90-Day $10K SaaS Roadmap
Solo founders are hitting $10K MRR with lean SaaS builds using no-code tools and AI in 2025, proving one person can scale without teams or VC. This step-by-step guide breaks down the exact roadmap, tools, and tactics from real success stories like AutoShorts.ai ($113K MRR) and supastarter ($10K MRR). Optimized for “build SaaS solo 2025,” “one man $10K MRR,” and “no code SaaS ideas,” follow this to launch, validate, and monetize in 90 days.
Days 1-7: Idea Validation and Niche Selection
Pinpoint a painful problem in a niche you know, like marketers needing AI video shorts or devs seeking starter kits—avoid broad markets. Conduct 20 user interviews via Reddit, Twitter DMs, or LinkedIn: “What’s your biggest workflow frustration?” Use Typeform for surveys targeting 30% activation intent.
- Validate with a one-page landing page on Carrd ($19/yr) promising your solution; aim for 1% trial signups via Indie Hackers/Reddit posts.
- Top 2025 micro-SaaS ideas: AI content repurposers, privacy analytics (e.g., Seline.so at $600 MRR in 6 months), or no-code CRM automators.
- Success metric: 50 visitors, 5 pre-signups—pivot if under 10% interest.
Real example: Eric Smith’s AutoShorts.ai targeted video creation pain, validating via marketer forums before coding.
Days 8-30: Build MVP with No-Code Stack
Ship a laser-focused MVP solving one core problem using no-code for speed—no devs needed. Core stack: Bubble.io or Webflow for frontend, Supabase/Xano for backend/database, Stripe for payments, Zapier for automations.
| Tool Category | Recommended Tools | Why for Solos | Cost/Mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontend/Builder | Bubble, Webflow, Flutterflow | Drag-drop apps in days | $25-100 |
| Backend/DB | Supabase, Xano, Airtable | Scalable APIs, no servers | Free-$50 |
| Payments | Stripe, Paddle | Subscriptions, global billing | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Automation | Zapier, n8n, Make | Workflows, AI integrations | $20-50 |
| AI/Chat | OpenAI API, Landbot | Personalization, support bots | $0.02/1K tokens |
- Build workflow: Day 8-15 core feature (e.g., AI prompt → video export); integrate Stripe for tiers.
- Test internally: Aim for 80% user completion rate on key action.
- Deploy on Vercel/Netlify for $0-20/mo with auto-scaling.
Solo devs like Jonathan Wilke built supastarter’s kit in weeks, hitting $10K MRR via community feedback.
Days 31-60: Launch, Acquire First 10 Customers
Launch lean on Product Hunt, Indie Hackers, and niche subreddits (e.g., r/SaaS)—record a 45s demo video with Flowjam. DM 100 prospects personally: “Saw your tweet on X pain—try my free trial?” Close manually via Zoom, no ads yet.
- Pricing: Tiered model—Free ($0), Starter ($19/mo), Pro ($49/mo), Enterprise ($99/mo)—annual discounts cut churn 10%.
- Growth hacks: Build in public (Twitter threads), referral incentives (1 mo free), beta discounts for testimonials.
- Metrics dashboard: Track CAC (<$50), LTV (>3x CAC), activation (>30%) with Baremetrics/PostHog.
One founder hit paying customer in 24hrs via targeted Reddit launch; aim for $1K MRR by day 60.
Days 61-90: Optimize to $10K MRR
Automate onboarding/support with Zapier + AI chatbots; outsource content (Upwork, $10/hr) to free 10+ hrs/week. A/B test pricing/emails for 20% conversion uplift; engage community for organic shares.
- Retention: Personalized AI emails, feedback loops—target <5% churn.
- Scale tactics: Partnerships (e.g., Slack integrations), SEO content (“best AI tool for Y”), upsell via in-app prompts.
- Weekly review: MRR growth >20%; if stalled, iterate top feature from user data.
Examples: Solo founder crossed $10K MRR solo via niche focus; Eric Smith automated to $113K.
Essential Tools and Costs Under $200/Mo
Run lean: Total stack ~$150/mo scaling to enterprise. Add Plausible for analytics ($9/mo), Sentry for errors (free tier).
| Full Stack | Monthly Cost | Handles |
|---|---|---|
| Build + Deploy | $50 | Bubble + Vercel |
| Payments + Email | $30 | Stripe + SendGrid |
| Analytics + Auto | $70 | PostHog + Zapier |
| Total | $150 | Full SaaS ops |
Common Pitfalls and Fixes
Avoid scope creep—stick to 1 workflow; perfectionism kills launches. Burnout? Time-block (4 hrs build, 2 hrs sales); join Indie Hackers for support. No traffic? Niche forums over broad ads.
Success Stories Proving It’s Possible
- AutoShorts.ai: Eric Smith solo-built AI video SaaS to $113K MRR via automation.
- supastarter: $10K MRR in 2 yrs with dev outreach.
- Seline.so: $600 MRR in 6 mo privacy analytics.
Hit $10K by day 90: Validate ruthlessly, ship fast, sell manually, automate wins. Start today—your solo SaaS empire awaits.