45-Day Ship Your First SaaS

Introduction

This 45-day plan is for serious engineers: people with real skills, suddenly disconnected from a paycheck, who want to ship a real SaaS - not a toy, not a demo, but a small, focused product with:

• a front-end (static site or Single Page Application)
• a Supabase backend (Postgres, auth, Row Level Security, edge functions, storage)
• free and paid tiers
• Stripe integration for payments
• a real LLC + bank account + PO box behind it

You will not build “the next AWS.” You will build one narrow, useful tool that can earn money and serve as a template for future products.

This plan is intentionally opinionated, but idea-agnostic. You choose your SaaS idea; the plan walks you through the structure.

SPA vs SSG (and why we’ll default to Next.js)

You can absolutely build your SaaS front-end with:

• SPA (Single Page Application): e.g., Vite React app hosted on Cloudflare Pages.
• SSG (Static Site Generation): e.g., Next.js using the App Router with static or hybrid rendering.

SPA (Vite React) Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Clean separation between “app shell” and backend.
• File structure can be organized by features instead of routes.
• Very fast local dev and simple mental model.

Cons:

• You handle routing and SEO manually.
• You must think carefully about auth flows on the client.
• Some integrations (Stripe checkout, etc.) may require more glue code.

SSG (Next.js) Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Opinionated routing and file structure.
• Built-in support for SEO, metadata, and hybrid rendering.
• Enormous ecosystem and documentation.
• Easier to handle marketing pages + app routes in one codebase.

Cons:

• Folder structure tied to routes can feel constraining.
• Slightly steeper learning curve.
• You may have to accept Next’s conventions instead of pure “React + anything.”

Recommendation

For this 45-day plan, we lean toward Next.js (static or hybrid) because:

• it is widespread and well-supported
• it handles SEO, marketing pages, and app routes in one place
• most SaaS apps benefit from strong built-in routing and metadata

However, every step in this plan applies equally if you prefer to use a Vite React SPA instead. When it matters, we’ll call out the difference.

Week 1 - Idea, Scope, and Business Basics

Day 1 - Brainstorm SaaS Ideas with an LLM

Goal: Generate a list of candidate SaaS ideas that are small, realistic, and niche.

Actions:

• Open your LLM of choice (e.g., ChatGPT).
• Prompt it for 25–50 niche SaaS ideas aligned with your skills (DevOps, security, SRE, networking, etc.).
• Filter out:
  • anything aiming to be a full replacement for a huge product
  • anything that needs dozens of integrations
  • anything requiring heavy AI research or big GPU spend

Output: A shortlist of 5–10 manageable SaaS ideas.

Day 2 - Evaluate and Select a Single Idea

Goal: Choose one idea to commit to for 45 days.

Actions: Score each idea on:

• Pain: how annoying is this problem?
• Reach: how many people/teams have it?
• Speed: can you build MVP in 30 days?
• Simplicity: can you describe it in one sentence?

Pick one idea.

Output: A short description of your chosen SaaS idea.

Day 3 - Define the Smallest Possible MVP

Goal: Decide what “version 1” actually does - and what it does not do.

Actions:

• Write:
  • 3–5 core capabilities for MVP
  • 3–5 nice-to-haves to explicitly postpone
• Define a single primary user flow (happy path).

Output: MVP scope document (one page, max).

Day 4 - Business Basics Checklist

Goal: Understand the business-side requirements and start a checklist.

Actions:

• Decide your business structure (LLC recommended).
• List tasks:
  • register LLC
  • obtain a PO box or virtual mailbox
  • open a business bank account
  • create a Stripe account
• If you already have an LLC + bank + Stripe, note what’s reusable.

Output: Business setup checklist with checkboxes and due dates.

Day 5 - Pick Your Tech Stack

Goal: Lock in the main components of your SaaS stack.

Actions:

• Choose:
  • Front-end: Next.js (recommended) or Vite React SPA.
  • Backend: Supabase (Postgres, RLS, auth, edge functions).
  • Hosting: Cloudflare Pages (or Vercel, if you prefer).
• Write down:
  • how you’ll handle auth (Supabase Auth)
  • how you’ll handle environment variables
  • how you’ll manage secrets locally (e.g., .env.local).

Output: One-page “SaaS Stack” decision.

Day 6 - Initialize Repos and Project Structure

Goal: Create the starting point for your codebase.

Actions:

• Create a new GitHub repo under your brand org.
• Initialize Next.js or Vite React project.
• Initialize Supabase project in the Supabase dashboard.
• Set up .env and gitignore basics.

Output: Fresh repo with bootstrapped front-end and Supabase project.

Day 7 - Week 1 Review and Adjustments

Goal: Confirm you’re building the right thing with the right constraints.

Actions:

• Re-read your MVP scope.
• Sanity-check idea and stack choice.
• Tighten anything that feels too big.
• Write a short “Week 1 reflection” note.

Output: Validated concept and project skeleton.

Week 2 - Database, Auth, and Core Schema

Day 8 - Design Your Core Data Model

Goal: Sketch your Postgres schema at a high level.

Actions:

• Identify 2–4 core tables for MVP.
• For each, define:
  • primary key
  • foreign keys
  • key columns
  • basic indexing needs
• For multi-tenant SaaS, always include user_id or organization_id fields.

Output: Draft schema diagram or table list.

Day 9 - Implement Schema in Supabase

Goal: Turn your draft schema into real tables.

Actions:

• Use Supabase SQL editor or migration files to create tables.
• Verify tables exist and basic constraints work.
• Keep schema minimal; avoid premature complexity.

Output: Working DB schema in Supabase.

Day 10 - Set Up Supabase Auth and Profiles

Goal: Allow users to sign up and log in securely.

Actions:

• Enable email/password or magic link auth.
• Create profiles table and link to auth.users.
• Configure basic RLS on profiles.

Output: Working login and profile link.

Day 11 - Define Row Level Security (RLS) Policies

Goal: Ensure users can only see their own data.

Actions:

• Enable RLS on your main tables.
• Define policies like:
  • “User can select/update rows where user_id = auth.uid().”
• Test with Supabase SQL and client queries.

Output: RLS enforced on core tables.

Day 12 - Connect Front-end to Supabase

Goal: Wire your front-end to your backend.

Actions:

• Install Supabase client SDK.
• Configure Supabase client with keys and environment variables.
• Implement a simple test call (e.g., fetch profile).

Output: Front-end successfully reading/writing Supabase.

Day 13 - Implement Basic Auth Flows in UI

Goal: Allow sign up, login, logout, and show user state.

Actions:

• Build simple pages/components for:
  • sign up
  • login
  • logout
• Add a small header UI element: “Logged in as …” or “Sign in”.

Output: Basic auth UI completed.

Day 14 - Week 2 Review and Data Sanity Check

Goal: Ensure schema, auth, and RLS work together as expected.

Actions:

• Attempt:
  • sign up
  • create data
  • verify that data is user-specific
• Try to access another user’s data (should fail).
• Make notes on any friction points.

Output: Auth + data layer validated.

Week 3 - Core App Features and UI

Day 15 - Define Primary User Flow in Screens

Goal: Translate the MVP into a small set of screens.

Actions:

• Roughly outline 3–6 core screens:
  e.g., Dashboard, List, Detail/Edit, Settings.
• Write, for each:
  • what the user sees
  • what actions they can take
  • which tables they touch

Output: Screen-level MVP spec.

Day 16 - Implement Core “Create” Flow

Goal: Users must be able to add their main resource.

Actions:

• Build a form to create the primary entity (e.g., subscription record, monitor, resource).
• Validate on client side (required fields, formats).
• Write to Supabase via client SDK.

Output: Primary create flow working.

Day 17 - Implement “Read/List” Flow

Goal: Users must see their data sensibly.

Actions:

• Build a list or table view.
• Fetch records filtered by current user or organization.
• Add basic sorting or filtering if trivial.

Output: List view presenting user-specific data.

Day 18 - Implement “Update” / “Edit” Flow

Goal: Users must be able to change data.

Actions:

• Add “Edit” page or modal.
• Pre-fill fields from Supabase.
• Save changes back.

Output: Full CRUD (minus delete) for core entity.

Day 19 - Implement (Careful) Delete Flow

Goal: Users must be able to remove data safely.

Actions:

• Implement delete with confirmation step.
• Optionally use soft delete (e.g., deleted_at column).
• Avoid irreversible destruction unless clearly justified.

Output: Safe delete flow working.

Day 20 - Basic UX Polish

Goal: Make the UI tolerable to use.

Actions:

• Add loading states.
• Add basic error messages.
• Add empty-state messages (e.g., “No records yet, click here to add one”).
• Keep styling simple but consistent.

Output: Usable, non-hostile interface.

Day 21 - Week 3 Review and Internal Walkthrough

Goal: Confirm the tool actually solves the main user flow.

Actions:

• Use your app end-to-end as a user.
• Note friction, missing fields, unclear labels.
• Capture these as backlog items, not emergency changes.

Output: Internal MVP validated.

Week 4 - Pricing, Stripe, and Free/Paid Tiers

Day 22 - Define Your Pricing Model

Goal: Decide exactly how you will charge.

Actions:

• Pick:
  • free tier = limited usage (e.g., N items, no advanced features)
  • paid tier = reasonable monthly price (e.g., $2.99–$19/mo to start)
• Define what differentiates free vs paid:
  • limits
  • extra fields
  • extra screens
  • priority features

Output: Clear free/paid tier definition.

Day 23 - Set Up Stripe Account (If Not Already)

Goal: Prepare Stripe for subscription billing.

Actions:

• Ensure LLC and business bank account exist.
• Create Stripe account and verify identity.
• Add your business details, PO box, etc.
• Configure basic branding in Stripe dashboard.

Output: Stripe account ready to accept payments.

Day 24 - Create Products and Prices in Stripe

Goal: Create your subscription products and price points.

Actions:

• Create:
  • “Your SaaS – Monthly” product
  • Price object for your paid tier (e.g., $4.99/month)
• Note the price IDs for use in your app.

Output: Product + price created in Stripe.

Day 25 - Integrate Stripe Checkout or Customer Portal

Goal: Give users a way to upgrade from free → paid.

Actions:

• Choose a simple integration path:
  • Stripe Checkout session
  • Stripe Customer Portal
• Implement server-side (Supabase edge function or lightweight API).
• Call it from your front-end when user clicks “Upgrade.”

Output: Basic payment flow wired up.

Day 26 - Handle Webhooks for Subscription State

Goal: Ensure you know who is paid vs free.

Actions:

• Set up a webhook endpoint (Supabase edge function or other backend).
• On events (e.g., checkout.session.completed, customer.subscription.updated):
  • update a subscriptions or profiles table with is_paid = true/false, plan, and period end.

Output: DB reflects accurate subscription state.

Day 27 - Gate Features Based on Plan

Goal: Enforce free vs paid tier limitations.

Actions:

• In your front-end, check plan status before allowing certain actions.
• Optionally add DB-level constraints (e.g., max row counts for free plan).
• Display upsell hints when limits are hit.

Output: Free and paid tiers behave as designed.

Day 28 - Legal Pages (Privacy, Terms)

Goal: Don’t skip the boring but necessary parts.

Actions:

• Add:
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
• Use reasonable templates tailored minimally to your SaaS.
• Link them in the footer and during sign-up or checkout.

Output: Basic legal coverage in place.

Day 29 - Week 4 Review and Payment Simulation

Goal: Verify billing flows.

Actions:

• Use Stripe test mode.
• Run through:
  • sign up → free user
  • upgrade to paid
  • confirm plan change in the app
• Note anything unclear or brittle.

Output: Billing and tiering validated in test mode.

Week 5 - Hardening, UX, and Early Feedback

Day 30 - Security and Permissions Pass

Goal: Protect users and yourself.

Actions:

• Review:
  • RLS policies
  • API keys and environment variables
  • where tokens live in the front-end
• Ensure you never expose service keys on the client.

Output: Security basics checked.

Day 31 - Add Audit Logging or Basic Telemetry

Goal: See what’s happening in your app.

Actions:

• Add simple logging:
  • user actions
  • error reporting
• Use Supabase tables or an external service.

Output: You can observe your app’s behavior.

Day 32 - Improve Onboarding

Goal: Make first-time use simple and guided.

Actions:

• Enhance the onboarding flow:
  • short welcome
  • default data or sample entry
  • checklist (e.g., “Step 1: Add X, Step 2: Configure Y”).

Output: Better first-run experience.

Day 33 - Add a Simple Settings Page

Goal: Let users manage key aspects of their account.

Actions:

• Users should be able to:
  • update name
  • update some basic preferences
  • see their plan status
• Optionally: link to manage billing via Customer Portal.

Output: Basic settings page working.

Day 34 - Invite a Few Trusted Testers

Goal: Get feedback from real people.

Actions:

• Invite 3–5 trusted peers or colleagues.
• Ask them to:
  • sign up
  • use the app for a simple scenario
  • report friction, confusion, and missing bits

Output: First external feedback collected.

Day 35 - Fix High-Impact Issues and Confusion

Goal: Make critical improvements based on real usage.

Actions:

• Prioritize:
  • bugs
  • broken flows
  • major UX confusion
• Cut scope if necessary but smooth the core experience.

Output: Polished MVP experience.

Day 36 - Week 5 Review, Stabilization

Goal: Confirm that the product is stable enough to show publicly.

Actions:

• Re-run your main happy paths.
• Re-check billing and legal links.
• Decide what’s “good enough” for a public beta.

Output: Ready for a limited launch.

Week 6 - Launch, Marketing, and Iteration

Day 37 - Create a Landing Page

Goal: Explain what your SaaS does and why anyone should care.

Actions: Build a landing page with:

• clear headline
• subheading with problem and outcome
• short feature list
• simple diagram or screenshot
• free vs paid explanation
• CTA button (“Start Free”)

Output: Public landing page live.

Day 38 - Add Basic Analytics and Event Tracking

Goal: Track usage and conversions.

Actions:

• Add page analytics (e.g., Plausible, PostHog, or GA).
• Track:
  • visits
  • sign-ups
  • upgrades

Output: Analytics enabled.

Day 39 - Write and Publish a Launch Post

Goal: Announce your SaaS in a professional, calm way.

Actions:

• Write a blog post:
  • problem
  • how your SaaS helps
  • who it’s for
  • what’s in the MVP
• Publish on your site.
• Share on LinkedIn and other relevant channels.

Output: Launch post live.

Day 40 - Share in Targeted Communities

Goal: Get the first real users.

Actions:

• Identify 2–3 communities where your audience lives.
• Share your launch post or a short demo with:
  • what it does
  • who it’s for
  • link to start free

Output: SaaS announced to relevant communities.

Day 41 - Add Lightweight Support Channel

Goal: Be reachable without overwhelming yourself.

Actions:

• Add a simple support option:
  • email
  • a form
  • a lightweight ticket inbox
• Make expected response times clear (e.g., “within 2 business days”).

Output: Support channel established.

Day 42 - Collect Feedback and Log Feature Requests

Goal: Create a system for learning, not reacting randomly.

Actions:

• Gather:
  • emails
  • comments
  • bug reports
  • requests
• Categorize:
  • must-fix
  • nice-to-have
  • future roadmap

Output: Feedback log and priorities.

Week 7 - Consolidation, Reflection, Next Moves

Day 43 - Fix High-Severity Issues from Real Users

Goal: Respond to early adopters by tightening reliability.

Actions:

• Fix:
  • crashes
  • data integrity issues
  • security issues
• Defer cosmetic or low-impact changes.

Output: Stable post-launch build.

Day 44 - Document Your SaaS Publicly

Goal: Turn this into an asset for your career and future products.

Actions:

• Write a “How I built this SaaS in 45 days” post.
• Include:
  • stack
  • architecture overview
  • what went well
  • what you’d change next time

Output: Retrospective published.

Day 45 - Decide Your Next 90 Days

Goal: Turn the SaaS into a living project, not a one-off sprint.

Actions:

• Decide:
  • Will you keep improving this SaaS?
  • Will you build another?
  • Will you focus on marketing and growth?
• Create a simple 90-day plan:
  • fixes
  • features
  • outreach cadence
  • metrics to track (e.g., active users, MRR, churn, upgrade rate)

Output: Written 90-day follow-up plan and clear next steps.

Conclusion

After 45 days, you will have:

• A real SaaS with:
  • front-end (Next.js or SPA)
  • Supabase backend with RLS
  • free and paid tiers
  • Stripe payment integration
  • basic analytics
  • legal pages and support channels
• A repeatable blueprint for future micro-SaaS products.
• A public story you can point to:
  • “I built and launched this in 45 days.”

From here, you can:

• grow this product
• build another using the same pattern
• or use this as a credibility anchor for consulting, full-time roles, or content.

You now have your first SaaS - shipped, not just imagined.