You do not need an original idea to build a solid SaaS.
You need a proven market, a clear gap, and a small, focused product that solves that gap well for a specific type of user. This is actually validated for you by big players.
Sometimes they are too big to care about some features or bridges. It’s your job to fill it.
Table of Contents
Stop Chasing “Genius” Ideas
As indie founders, trying to invent the next Facebook or Uber is a trap. Instead, look for tools that already have lots of users and obvious complaints. If people are paying and still frustrated, there is space for you.
The “Find The Gap” Method
Here is the simple playbook, founder to founder:
Pick a popular product in a space you understand and search “X alternative” on Twitter, Reddit, forums, perplexity… whatever and review sites.
Collect recurring complaints: price hikes, missing features, complexity, the product going up‑market and forgetting small customers (collect and keep their contact).
Before building, put up a basic landing page that clearly promises to fix 1–2 of those pains and talk to the people who complained. If no one cares about the message, code will not save it.
If they do care, make switching effortless with something like a one‑click import from the old tool (while marketing it classically).
You are not guessing demand; you are standing where users already are and offering them the version they wish existed.
Build The Micro Version
When you start building, resist cloning everything. Ship the smallest version that:
Solves the key pain you validated.
Lets users actually use it and export their data, even if it is just a CSV.
No fancy brand, no complex integrations at the start. A simple UI, clear value, and fast iteration are enough to get your first real users and see if the thing deserves more of your time.
Keep It Boring, Keep It Profitable
Use a stack you already know so you can move fast and keep infra costs low. A lean product in a validated market with clear positioning can reach meaningful MRR with modest traffic and expenses.
The “boring” parts, simple tech, focused features, low costs, are exactly what make it sustainable.
What Actually Matters Long Term
Two things carry the business more than anything else:
Sharp messaging: your headline and copy should instantly tell your ideal user, “this is like X, but finally solves Y for people like you.” Dare mentionning you are an alternative to Y tool.
Product and support: once people switch, you keep them with reliability and responsive, human support that makes them want to tell others.
If you are early in your journey, pick one tool you already use and mildly hate, read what others say about it, talk to a few of them, and commit to shipping a tiny alternative around one real gap.
That is a much more realistic path to your first 10k MRR than waiting for a once‑in‑a‑lifetime idea.