Case Study: The SaaS Founder's Journey

Follow Sam, a developer, as he uses the 6ixSteps framework to build a successful micro-SaaS business for freelancers.

Step 1: Clarity

STEP 1.1

Finds His Ikigai

Sam connects his passion for coding and writing to solve a problem he knows first-hand.

STEP 1.2

Defines His Core Mission

Sam creates a mission to empower freelance writers to focus on their craft, not on admin tasks.

STEP 1.3

Identifies His Ideal Client

Sam narrows his focus to freelance writers struggling with spreadsheets and disorganized client management.

Step 2: Validation

STEP 2.1

Puts Assumptions to the Test

Sam questions his riskiest assumptions: Will writers pay a subscription? Do they want an all-in-one tool?

STEP 2.2

Gets Some Answers

Sam's interviews confirm that writers hate their current admin process and would pay for a simple, integrated solution.

STEP 2.3

Makes a Decision

With strong validation, Sam decides to persevere and build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

Step 3: Offer Stack

STEP 3.1

Designs His Offer Stack

Sam creates a 'freemium' model, from a free invoice template to a Pro plan for power users.

STEP 3.2

Crafts His Tiers

Sam translates features like 'one-click invoicing' into outcomes like 'getting paid faster and saving hours per month'.

STEP 3.3

Prices His Offers

Sam sets a price of $15/month for his Pro plan, making it an easy investment for a freelancer.

Step 4: Launch

STEP 4.1

Creates a Launch Blueprint

Sam plans a 30-day beta launch on Twitter and Reddit with a goal of 50 paid users.

STEP 4.2

Crafts His Message

Sam's messaging focuses on the core pain point: 'Spend more time writing, less time on admin'.

STEP 4.3

Builds a Launch Calendar

Sam plans his content to build excitement and gather a waitlist for his beta launch.

Step 5: Growth

STEP 5.1

Builds a Growth Engine

Sam designs an automated email sequence to guide users through setting up their first project and invoice.

STEP 5.2

Finds His Levers

Sam tracks key SaaS metrics: new sign-ups, activation rate, and monthly churn.

STEP 5.3

Builds His First System

Sam creates an SOP for customer support, using a simple ticketing system to manage user feedback.

Step 6: Scale

STEP 6.1

Expands His Reach

Sam brainstorms adding a proposals feature and marketing his tool to freelance designers.

STEP 6.2

Builds His Team

Sam hires a part-time community manager to handle customer support and social media.

STEP 6.3

Creates His Vision

Sam sets a 3-year vision to become the go-to business tool for 10,000 freelance creatives.