer/month)
• Acquisition (~3x first payment)

2. Research Competitors

• Analyze 3-5 competitors
• Note: Prices, features per tier, model

3. Perceived Value

• How much does your customer save/earn with your SaaS?
• Rule: Price ≤ 10% of value generated

4. Test and Iterate

• Start with average price
• Test increasing 20-30%
• Measure churn and conversion

Example Pricing Structure

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Step 6: Launch and Grow (Ongoing)

Goal: Acquire first paying customers

Launch Strategy

Pre-Launch (2-4 weeks before):

1. Offer early access to waiting list
2. Collect feedback from beta testers
3. Fix critical bugs
4. Prepare marketing materials

Launch (Week 1):

1. Product Hunt (if relevant)
2. Founders' personal LinkedIn
3. Email to waiting list
4. Special offer for early adopters

Post-Launch (Month 1-3):

1. Obsessive focus on retention
2. Exceptional onboarding
3. Fast and human support
4. Collect testimonials/cases

Essential SaaS Metrics

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❌ The 7 Fatal Mistakes When Building a SaaS

1. Not Validating the Idea

• The mistake: Spending $20k on something nobody wants
• The solution: Landing page + interviews before coding

2. MVP Too Large

• The mistake: 50 features, 12 months of development
• The solution: Maximum 10 core features, launch in 60-90 days

3. Ignoring Churn

• The mistake: Focus only on acquisition, ignore retention
• The solution: Exceptional onboarding, proactive support

4. Price Too Low

• The mistake: "I'll compete on price" = zero margin
• The solution: Compete on value, not price

5. Technology Before Business

• The mistake: Weeks discussing stack, zero customers
• The solution: No-code to validate, code to scale

6. No Clear Differentiator

• The mistake: "Same as others, but better"
• The solution: 10x better at one specific thing

7. Underestimating Marketing

• The mistake: "Good product sells itself"
• The solution: 50% product, 50% marketing

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to build a SaaS?

• Basic MVP (no-code): $1,000-4,000
• MVP with code: $6,000-16,000
• Complete product: $20,000-60,000+
• Monthly infrastructure: $20-400

Main costs are: development, design, infrastructure, and initial marketing.

How long does it take to build a SaaS?

• Validation: 2-4 weeks
• MVP: 8-16 weeks
• Complete V1: 4-8 months
• Mature product: 12-24 months

We recommend launching MVP in maximum 90 days.

Do I need to know how to code to build a SaaS?

Not necessarily. Options:

1. No-code: Bubble, Glide, Webflow
2. Technical co-founder: Find a developer co-founder
3. Hire software agency: Aegis AI and similar
4. Hire freelancers: Riskier, but possible

To scale, you'll need custom code eventually.

How do I get the first customers?

Top strategies for early-stage:

1. Personal network: LinkedIn, friends, ex-colleagues
2. Communities: WhatsApp groups, Discord, Reddit, Slack
3. Content: Blog posts, YouTube, personal LinkedIn
4. Cold outreach: Email/LinkedIn to specific personas
5. Partnerships: Integrators, consultants in your niche

B2B or B2C SaaS?

B2B (businesses) is more recommended because:

• Higher average ticket
• Less churn
• More rational decision
• Less competitive sales cycle

B2C can work, but needs much higher volume.

Should I raise investment?

Depends on your goal:

• Bootstrapped: Grow with customers, keep 100% equity
• Investment: Grow faster, dilute ownership

For MVP, we recommend bootstrap. Investment makes sense after validation (product-market fit).

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🚀 Ready to Build Your SaaS?

At Aegis AI, we help startups and companies transform ideas into working SaaS:

• ✅ MVP in 60 days
• ✅ Modern stack (Next.js, Supabase, Vercel)
• ✅ Multi-tenancy from the start
• ✅ Business consulting included
• ✅ Post-launch support

📞 Schedule Free Consultation

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Author: Aegis AI Team at Aegis AI. Has helped 47+ startups launch their SaaS, from MVP to product-market fit.

Last updated: January 2026