TL;DR

A local landscaping company had developed custom scheduling software for their team. We helped them productize it into a SaaS for other landscaping businesses. Within 12 months: $10k MRR, 45 paying customers, and a new revenue stream that exceeded their service business margins.

Tips

  • Look for internal tools that solve industry-wide problems
  • Start with a simple MVP and iterate based on customer feedback
  • Price based on value delivered, not just development costs
  • Build for scalability from day one

Table of Contents

The Accidental SaaS Discovery

Tom ran a successful landscaping business with 15 crews. Frustrated with existing scheduling software, he built a simple custom solution for his team.

It was clunky but worked perfectly for his specific needs. Other landscapers kept asking if they could use it too.

That’s when he realized: his internal tool could be a product.

From Internal Tool to Market-Ready Product

Tom’s software was great for his business but needed work to become a sellable product. We helped him:

User Experience Overhaul

Redesigned the interface for broader appeal beyond his specific workflow.

Feature Prioritization

Identified which features were essential for MVP and which could wait.

Technical Scalability

Rebuilt the architecture to handle multiple businesses securely.

The Launch Strategy That Worked

Instead of a big public launch, we started with:

Beta Program

10 other landscaping businesses used the product for free in exchange for feedback.

Industry-Specific Marketing

Targeted landscaping forums, associations, and local business groups.

Word-of-Mouth Referrals

Implemented a referral program that rewarded existing users.

Growth: From $0 to $10k MRR

  • Month 1-3: 5 beta customers, refining product
  • Month 4-6: 15 paying customers, $2.5k MRR
  • Month 7-9: 28 customers, $5.8k MRR
  • Month 10-12: 45 customers, $10.2k MRR

The SaaS now generates more profit than their original service business.

3 Signs You Have a SaaS Opportunity

  1. You’ve built custom tools that competitors admire
  2. You receive regular requests from others wanting your systems
  3. You’ve solved a painful industry problem in a unique way

Ready to Build Your SaaS?

If you have processes or tools that could benefit others in your industry, you might be sitting on a goldmine.

Contact us for a free SaaS potential assessment. We’ll analyze your business systems and show you if there’s a product waiting to be built.