OSS + SaaS
How to build open source projects that you can also offer as hosted services. This approach lets you share your code with the community while making money from people who want the convenience of a managed solution.
Build a SaaS
How to turn your software projects into a hosted service that people will pay for. We’ll cover the open source approach, hosting options, and how to actually make money. Building the code is often the easy part.
less than a minute
For software developers, an obvious path to monetize their skills is to build a Software as a Service (SaaS) product. This section is dedicated to how one might do that.
Private, Closed-Source SaaS
Although this SaaS could just be a private, closed-source product, that can be a tough product to monetize. This is because there is no social momentum behind it, it’s just a random service that no one has heard of. That means it’s going to be all about marketing, 100%.
Open Source, then Hosted SaaS
Instead, imagine you build out an open source, self-hostable project over time, building some momentum and getting some community involvement from LinkedIn, Reddit, X, etc. You’ll likely get feedback from the community about what’s working and what isn’t. This will help you build a better product.
Then later, when ready, you can offer a hosted version of the tool. This is where you can monetize it. You can charge for the convenience of not having to self-host it, and for the additional features that you provide in the hosted version. This section will cover how to do that.
Feature Differentiation
How to make your hosted version worth paying for when the open source code is free. What features should you keep behind the paywall and what should be free? We’ll help you find the right balance.
Hosting + Billing
How to set up hosting, payments, and user accounts without overcomplicating things. We’ll show you simple setups that scale from zero to real customers. You don’t need enterprise infrastructure on day one.
Landing Pages
How to create landing pages that actually convert visitors into users. Even if you hate marketing, you need a page that explains what your app does and why people should care. We’ll keep it simple and practical.
Scaling as a Solo Dev
How to grow your SaaS without burning out when you’re doing everything yourself. From handling support to managing feature requests, we’ll show you what works when you’re a one-person operation.
Support And Updates
We’ll share simple ways to handle customer support without burning out. You don’t need 24/7 teams from day one. Start with email and docs, then add community forums as you grow.