The Biggest Challenges of Building a SaaS as a Solopreneur
Building a SaaS solo is rewarding, but let’s not sugarcoat it—it comes with serious challenges. As I’m working on my own SaaS, I’ve faced some tough moments. Here are the biggest obstacles so far and how I’m handling them:
1️⃣ No Clear Roadmap = Feeling Lost
When you’re alone, there’s no one to guide you. It’s easy to get stuck in decision loops—should I add this feature or that one? Should I launch early or wait?
💡 Solution: I now break my work into weekly sprints with clear goals. This keeps me on track and stops overthinking.
2️⃣ Tech is Easy, Marketing is Hard
As a developer, I love coding. But SaaS success isn’t just about building—it’s about getting users and sales. Writing tweets, posts, and engaging with communities takes time.
💡 Solution: I’m actively building in public, sharing my progress on Indie Hackers & Twitter. Visibility matters!
3️⃣ Burnout is Real
Since everything depends on me, I often push myself too hard. Late nights, endless debugging, and decision fatigue can be exhausting.
💡 Solution: I set strict work hours, take breaks, and remind myself—it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
4️⃣ Revenue Anxiety
I’m investing months into this SaaS, but will people actually pay? That’s the biggest fear of every solopreneur.
💡 Solution: I’m validating my idea early by talking to potential users and focusing on solving a real problem. No assumptions!
Are You a Solo Founder?
If you’re building a SaaS alone, how do you handle these challenges? Drop your insights below! 👇
Really interesting insight! You highlight the major challenges of going solo, juggling development, marketing, and time management, which I’m sure resonates with many solopreneurs. The point about prioritization is crucial, and that’s where specialized tools can make a real difference, helping to structure tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
Maybe a little note on how you manage fatigue could have added an extra personal touch? Either way, it’s a great mix of realism and inspiration for those taking the plunge!
Thanks so much! I’m glad the post resonated. You’re absolutely right—specialized tools have been a lifesaver for managing tasks and staying organized.
Great point about addressing fatigue! Managing burnout is something I’ve had to be intentional about. I set strict work hours, take regular breaks, and remind myself that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Appreciate your thoughtful feedback—definitely something I’ll incorporate in future posts! 🚀
I feel all this.
I only made the pivot from coding to sales ~3 weeks ago and it is a tough transition.
Your suggestions are great.
One additional tip: expect a longer feedback cycle.
Some chats I set up weeks ago only just now got scheduled. Even interested users are on a longer timeframe than you. So I’m focusing on stuffing the front end of the funnel so, in 3 weeks, maybe I’ll have more chats ready.
That’s such a valuable insight! Pivoting from coding to sales is definitely a challenging shift, and adjusting to longer feedback cycles can be tough. Stuffing the top of the funnel sounds like a solid strategy—building that momentum early can really pay off in the long run.
How are you finding the transition so far? Any particular approach that’s working well for you? 🚀
Good question. A slightly complicated answer. I was having trouble figuring out if some of my angst during transition was "fear of selling" vs. a legit hesitation about my business-model. Like, I'm bought into the idea of putting embarrassing products out there, but I felt extra hesitant of doing that with my large, enterprise clients.
And then I realized... I SHOULD feel hesitant about selling to them. Why? My product isn't going to work for them. My hesitation is grounded in a truth that that group is likely to have too many objections I'd have to overcome.
So I then used that "hesitation" as like a metal detector to see if I coould find a BETTER client group (as evidenced by the fact they caused me less hesitation when I thought about them). Sure enough, I'm now focusing on a group for which I have better Problem/Solution fit AND better Founder/Product fit.
Wow, that’s such a thoughtful and strategic approach! Recognizing that hesitation as a signal rather than ignoring it is a game-changer. It’s so true that forcing a product on the wrong audience can lead to endless objections and frustration.
Focusing on a group where you have a stronger Problem/Solution and Founder/Product fit is a smart pivot. How’s it going with this new target group so far? Are you seeing better engagement and interest? 🚀
Too early to tell but I've had some promising leads come in as a result.
How are you doing in this regard?
That’s great to hear! Promising leads are always a positive sign—sounds like you’re on the right track.
For me, it’s been a learning curve as well. I’ve been focusing on validating my idea early by talking to potential users and refining the product based on their feedback. So far, the response has been encouraging, but there’s still a lot to learn and iterate.
Excited to see how things progress for both of us! 🚀
This is spot-on, especially the “No Clear Roadmap” point, I used to feel stuck in endless feature loops.
What changed it for me was switching to weekly planning. Every Monday I list 3 core tasks tied to my quarterly goal system, and it’s made prioritization so much clearer.
This is such a raw and honest look into the journey of solo SaaS building—thank you for sharing! 🙌 The way you tackle these challenges with structured solutions is truly motivating. Weekly sprints, building in public, and validating ideas early are game-changing strategies. Burnout and revenue anxiety hit hard, but your approach of pacing yourself and focusing on solving real problems is a reminder we all need.
I need help outsourcing as I have the vision and contacts but not the technical capability to build
Hi Nicola! Helping less-technical founders navigate the technical side (including outsourcing) is exactly what my company does. You can read about the monthly service on mvpcto.com and depending on your product plans, if no-code can be used for most of your product, I'm piloting a super low-cost service to build what I'm calling Micro and Mini MVPs (small isolated features for your MVP) here on IndieHackers: https://www.indiehackers.com/post/how-to-hire-an-experienced-us-based-web-developer-for-as-low-as-25-per-hour-a2477c0cf1 P.S. I'm also FL based! Let's chat when you've had time to review what we're offering and good luck on your journey!
That’s awesome! 🚀 Are you looking to build a website, a web platform, or something more complex like a SaaS or mobile app? I’d love to hear more about your vision! 😊
Those are great tips and advices, thank you! I found myself mainly in 2. I am a skilled developer, I have an idea that I think I've managed to validate, but I have literally no experience with marketing at all. Can't imagine working without a help of AI.
Totally get that! 🚀 As developers, we’re wired to build, but marketing is a completely different ballgame. AI can definitely be a game-changer when it comes to content creation, SEO, and even analyzing audience insights.
When I started focusing on marketing, I realized that building in public and sharing progress on platforms like Indie Hackers and Twitter helped me attract early adopters. Have you explored that approach yet? It’s a great way to build trust and get feedback along the way! 😊
I am currently searching through various platforms, I started with reddit, then I found ProductHunt, IndieHackers, but had almost no luck with finding relevant sources on Facebook or X(Twitter). Can you recommend any other resource that you found crucial or at least useful?
Nice! It sounds like you're already exploring great platforms. 🚀 Beyond the ones you've mentioned, I've found that focusing on niche communities can really help you connect with your target audience. For example, look into specialized forums or Slack/Discord groups related to your SaaS/product. You can also try joining smaller LinkedIn groups where like-minded founders hang out.
Another tactic that's worked for me is leveraging content on platforms like Medium or Substack—writing long-form posts that dive into your journey, challenges, and solutions. It’s a great way to showcase your expertise while building trust.
Have you tried posting some early-stage content or updates on those platforms? You might be surprised at the engagement you’ll get! 💡
For any B2B Saas, I would highly recommend LinkedIn platform over other social media. You get chance to showcase your product / company page easily to the right decision makers.
hi saas content marketing is quite a new concept and is very easy to perform if you do things perfectly
Absolutely! SaaS content marketing is a powerful tool when done right. It’s all about providing value, building trust, and positioning your product as the go-to solution.
Do you have any go-to strategies or tips that have worked well for you? Would love to hear your insights! 🚀
Also, if you’re interested in online privacy and digital security, I’d love for you to join my PrivacyMatters group! We discuss privacy tips, tools, and ways to safeguard personal data. Would be great to have you there! 🔐😊
https://www.indiehackers.com/group/privacymatters
Great article, resonates with a lot of the builders and technical side of our brains. Have you thought about the social media landscape. Ive dissecting the sm domains, going at it to crack the algorithm in a sense
Thanks so much! Glad it resonated with you.
The social media landscape is definitely on my radar. I’ve been experimenting with different platforms, trying to figure out what works best for building an engaged audience and driving traffic.
Cracking the algorithm sounds fascinating! Are you focusing on any particular platform or strategy? Would love to hear more about your approach! 🚀
we might be early but theres a few startups making waves. this harvard drop out marc something just pivoted to open source ai so dont know how all this social media is going to pan out. crazy industry
I hear you, man. Building the product is one thing, but getting people to buy it is a whole different game. You’ve put in the work, built a solid SaaS, but now it’s about cracking the sales side. I myself Built a SaaS, but getting the transition to sales right has been a struggle.
Absolutely! Building the product feels like the easy part compared to figuring out sales and user acquisition. Cracking the sales side requires a whole different mindset and skill set.
I’m in the same boat—constantly learning and iterating on my approach. Have you found any particular strategies or channels that are starting to work for you? Would love to hear about your journey! 🚀
Man, Sales is a whole different beast. Right now, I’m gathering leads through data mining (definitely not easy), and once I have a solid list, I’m planning to go all out with cold emails. What’s worked best for you so far?
Totally agree—sales is a whole different game! Data mining is a smart approach, and combining it with cold emails can be super effective if done right.
For me, building in public and sharing progress on platforms like Indie Hackers and Twitter has helped attract early adopters. Engaging with the community and validating the idea early has been a game-changer.
How’s your cold email strategy shaping up? Are you planning to personalize the outreach or go for volume? Would love to hear how it goes! 🚀
I tried Cold emails, professional email services like zoho campaign and others won't allow cold emails. I finally decided to sent from my own servers with low volume as low as 20 per hour with open and bounce back tracking. Someone opening my email more than 30-40 times is a strong signal to me and I contact them on phone or other medium. It works. For bounced back and those who visited and unsubscribed to news letter I do not contact further. It works.
I really appreciate how simply you've explained the challenges of scaling a streaming subscription service. It’s easy to overlook the complexity behind managing payments, personalization, and reducing churn. Building a SaaS as a solopreneur sounds incredibly challenging, especially with all the compliance and infrastructure demands. Curious to hear if you have any tips for founders tackling these hurdles on their own!"
Thanks so much! You’re absolutely right—scaling a streaming subscription service brings a whole new level of complexity, from handling payments and personalization to minimizing churn.
For solopreneurs tackling these challenges, my biggest tip is to prioritize automation early. Setting up automated workflows for user onboarding, subscription management, and customer communication can save a lot of time and reduce errors.
Also, focusing on retention from day one is key. Personalized recommendations, regular feature updates, and proactive support go a long way in keeping users engaged.
Are you working on something similar? Would love to hear about it! 🚀
Thanks for the insights! Actually, I’m working on something similar — it’s called Saaslogic. It’s a subscription management platform designed to simplify billing automation and make handling recurring payments easier for SaaS founders.
We’re also focused on helping companies reduce churn with automated workflows and actionable insights. Would love to hear your thoughts on what features have been game-changers for you!
That sounds awesome! 🎯 Saaslogic seems like a much-needed solution, especially for SaaS founders who want to simplify subscription management and reduce churn.
From my experience, a few game-changers have been:
✅ Automated Dunning Management – Reducing involuntary churn by retrying failed payments.
✅ Personalized User Engagement – Triggering tailored emails or in-app messages based on user behavior.
✅ Churn Prediction Analytics – Identifying at-risk users before they cancel.
Would love to know how Saaslogic is tackling these areas! I’m excited to see how your platform evolves. 🚀
Also, if you’re interested in online privacy and digital security, I’d love for you to join my PrivacyMatters group! We discuss privacy tips, tools, and ways to safeguard personal data. Would be great to have you there! 🔐😊
https://www.indiehackers.com/group/privacymatters
Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome! Glad you found it helpful. Let me know if you’re working on something similar—I’d love to hear more! 🚀
Building a SaaS as a solopreneur comes with challenges like handling development, marketing, and customer support alone. Balancing time, managing resources, and staying competitive can be tough. Scaling without a team and ensuring security are key hurdles. Smart automation, outsourcing, and strategic planning help overcome these obstacles efficiently.
Thanks for sharing!
Very good summary of the problems. I strongly relate to 1 and 2. Just having someone to bounce ideas off of regularly would be nice. My friends are probably tired of it by now :)
Haha, I know that feeling! Having a sounding board can make a huge difference. Engaging with communities like Indie Hackers has helped me connect with others going through similar challenges. Have you tried joining any mastermind groups or communities? They can be a game-changer! 🤝
Great info and thanks for sharing. Being a solopreneur is tough but you are on top of it. Keep forging forward!
Thanks so much! Solopreneurship is definitely a tough journey, but staying focused and pushing forward makes it all worth it. Appreciate the encouragement—let’s keep building! 💪
As a solo founder & React/React Native dev, I relate to it. Each day is very tough to cross, Until reaching some good results. I created my disciple and just followed it daily. No social media and no Television, Only I focus on tech and coding updates in YouTube videos, and indie hackers, daily (.) Dev and Google Assistant which brings some news related to tech. But I am struggling a lot on the marketing side.
I completely relate to that! As solo founders, staying disciplined and focused is crucial, and it sounds like you’ve built a strong routine. The marketing struggle is real—I’ve learned that even small, consistent efforts in building an audience and engaging with potential users can make a big difference over time.
Have you tried sharing your journey publicly? Even simple posts about your progress can attract the right audience! 🚀
Sure. I am not actively posting about the journey and tech works. From this week i have planned to post regularly
That’s a great move! Consistent posting helps build visibility and keeps you accountable. Plus, it attracts a like-minded audience who can support and give valuable feedback. Can’t wait to follow your journey—best of luck! 🎯
Keep up the good work, consistency is one of the things that at the end make the difference.
Absolutely! Consistency is the key to long-term success, especially in SaaS. Thanks for the encouragement—I'll keep pushing forward! 🚀
That's so true ! I'm working on a solution for better ideas validation. Feel free to get in touch !
That sounds awesome! Idea validation is such a crucial step that many skip. I’d love to hear more about what you’re building—let’s connect and chat! 🚀
Marketing is definitely a skill I wish I had practiced more before building things.
Totally agree! I had the same realization—building is one thing, but getting users and growing a product is a completely different challenge. Have you explored any specific marketing channels that worked well for you? 🎯
Funny how the majority of people think that developing and the tech side is the "hardest part" and that they "could never do that".
Whereas now the technical part is handled by AI and doing the marketing part and Talking With Real Users is actually the "hard" part.
So true! AI has made coding much easier, but no AI can (yet) replace the human side of marketing—understanding users, crafting a compelling message, and building trust. Have you found any AI tools helpful for marketing, or do you think it’s still all about human effort?
I've found a couple of tools that help ease out some of the processes. But they're mostly to increase existing efforts. No AI understands what marketing is effective yet.
That makes sense! AI can enhance marketing efforts, but true effectiveness still comes from human intuition, creativity, and understanding of the audience. Which tools have you found most useful in streamlining your process? Always open to learning new ones! 🚀
I have seen a lot of indie hackers sharing their journey of what they build.
But I don't know how to start sharing. I am working on an product but how do I validate the idea? Would people even signup for the waitlist?
Could you enlighten me with your experience?
Great question! 🚀 Validating an idea is tricky, but it’s all about testing assumptions early. Here’s what worked for me:
1️⃣ Talk to potential users – Find communities (Twitter, Indie Hackers, Reddit, LinkedIn) where your target audience hangs out. Ask about their pain points before pitching your product.
2️⃣ Create a simple landing page – Even before building, set up a basic page explaining the problem you’re solving. Add a waitlist form to gauge interest.
3️⃣ Engage in conversations – Instead of just posting about your product, contribute to discussions where your potential users already are. Their feedback is gold.
4️⃣ Offer something valuable – If people hesitate to sign up, offer a free resource related to your SaaS (e.g., a mini-guide, checklist, or free tool).
It’s normal to doubt whether people will sign up, but the only way to know is to put your idea in front of them. Keep iterating based on feedback! What’s your product about? Happy to share thoughts. 🚀
Really resonated with this—especially the burnout and “no roadmap” parts.
I’m a former teacher who ended up building a dark fantasy-style self-discovery site solo (with 0 coding background).
The emotional toll was heavy at times, but it’s been worth it. Thanks for sharing your reality!
Relatable challenges. Balancing development and outreach is tough. At EcoWise, we're navigating similar waters, striving to build a robust SaaS platform while engaging our user base effectively.
I completely recognize myself in every point. I especially liked the roadmap and marketing — technically many of us feel confident, but promoting your product without a team is a separate skill that you have to learn from scratch. Personally, the “external commitment” format helps me — I share updates with a small group of friends and users every week, even if it’s something small. It keeps me in shape, at least morally. And yes, burnout is real. I’m working on not putting my whole life on hold for the sake of a feature. Thanks for the honesty in the post — it’s very supportive when you see that others are going through the same things.
Relatable on every level—especially the tech vs marketing struggle. Love your structured approach with sprints and early validation; it’s a smart way to stay grounded when everything feels like too much.
As someone who has just started thinking along these lines. This post could not have been any better.
Would love to connect with people of similar thoughts and ideas.
Are you working on a project? I'm I really would like to connect with people who are builders, producers, have ideas.
As a solopreneur with a full-time dayjob, my biggest challenge is to allocate time and energy to my business while juggling all other parts of my life (work, health, social, etc.).
I'm currently exploring a more detailed planning of my week, something I typically avoid in order to increase my exposure for serendipity and spontaneity but realize but might be a necessity to carve out focus time for my side projects.
Some great insights here! Building in public definitely helps with visibility and accountability, but I also like the idea of having a tight-knit group of early adopters for direct feedback—getting that real-world validation early is invaluable.
On the marketing side, I agree that content is king. Repurposing content across platforms has helped me stay consistent without burning out. Curious—what content strategies have worked best for you all in terms of engagement?
Totally agree! Building in public boosts visibility, but having a tight-knit group of early adopters for direct feedback is a game-changer. Real-world validation helps shape the product in ways you can’t predict.
Repurposing content across platforms is a smart move—it maximizes reach without doubling the workload. For me, sharing progress updates, writing actionable posts, and engaging in niche communities has worked best for driving engagement.
You are very correct, building in public can increase your visibility. That way interested users, early adopters who see value in the product or even investors scouting for amazing products can reach out. You need that critical mass of early adopters to validate and review your project.
If this might interest you, I've got a community of tech enthusiasts who can serve as early adopters for your project, they'll use it and give you feedback. Do let me know, I'll send you the link
Thank you all for the amazing response to my post! 🙌 The engagement and insights shared by this community mean a lot.
On that note, I’ve created a group called PrivacyMatters for anyone who cares about protecting their online privacy and staying secure in the digital world. We’ll be discussing privacy tips, and tools, and keeping an eye on companies that violate user trust.
The group is almost live—just 4 members away! If this resonates with you, I’d love to have you join and be part of the conversation. Let’s take control of our data together! 🔐🚀
https://www.indiehackers.com/group/privacymatters
Maybe I don't truly relate to any of these because I'm on my first product and only 3 weeks in. But, good to know. Thanks for sharing!
That’s totally fair! In the early stages, everything feels exciting and manageable. As things progress, some of these challenges may start to show up. Wishing you all the best with your product—excited to see where it goes! 🚀
Have you found building in public really helps? I've struggled to grow an audience.
Absolutely! Building in public has helped me stay accountable and gain early feedback. It takes time to grow an audience, but consistency is key—engaging with others, sharing progress, and providing value really helps. What's your SaaS about? Maybe I can share some tips!
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