From Idea to Product: Our 60-Day Journey to Ship a SaaS for $100

Shipping a SaaS product on a tight budget is a challenge that many indie hackers and solo founders face. In 2026, we embarked on a journey to build and launch a SaaS product for under $100. This article dives into our 60-day process, the tools we used, the pitfalls we encountered, and the lessons we learned along the way.

The Concept: Finding a Viable Idea

Before we could start building, we needed an idea that was both viable and simple enough to execute within our budget. We settled on a tool that helps freelancers manage their projects and invoices. The idea stemmed from our own frustrations with existing tools that were either too complex or overpriced.

Key Takeaway

• Focus on solving a problem you understand: Choose a niche where you have personal experience.

Day 1-10: Planning and Prototyping

We spent the first ten days sketching out our product features and creating a simple prototype. For this, we used Figma for design and Google Docs for documentation.

Tools We Used:

| Tool | What it does | Pricing | Best for | Limitations | Our Take | |----------|------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------| | Figma | Design mockups and prototypes | Free tier + $15/mo Pro| Visual design | Limited offline capabilities | We used it for quick mockups. | | Google Docs | Documentation and collaboration | Free | Writing and sharing | Basic formatting options | Essential for our notes. |

Key Takeaway

• Don’t skip the prototyping phase: It saves time later by clarifying your vision.

Day 11-20: Building the MVP

With our prototype in hand, we turned to no-code tools to build our MVP. We chose to use Bubble for the front end and Airtable for the database.

Tools We Used:

| Tool | What it does | Pricing | Best for | Limitations | Our Take | |----------|------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------| | Bubble | No-code application builder | Free tier + $29/mo | Rapid MVP development | Steeper learning curve | Great for quick iterations. | | Airtable | Database management | Free tier + $12/mo Pro| Simple data storage | Not suited for complex queries | Perfect for our needs. |

Key Takeaway

• No-code tools can drastically reduce development time: They’re perfect for MVPs when budgets are tight.

Day 21-40: Testing and Feedback

After building our MVP, we reached out to a small group of beta testers. This stage was crucial for gathering feedback and making necessary adjustments. We used Typeform for collecting feedback and Slack for communication.

Tools We Used:

| Tool | What it does | Pricing | Best for | Limitations | Our Take | |----------|------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------| | Typeform | Feedback collection | Free tier + $35/mo Pro| Surveys and forms | Limited customization in free tier| Essential for user insights. | | Slack | Team communication | Free | Real-time collaboration | Message history limited | Key for team coordination. |

Key Takeaway

• User feedback is invaluable: Early testers can provide insights that save you from major pitfalls.

Day 41-50: Marketing and Launch Preparation

With our product refined, we focused on marketing. We set up a landing page using Carrd and began building our email list with Mailchimp.

Tools We Used:

| Tool | What it does | Pricing | Best for | Limitations | Our Take | |----------|------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------| | Carrd | Landing page builder | Free tier + $19/yr Pro| Simple, one-page sites | Limited customization options | Great for a quick launch. | | Mailchimp| Email marketing | Free tier + $10/mo | Email campaigns | Can get pricey with larger lists | Useful for our outreach. |

Key Takeaway

• Don't underestimate the importance of marketing: A great product needs visibility to succeed.

Day 51-60: Launching and Iterating

Finally, we launched our product. We gathered data on user engagement and continued to iterate based on feedback. Our initial launch cost totaled $99, and we started seeing sign-ups almost immediately.

Results:

• Total cost: $99
• Time spent: 60 days
• Initial users: 50 sign-ups in the first week
• Monthly recurring revenue: $200 within the first month

Key Takeaway

• Iteration after launch is key: Use real user data to refine your product.

Conclusion: Start Here

If you’re looking to ship a SaaS product on a budget, focus on solving a real problem, leverage no-code tools, and prioritize user feedback. Our journey proved that with careful planning and execution, you can create a valuable product without breaking the bank.

What We Actually Use

• Figma for design
• Bubble for development
• Airtable for data management
• Typeform for feedback
• Carrd for landing page
• Mailchimp for email marketing

By sticking to a strict budget and timeline, we successfully navigated the challenges of building a SaaS product. If you’re ready to start your journey, take the leap and get building.