Building a SaaS application: A complete guide to get started in 2025

The market for SaaS application creation (Software as a Service) is experiencing spectacular growth. Whether you are an ambitious company, an SME looking for scalable solutions or an entrepreneur determined to innovate, create a SaaS application in 2025 represents a strategic opportunity with great potential.

But how do you turn a simple idea into a stable, scalable, and truly profitable digital product? This comprehensive guide takes you step by step, from the first thoughts to putting it online, including choosing the right tools. In particular, you will discover how the platforms No-code such as Bubble, Webflow or even Flutterflow now make it possible to simplify and accelerate the SaaS application creation, even without advanced technical skills.

Why start creating a SaaS in 2025?

A powerful and sustainable business model

Creating a SaaS application means opting for a business model with high potential. This type of software has several key advantages:

• Recurring revenue : thanks to monthly or annual subscription systems, your income is more predictable.
• Cross-platform accessibility : your users can access your service from any connected device, whether web or tremblant.
• Scalability : a well-designed SaaS can accommodate a growing number of users without having to rethink everything.
• Simplified maintenance : updates are centralized and automatic, which avoids manual installations by customers.

A booming market

The context is more than favorable to launch in 2025. Businesses, the self-employed and even governments are migrating to SaaS solutions to increase productivity, flexibility and costs.

Some key figures to remember:

• 80% of business applications will be SaaS by the end of 2025.
• The global SaaS market is estimated at more than 307 billion dollars in 2026, with double-digit annual growth.

Clearly, now is the perfect time to turn a good idea into a profitable product, scalable and in line with modern uses.

The 6 key steps to successfully create a SaaS application

Create a SaaS software cannot be improvised. Each step of the process plays a critical role in the success of your project, from the first idea to the development of a functional, scalable, and profitable application. Here are the main phases to follow to ensure the success of your SaaS application creation, whether you are a company, a freelancer or an innovative startup.

Step 1: Validate your idea and analyze the market

Before you even think about develop SaaS software, it is crucial to ensure that your project meets real demand. This will prevent you from mobilizing resources for a product that nobody wants.

• Target a specific problem encountered by your future users.
• Analyze the competing SaaS solutions already present on the market.
• Suggest a MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to quickly test your concept with real users.

This validation phase is essential to lay the solid foundations of your SaaS application creation.

Step 2: Design the technical architecture

Depending on your budget, your objectives and your technical level, several options are available to you:

• Create a SaaS with no-code tools like Bubble or Webflow allows you to quickly prototype an application, without writing a single line of code.
• The custom development is preferred if you are aiming for complex features, advanced business logic, or scalable architecture.
• One Classic tech stack (React, Node.js, PostgreSQL) can be considered with a dedicated team.

A good architecture is essential to ensure the stability, security, and performance of your SaaS application over the long term.

Step 3: Develop essential features

The stage of SaaS software development consists in building the first functional building blocks of your product. Here are the essential modules:

• One secure authentication system (login, password, double authentication).
• One custom dashboard for your users.
• The integration of a recurring payment via Stripe, Paddle or other.
• Tools ofperformance analysis to monitor usage behaviors.

Each feature must be designed to improve the user experience and facilitate the management of your solution.

Step 4: Test, Optimize, and Secure

Before marketing your SaaS software, you need to make sure that it works perfectly:

• Organize user tests to gather concrete feedback.
• Optimize loading times, navigation and ergonomics.
• Verify compliance with the RGPD regulation, in particular on the management of personal data.

This step helps to avoid critical mistakes that could damage the credibility of your SaaS application as soon as it was launched.

Step 5: Launch and market your SaaS

Once your product is ready, it's time to communication strategy :

• Create a professional website, with a clear and persuasive landing page.
• Launch targeted marketing campaigns via social networks, Google Ads, or partnerships.
• Suggest a free trial offer to encourage adoption.

The launch is a decisive moment in SaaS application creation : it must be thoughtful, measured and well orchestrated.

Step 6: Manage, improve and evolve your SaaS

One SaaS application is never over. After launch, you need to:

• Set up a customer support responsive to support your users.
• Follow the evolution of the product thanks to usage data collected.
• Think of regular updates to fix bugs, optimize performance, and add new features.

La SaaS application creation is not limited to initial development: it is part of a logic of continuous improvement, loyalty and adaptation to the market.

No-code, low-code or traditional development: what should you choose to create your SaaS?

The choice between No-code and custom development depends on your goals, budget, and technical skills.

‍

The solutions No-code (like Bubble or Webflow)

‍

They are attracting more and more entrepreneurs, startups and even freelancers to quickly launch an application or service:

Benefits :

· Quick launch Of your product without waiting several months

· Cost reduction Of development

· Accessibility for non-technicians

Limits :

· Limited customization on certain technical aspects

· Dependency to the platform (prices, updates, performances)

‍

The development traditional (with code)

‍

Ideal for complex, evolving or business-specific projects:

Benefits :

· 100% bespoke To respond to specific needs

· Great performances and better optimization

· Total ownership Of your Source code

Disadvantages :

· Bigger budget

· Longer production times

For a fast MVP or a limited budget, the No-code is a great solution. For an ambitious project, requiring advanced features Or a complex architecture, the custom development remains the best choice.

Budget: how much does it cost to create a SaaS?

The budget required depends heavily on the approach chosen:

• No-code solution (Bubble type): between €2,000 and €15,000
• Customized development : between €20,000 and over €100,000
• Recurring costs (hosting, maintenance, marketing, customer support): from €300 to €5,000 per month

These amounts vary according to the complexity of the application, the functionalities, the integration needs, the growth strategy or even the performance objectives.

Do you have to use a specialized agency?

‍

Collaborating with an agency that is expert in the development of SaaS applications has many advantages:

• Global support : from strategy to production launch
• Technical expertise : architecture, security, performance, scalability
• Time saver : faster delivery and simplified management

‍

Some criteria for choosing the right SaaS agency :

‍

• An experience in your sector of activity
• One solid portfolio with similar SaaS projects
• One total transparency on deadlines, methodology and costs

Conclusion

Creating a SaaS is an ambitious project that requires a clear vision, a good preparation And consistent technical choices. But the opportunities are huge.

Whether you choose a tool No-code like Bubble to go fast and test your idea, or a custom development for more flexibility, remember three fundamentals:

1. Validate your idea with real users
2. Choose the right technical approach according to your goals
3. Anticipate your marketing from the very first stages

Ready to launch your SaaS? Start by laying the foundations: your idea, your market, your resources. With the right method, your project can become a real entrepreneurial success and you can count on Scalapp to support you.

‍