How to Start a SaaS Business with No Money

[@jyotirajborah2908]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 *🚀 Starting a SaaS business without money is feasible.* 01:09 *💰 Having paying customers defines a business, not just having an idea.* 02:19 *🛠️ Initial company registration might not be necessary until revenue is generated.* 03:15 *👥 If you're a non-developer, find a technical co-founder, but contribute equally with skills like customer engagement and pre-orders.* 05:34 *🧩 No-code tools offer alternatives to traditional software development, facilitating MVP creation.* 06:58 *📣 Free marketing approaches like SEO, content marketing, and partnerships are viable for startups with limited budgets.* 08:07 *⏰ Most startup founders initially handle sales and support themselves while working nights and weekends.* 09:18 *📈 Consider stair-stepping: start with simpler ventures like consulting or productized services before transitioning to SaaS.*

[@rupamkundu3574]

This is the best startup advice I have come across in my entire life. Thank you Rob for making such insightful videos which contain startup advice that actually work.

[@pranupranav5563]

If anyone searching for a technical co-founder I am here. Yet Another Full Stack Developer.

[@wedoebe]

Let’s talk. 🤓

[@gidd]

Would love to connect with you what's your email?

[@titaniumplated7785]

After chatgpt, developers are now not high on demand,

[@AshVentureOfficial]

​@@titaniumplated7785 Where is your evidence?😊

[@mysleeproutinemusic682]

@@titaniumplated7785 for simple things maybe….not for a little more complex systems. You will still need devs to put things together. Maybe the size of the team will be smaller… that I think will happen in some situations

[@coliv2]

Thanks for saying this: getting the customers is THE problem. Everything else is relatively easy.

[@thecoachchris]

Bubble has helped me tremendously on my journey. Now I have 3 different no code businesses for podcasters.

[@gidd]

What's the MRR? also would you recommend building with no code

[@thecoachchris]

@@gidd Haven't opened the doors yet! But we're going with a super basic pricing model to get us started.

[@gidd]

@@thecoachchris Good luck! I'm looking to build an MVP with no code just to test the market first ,then go from there

[@thecoachchris]

@@gidd Thanks! Good luck to you as well. Are you on Twitter?

[@gidd]

@@thecoachchris Yes I am what's your handle?

[@pgutierrez89]

Best way to start a SaaS, don't start with SaaS in the beginning. Great video Rob.

[@alpinelux407]

Can you please explain?

[@yusufmalikul]

@@alpinelux407 watch at 09:50

[@bonheurmukossa5194]

I had been watching your videos recently, and I can't be more than grateful for this content. Love from South Africa

[@MicroConf]

Thanks for watching! Glad to have you here, Bonheur.

[@tonyK_72]

Thank you for this. Awesome advice, exactly what I was looking for. So many people have come to me with their 'ideas' - for me to build, for them, for free!!! But the best is I get a cut of the 'profits'. Pure monty python. It's not even as though these people are desperate, just really ill-informed. Videos like this are super-helpful and should be shared with everyone with an "idea".

[@MicroConf]

Thanks Tony! Appreciate you watching

[@SperrySpeaks]

truly the modern day moses for aspiring founders. thank u so much rob

[@SperrySpeaks]

LOVE what you've created with the microconf ecosystem btw, plan to get involved sooner or later.

[@MicroConf]

Hey Sperry! Glad to hear it. Would love to have you join us over at www.MicroConfConnect.com, our free community of over 3500 entrepreneurs.

[@reubenjay9381]

Thanks for the honesty, the best advice ever. I was going to invest my saved money into this without any skills in software development. I have to start small somewhere first .. Thanks for the advice

[@MicroConf]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Fitnessforhealthylife]

I belong to non tech background. So I totally got your point. Learned something new. Thanks. P.s. Any video you can suggest from MicroConf which covers all SaaS related things? I am okay with long video.

[@MicroConf]

Great place to start is our "Building Your First SaaS" playlist! We've got 10 videos covering most of the things you should be thinking about at those early stages. But gold! bit.ly/build-your-first-saas

[@Fitnessforhealthylife]

@@MicroConf Thank you so much. I will check it. 😃

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

i really like question, suggestion for what read, view, learn next?

[@growthbeing]

wow i am gonna ask the question, Thank you.

[@Pest87]

I admire the way you present the information

[@MicroConf]

Thank you!

[@douglachman7330]

The harder and smarter i work the luckier i get provided i focus on servicing real business solutions for those customers who pay me.

[@minimaniashortz]

Best and true explainer. Thank You Sir for your guidance

[@superluvdub]

Loving this background music on this Rob

[@IntricateMoon]

0:05 " ... talk about MY NUTS...." 🤣 Love the content rob!

[@baskeplaye009]

I don't think that was on purpose lol

[@ClimateCFD]

Never found a video that described me so well.

[@Floating-yr3cu]

Would you pls do a video on strategy for a Product that is - SaaS vs what else it can be?

[@yunoletmehaveaname]

I wish I could like this multiple times.

[@MicroConf]

lol, thank you!

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

same here, its good content

[@__Time__clock]

This is great, From Kenya

[@RifatMahmudrous]

I really like your content. But, a request, can you increase the mic level a bit?

[@darrellwillie7123]

Very informative video. Thank you for sharing you knowledge.

[@aberba]

Writing code is also hard. I been a founder before. Finding customers can be stressful but not hard especially if you have a great product. Great product takes time to build... product market fit

[@jay56565cool]

Hey @aberba , I am a Business Analyst from a tech company, we can take your SaaS Idea to market in just weeks , using our built in framework without having to write code from scrach. We are experts in B2B SaaS app development. Please let me know if you are interested?

[@hilloldasgupta]

Technical Philosophy, that's how I find it

[@wonga07]

Hi Rob would recommend non technical founders learn to code?

[@sijmon20031]

I would start with KZbin :) learn something like HTML,CSS and javascript

[@MicroConf]

Learning enough code to understand what is going on can be helpful! But you can check out this episode of Startups for the Rest of Us: Should a Non-Technical Founder Learn to Code (www.startupsfortherestofus.com/episodes/episode-224-should-a-non-technical-founder-learn-to-code) for more!

[@wonga07]

@@MicroConf Thank's Rob I'll check it out!

[@william.darrigo]

Awesome advice!

[@MicroConf]

Thank you!

[@gino2221]

Thank you, new follower

[@MicroConf]

Happy to have you here!

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

worth subscribing

[@ImTheBatchMan]

How do you find a non-technical cofounder as an engineer? I have some product ideas and can build products from a technical perspective, but I'm not at a stage in my life where I want to invest the time and energy into learning how to validate ideas, make wireframes, do marketing and sales, etc. I feel like I need someone else on my side who can take care of that but I don't know how to find them or protect myself as a business partner.

[@MicroConf]

I would look in existing communities where entrepreneurs are hanging out, like MicroConf Connect and the Dynamite Circle. As for protecting yourself, you’ll need an agreement in writing with vesting of each of your shares.

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

same problem for many coders

[@christopheroligbo3655]

Hey! Looking for a CTO partner/cofounder. Is there someway we could possibly talk?

[@PepperstreetDev]

Rob, thanks for a the fantastic advise. As a developer , once a client out-grows their website / app and they move over to SaaS, can I customize components as I would normally (a regular HTML, CSS JS site) to suit their needs ?

[@MicroConf]

Hi Greg - You might be misunderstanding what SaaS is. Check out this video to get a better understanding: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmatiqqqoMikpa8

[@hoochill]

how to deal with VAT? there is zero threshold in india for example

[@VibingTech]

great content, I'm deveping a SaaS product right now trust me is so so difficult and expensive even as a Software Engineer.

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

all developer does not have all the skill front end skill, design skill, devops skills;

[@justshowkat]

Can you make a video about sass product research? How to get ideas and test!?

[@MicroConf]

Thanks Show-Kat, we'll add it to our list of video topic ideas!

[@arslandevs]

This is a Gem💎

[@MicroConf]

Thanks for being here 🙂

[@jonah7318]

great video

[@MicroConf]

Thanks!

[@joaodornas]

great video thank you

[@MicroConf]

Thank you for watching!

[@Kardenum]

Hey man. Running a SaaS at the moment would be awesome to get your input at some point

[@jerel2119]

What are your thoughts on a white label SaaS endeavor? Good information by the way thanks for the video.

[@MicroConf]

I think you are asking about white labeling someone else’s SaaS as your own. You could do this as a learning experience to gain knowledge about marketing and selling, but it’s a risky business long term. While you don’t have the technical risk of building the software, you don’t have any control over the product.

[@kennyn.8233]

Hosting VPS IONOS - any thoughts Rob?

[@ariturbo4094]

I have SEO Company in relation with Saas business, how and what can we do to do collaboration.

[@TheMISBlog]

Very Informative,Thanks

[@MicroConf]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching.

[@sufyandeveloper2713]

thank you so much for every advice. I am a developer and I am always failed to find the customers I am not able to do marketing. Kindly help me with this

[@nasira-hu6fq]

hi i m mart

[@dimon.digital]

Thank you very much, Rob. A lot of valuable advices I heard here from you. Wish you and your channel the best

[@MicroConf]

Thank you!

[@anuragk6722]

I would love to see a video on user acquisition channels for new and early stage SaaS products.

[@RobWalling]

We held a virtual event last year focused on this topic. All of the videos are here 💪🏻 kzbin.info/aero/PLwcQbu9cKWclzyEUbrhmSHD-MXyvQ9QRr

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

very first important question as per my understanding of the video sub part

[@AnonymousAccount514]

im a developer...how do i find a business co-founder

[@qureshiowais6951]

I am technically person if anyone need co founder

[@R055LE.1]

It's difficult being the technical founder, needing to find the non technical help

[@joedough13]

Are you a dev?

[@R055LE.1]

@@joedough13 Not traditional developer, DevOps Engineer and Consultant.

[@L4B5]

@@joedough13 are you looking for a dev? because I am software developer

[@Dev-zk9ev]

Im a startup founder n steuggling to do marketing for beta users.can you help?

[@MicroConf]

We actually have an online event all about Early Stage SaaS Marketing on November 1 and 2, 2023. Get your ticket - microconfremote.com/ In the meantime, you should check out this video about getting your first 100 customers- kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6fMdaqpgrGLmJI

[@roydavid183]

Hi, I'm a top marketing strategist (I've helped businesses make tens of millions... looking to enter the SAAS world. How can I leverage my marketing skills to be successful faster? Is there a resource where you talk about this?

[@donnidarko1416]

Could you tell us which avenue we could take if we don't have technical background to build saas, greatly appreciate it

[@defnlife1683]

He explains that in the video

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

no coding tools , like bubble... zapier, sheets, airtable; learn no code tools, create mvp , sell to customer

[@habibakinpelu1739]

How about buying a Saas business on Flippa and scaling it

[@MicroConf]

If you have the cash, and can vet the business, this can be a route to go down. I followed a similar path when I bought and later sold Hit Tail. Check out this video where I deep dive into that story: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqnOoYeAq7eGq6M

[@habibakinpelu1739]

@@MicroConf thanks for the feedback, this was helpful.

[@Yankzy]

Stripe is free?

[@MicroConf]

Free to setup, but you get charged a transaction fee when you successfully collect a payment.

[@wkrp10splayer19]

what are two examples of successful saas that you started that I could use today?

[@MicroConf]

You can still use Drip (drip.com). I exited that business in 2016. And DotNetInvoice, which I gave to my business partner maybe 8 years ago. Now I run MicroConf, a community of SaaS founders, and invest in about 50 B2B SaaS companies each year through our accelerator TinySeed.

[@Benefitsofdating]

Good point

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

thanks

[@shohanridoy5661]

subscribed... 🙂

[@MicroConf]

Thanks so much! Glad to have you here.

[@reprogrammingmind]

Find out what video people want and then make a video talking about why they can't do what they want.

[@taslimsuman]

Love your content . I am also looking for co-founder who can handle customer and marketing.

[@MicroConf]

Taslim, have you joined MicroConf Connect (microconfconnect.com/)? It's our community with over 3000+ members working on SaaS great spot to meet other folks!

[@shaikikbhalBasha]

also join ycombinator school

[@noNameChanelForME]

If someone need CTO for your startup, write a comment. I'm programmer and i can write ideal code, but can't do business development.

[@faarijoye8340]

Can I email you?

[@qureshiowais6951]

Hey share your links

[@pemaingemorisinal4830]

soooo.... it's actually.. How to Start a SaaS Business with Tight Budget..... yeahhhh, righttt...

[@JugurthaHadjar]

That music really got on my nerve. The volume is too high. Do you have the video without it?

[@Matheus-mr4tl]

What he says in the video in a nutshell: you can't create a saas with no money. Bye.

[@jameslorence538]

Any one looking for outsourced agency to build cutting edge web applications ? We are happy to help you

[@jossdiim]

you talked a lot and did not say anything

[@THOMPSONSART]

SNAKE OIL SALESMAN

[@thomashogan723]

This space is weird... Stumbled into it trying to solve access/common problems here in Philippines. Would love to have a real conversation (chat, Whatsapp, discord?) about ideas and projects.

[@L4B5]

100% agree! I am experienced software developer and ready to partnership with a person who can bring good idea (well tested and proven to be working for real customers) for saas product. Please DM or leave a comment if you are interested.

[@faarijoye8340]

Can I email you?

[@L4B5]

@@faarijoye8340sure, leave your email address and I'll send you message