We Set Out to Build a SaaS — But Ended Up Selling a Spreadsheet
Our original idea was to build a SaaS product for financial planning — something smart, automated, maybe even AI-powered.
But as we mapped it out, we kept referring back to the same Google Sheet we’d been using for 5+ years to manage our own finances. Simple, reliable, and surprisingly effective.
https://www.financialaha.com/spreadsheet-templates/
Then we had a thought: What if this spreadsheet is the product?
We cleaned it up, added a few variations, and shared it online — mostly through Reddit and Facebook groups, just helping people where we could. No ads. No launch hype.
Six months later:
- Customers from 30+ countries
- Real validation we never got from the SaaS mockups
- A library of templates shaped by user feedback
We were chasing the “big” idea when the validated one was already in our hands. Sometimes your MVP isn’t code — it’s a Google Sheet.
If you’re stuck trying to validate your startup idea, try launching the simplest version you actually use. It might be more valuable than you think.
Happy to share more if you’re on a similar path!
Interesting, are you on a path to paying your bills with this approach?