How to Build a SaaS in Less Than 2 Days
From Idea to MVP
Building a SaaS product could sound like an overwhelming task, and in the past I have spent countless hours building projects that ended up not getting the results I hoped for. I have learned that speed matters. The faster you get something live, the faster you get feedback and the sooner you’ll know whether your idea is worth pursuing. Validating an idea before development is ideal, but the most effective way to do so is by launching an MVP and seeing if potential clients sign up.
It is very possible to launch a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in less than 48 hours. In fact, on my most recent project, Self Invoice, I only spent 19 hours from start of development to launch.
Here’s my process for launching a SaaS in under two days.
1. Reuse Code From Previous Projects
The short answer is: reuse as much as possible. I’ve reused parts from many of my successful and unsuccessful projects. Just because a project didn’t work out doesn’t mean the code is useless. My first SaaS product was for Seait. Parts of this were reused for Musiconnect, which again was used for AI-Gen.meme, which recently was used for Self Invoice. Each iteration makes the next one faster.
Most SaaS projects need the same basics—authentication, a database, payments, a subscription model, and a simple dashboard. Instead of rebuilding these from scratch every time, I copy over my previous work and tweak it for the new use case.
2. Use AI for Repetitive Coding
I use Cursor to speed up simple but time-consuming tasks. Writing boilerplate code, or even generating UI components can be automated. This lets me focus on the unique parts of the product instead of spending hours on things I’ve already done before.
AI tools are great at handling tasks that don’t require creativity but still take time. If I need a function that processes invoices, I can ask an AI to generate the structure while I fine-tune the logic.
3. Stick to a Battle-Tested Stack
Even though new tools keep popping up, I stick to what I know works:
- Next.js for the frontend
- Shadcn with Tailwind for styling
- Firebase for authentication and database
This stack is functional, well-documented, and familiar and fast to set up for me. I don’t waste time figuring out new tech. I can go from idea to working prototype in hours because I already know how to solve most technical problems in this setup.
4. Only Build What’s Necessary
A mistake I used to make was building too much before launching. Now, I focus only on what’s essential to prove the idea. For Self Invoice, I didn’t add a complex admin dashboard or multiple payment options. I built the core feature and launched.
The goal is to validate the idea, not build a perfect product. If users like it, I can improve it later.
5. Launch First, Polish Later
Speed matters. The biggest advantage of launching in 2 days is that you get real user feedback immediately. Instead of guessing what features people want, you get real data. Many products fail because founders spend months building something nobody actually needs.
By launching quickly, I avoid that mistake. If the idea doesn’t get traction, I move on. If it does, I improve it based on user feedback.
Final Thoughts
Building a SaaS doesn’t have to take months. If you reuse code, use AI to speed up repetitive tasks, and focus on launching instead of overbuilding, you can ship an MVP in less than 48 hours. The key is to optimize for speed, not perfection, and to reuse previous code and tech stacks. The faster you launch, the faster you’ll be able to validate your project idea.