Building the MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

To help you build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for your SaaS that delivers real value with the least effort. This chapter focuses on defining the MVP, what to include (and exclude), building it fast, and validating it through real user feedback.

Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a strategic approach in product development that prioritizes the creation of a core set of features sufficient to satisfy early adopters and validate a product idea. In today’s fast-paced market, an MVP allows businesses to quickly launch a functional version of their product, gather essential feedback from real users, and iterate efficiently based on empirical data. This iterative process not only minimizes initial development costs and risks but also accelerates time-to-market, enabling companies to test their assumptions and adapt their offerings to meet genuine market needs effectively.

What is a Minimum Viable Product?

An MVP is not a half-built app. It is the smallest functional version of your SaaS that solves a specific problem and can be tested with real users.

🚀 “An MVP is what you can launch in 4–6 weeks that gives real value to a real user.”

The goal is to:

• Get your first users
• Validate your value proposition
• Learn what to improve
• Avoid building features no one needs

The Core of Every MVP: One Persona, One Problem, One Promise

Before building, define:

• Persona: Who is your ideal first user?
• Problem: What pain are they experiencing?
• Promise: What will your SaaS help them achieve?

Example:
👤 Persona: Freelance designers
❌ Problem: Losing track of client revisions
✅ Promise: Organize all client feedback in one place

This clarity helps you avoid feature bloat.

Prioritize Features with the MVP Feature Matrix

Use this simple rule:

Focus only on the “Must-Have” quadrant for your MVP. Everything else can wait.

How to Build Your SaaS MVP

a) Use Open-Source or Starter Kits

Why reinvent the wheel?

• Use SaaS boilerplates like:
  • SaaS UI (React + Next.js)
  • ShipFast (Laravel)
  • Supabase SaaS Starter (Postgres, Auth, Stripe)

These include:

• Auth
• Payments
• User dashboard
• Database connection

b) Go No-Code for MVP

If you’re not a developer, use no-code to launch faster:

Testing Your MVP with Real Users

Don’t wait for perfection. Launch when it works — not when it’s “done.”

Start by:

• Sharing in Reddit forums (e.g., r/saas, r/startups)
• Posting in IndieHackers
• Asking 5–10 users to test and give feedback

Ask them:

• What do you like?
• What’s missing?
• Would you pay for this?

Use insights to iterate fast, not defend your choices.

Adding Payments to Your MVP

Even in MVP stage, enable real payment flow:

• Use Stripe Checkout for subscriptions
• Offer a lifetime deal for early users
• Keep pricing simple: 1 free plan + 1 paid plan

💡 Don’t be afraid to charge — it validates demand.

Common MVP Mistakes to Avoid

• Building too many features
• Waiting too long to launch
• Not talking to users early
• Forgetting mobile responsiveness
• Skipping billing in MVP
• Building custom auth/payments from scratch

Suggested MVP Development Timeline

Week 1: Define user, problem, and core feature set  
Week 2: Choose stack or no-code platform, design UI  
Week 3–4: Build core functionality (login, dashboard, 1 key feature)  
Week 5: Add payments and invite users  
Week 6: Collect feedback and iterate

Week 1: Define user, problem, and core feature set  
Week 2: Choose stack or no-code platform, design UI  
Week 3–4: Build core functionality (login, dashboard, 1 key feature)  
Week 5: Add payments and invite users  
Week 6: Collect feedback and iterate