SaaS Launch Checklist
Free SaaS launch checklist covering idea validation, MVP, pricing, waitlist, go-to-market, and post-launch growth. Step-by-step playbook updated for 2026.
Step-by-step checklist
A comprehensive, actionable checklist that walks you through every stage so nothing slips through the cracks.
Curated resources
Hand-picked guides, tools, and references to go deeper on each step whenever you need more context.
Track your progress
Tick items off as you complete them, watch the progress bar fill up, and celebrate each milestone.
Idea validation 💡
Validate your SaaS idea before writing a single line of code.
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High
Define the specific problem you're solving
Write a one-sentence problem statement. Test it with 10 potential customers. If they can't immediately relate, rewrite. A vague problem leads to a vague product.
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High
Identify your specific ICP (ideal customer profile)
Narrow from 'SMB' to something like '20-person creative agencies using Figma'. The narrower your ICP, the faster you'll validate and the sharper your messaging.
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High
Run 15 customer discovery interviews
Don't ask 'would you use this?' — ask 'tell me the last time you tried to solve X'. Listen for emotional intensity and current workarounds, not polite interest.
The Mom Test — Rob Fitzpatrick -
High
Find 3 existing alternatives (even if they're spreadsheets)
If nobody is currently solving this problem imperfectly, your market may not exist yet. Alternatives = proof of demand.
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High
Start a pre-launch waitlist
Before building anything, create a landing page and waitlist. If you can't get 50 signups with a compelling description, the idea isn't strong enough. Use LaunchList for a free waitlist with referral mechanics built in.
Start a free waitlist -
Medium
Validate willingness to pay
Ask prospects 'if this existed and cost $X, would you pay?' Get 10 verbal commitments at your target price before building. Better: pre-sell access to the beta.
MVP & build 🔨
Ship the smallest possible product that delivers the core value.
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High
Write a 1-pager product spec
Core user flows, must-have features, explicit exclusions (what you're NOT building in v1). Keep it to one page — if it's longer, your scope is too big.
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High
Choose your tech stack for speed, not scale
Laravel, Rails, Django, or Next.js. Tailwind. A managed DB. A managed queue. Optimize for shipping in 4 weeks, not for 10M users you don't have yet.
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High
Ship a usable MVP in 6–10 weeks
If you're trending toward 12+ weeks to MVP, your scope is wrong. Cut features ruthlessly until you can ship.
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High
Onboard your first 10 customers manually
White-glove every early customer — personally set up their account, join a call, watch them use the product. The friction reveals everything broken.
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Medium
Instrument product analytics from day 1
PostHog, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Umami. Track signup, activation, and weekly active use — the only metrics that matter pre-PMF.
Pricing & packaging 💰
Price based on value delivered, not features.
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High
Study 5 competitor pricing pages
Note their tier structure, price points, and what's gated behind each tier. Your pricing should anchor against these, not undercut them.
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High
Price by value, not feature count
Three tiers: Starter (individuals), Team (small groups), Business (established teams). Price each tier 2.5–3× the previous. Gate by outcome, not checkbox.
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High
Don't price too low
$9/mo tools attract low-intent customers who churn. Aim for $49+/mo for B2B SaaS, $19+/mo for consumer SaaS. Low prices often signal low value.
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Medium
Add an annual discount (15–20%)
Pushes users to annual billing, materially reduces churn, and improves cash flow upfront.
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Medium
Test 2 pricing variants on your waitlist
Before launch, email two cohorts with different price points. Measure purchase intent (click-through to checkout). Real data beats guessing.
Launch day 🚀
Coordinate your pre-launch audience, press, and distribution.
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High
Launch on Product Hunt
A well-prepared Product Hunt launch drives 2K–15K visitors in 48 hours. Use LaunchList's detailed Product Hunt launch checklist to prepare.
Product Hunt Launch Checklist -
High
Launch on Hacker News (Show HN)
Post at 7–9 AM PT on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Title: 'Show HN: [Product] — [one-line benefit]'. Show, don't sell. Respond to every comment within an hour.
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High
Email your waitlist at go-live
Personalized, from-a-human email with a direct product link. Include a launch-specific discount code. This is typically your highest-converting channel.
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Medium
Publish a launch blog post
Tell the story of why you built it. Link to product. This becomes the canonical 'about' post for years and powers long-tail SEO.
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Medium
Reach out to niche newsletters (Beehiiv)
Buy 2–3 sponsorships in newsletters serving your exact ICP, timed with launch day. A $500 newsletter sponsorship to 10K engaged readers beats $5K of untargeted ads.
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High
Go live on Twitter/X with a launch thread
Open with the emotional hook (why you built it), show the product, end with a CTA. Pin the thread. Tag 3–5 people who've been supportive.
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Medium
Post in relevant Slack/Discord communities
Only where you've been a contributing member. Don't spam. One thoughtful post in the right community beats 20 in the wrong ones.
Week 1 after launch 📊
Convert the launch rush into durable growth.
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High
Track the real launch metrics
Signups, activation rate (used core feature within 7 days), conversion to paid. Not just visitors. Visitor counts are vanity.
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High
Email every signup who didn't activate
Personalized email asking what blocked them. You'll learn more from 10 of these replies than from any survey.
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Medium
Publish a launch recap (transparency)
Stats + learnings. Generates a second press wave, engagement, and honesty-driven trust. Great founders do this publicly.
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High
Capture 3 customer testimonials
Email your happiest users directly. Ask for 2–3 sentences + photo. Add to homepage within 2 weeks. Social proof compounds.
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High
Fix the top 3 launch-day bugs
Don't add features yet. Just fix what broke. Stability earns trust; features don't.
You have completed
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Create a waiting listFrequently asked questions about SaaS Launch Checklist
Common questions about saas launch checklist — compiled from the community.
How long should a SaaS launch take?
Should I launch on Product Hunt?
What's the biggest SaaS launch mistake?
How much does a SaaS launch cost?
How many signups do I need before launching?
Should I launch free or paid?
What do I do if my launch flops?
Should I use a pre-launch waitlist?
What questions should I anticipate on launch day?
- What problem does your SaaS solve?
- Who is your specific ICP (not just 'small businesses')?
- How much should we charge?
- Should we offer a free trial?
- How do we price annual vs monthly?
- When should we launch on Product Hunt?
- How do we build a pre-launch waitlist?
- What tech stack should we use?
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