Why I Built a Free Minimalistic SaaS Starter Kit After Frustrating with Existing Options

Hey Indie Hackers!

Last year, I launched an AI-powered video translation tool called VideoDub. It was my first micro SaaS, and I used a React+Firebase starter kit to get going. The starter kit was good enough to help me set up quickly, and I spent most of my time on the backend logic. While getting the SaaS up and running wasn’t too difficult, setting up payments turned out to be the most painful part. At the time, I was looking for a starter kit that supported a credit-based, pay-per-use model, but all the popular kits I found were built around subscriptions.

After launching VideoDub, I spent about a year and a half improving it and focusing on quality. But with all the competing AI models out there, I realized it was time to add new features. Eventually, I decided it was time to let the app go and find someone who could take it to the next level. So, I sold it and took a few months to think about my next project.

I wanted to build a niche SEO marketing tool, but first, I needed a new boilerplate. So, I spent a week researching different starter kits. The price range was usually between $200-300, and I checked out a few options. In the end, I chose a more affordable one for $100 because the demo looked solid, and I could see how the codebase was structured. I didn’t have experience with all the tech in the kit, but I decided to try it anyway.

Right after the purchase, I regretted it. The code was great—built by a talented programmer—but it felt like it was for a full-time developer. I’m a web developer myself, and I know how to write tests, set up configs, and use various tools. But after a full day of work, the last thing I want to do when indie hacking is wrestle with a complex setup. When I get an idea, I just want to build it, not spend hours setting things up. That’s when I realized I needed something simpler.

So, I put my SEO tool on hold and started building my own starter kit. Something lightweight, something that helps me—and hopefully others—get started fast without all the extra fluff. The goal was simple: a minimalistic kit that lets you focus on building what matters right away.

And I built StartFast. It’s now a free, lightweight starter kit designed to help indie hackers, developers, and entrepreneurs get their MVP up and running fast. I stripped out anything unnecessary, so nobody won’t get stuck in setups or tons of extra features they don’t need. The free version has just 18 tidy JS files and is perfect for getting started quickly.

For those who need more, I also built a Pro version with some extra features, like an AI Landing Page Generator and an AI Blog Post Writer, which helps you generate content fast. The Pro version also includes a centralized config to control content and appearance, making it easier to manage and customize.

But honestly, the free version is a great place to start if you're just looking to dive into a new idea without spending a ton of time or money. Feel free to check it out!

Would love to hear your thoughts, and if you decide to give it a try, let me know how it goes!