How to Find SaaS Ideas That People Will Pay For
2026-02-19 · 27 min read
Figuring out how to find SaaS ideas that people will actually pay for is the single biggest challenge for aspiring founders. Most failed startups don't fail because of bad execution — they fail because they built something nobody wanted. The good news? There are systematic ways to discover ideas with real demand.
Why Most SaaS Ideas Fail
The number one reason SaaS products fail is that founders start with a solution instead of a problem. They think "I'll build an app that does X" instead of asking "What problem are people desperately trying to solve?" This solution-first thinking leads to products that are technically impressive but commercially worthless.
According to CB Insights, 35% of startups fail because there's no market need. That's more than running out of cash, team issues, or competition combined. The lesson is clear: start with the problem.
Mine Online Communities for Pain Points
Online communities are goldmines for SaaS ideas. Reddit, Twitter, Hacker News, and niche forums are full of people complaining about problems they'd pay to solve. Look for recurring complaints, workaround descriptions, and "I wish there was..." posts.
- Browse subreddits related to your area of expertise and search for "frustrated", "annoying", "wish there was"
- Check Twitter for complaints about existing tools in your niche
- Read Hacker News "Ask HN" threads for unmet needs
- Join Slack and Discord communities where your target users hang out
- Search Product Hunt for products with lots of negative reviews
Talk to Real People
Nothing beats direct conversations. Talk to potential customers, not about your idea, but about their problems. Ask open-ended questions: "What's the most frustrating part of your workflow?" or "What takes you way longer than it should?" Listen for emotions — frustration, anger, and resignation are signals of real pain points.
Analyze Existing Solutions
Look at products people are already paying for and find gaps. Read negative reviews on G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot. What are customers complaining about? Can you build something that solves those specific complaints better?
- Study 1-star and 2-star reviews of popular SaaS tools
- Look for "switching from X" threads in communities
- Identify features people keep requesting that incumbents ignore
- Find industries still using spreadsheets for processes that could be automated
Use Tools to Automate Discovery
Manually scanning communities is time-consuming. Tools like PainPointFinder automate this process by analyzing online discussions and surfacing real pain points people are experiencing. This lets you validate demand before writing a single line of code.
Validate Before You Build
Once you've found a promising idea, validate it. Create a simple landing page describing your solution, drive some traffic to it, and see if people sign up or express interest. You can also pre-sell the product or offer a concierge version before building the full thing.
The best SaaS ideas come from real problems experienced by real people. Stop guessing and start listening. The opportunities are out there — you just need to know where to look.
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Get Lifetime Access →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to find SaaS ideas?
The best way is to identify real pain points by mining online communities like Reddit and Twitter, talking to potential customers, and analyzing gaps in existing solutions. Focus on problems people are actively trying to solve.
How do I know if a SaaS idea is profitable?
Look for evidence that people are already spending money or significant time on the problem. If they're using workarounds, paying for incomplete solutions, or expressing strong frustration, there's likely willingness to pay.
Can I find SaaS ideas without technical skills?
Absolutely. Idea discovery is about understanding problems, not writing code. You can validate ideas through landing pages, interviews, and pre-sales before involving any technical work.
How many ideas should I evaluate before picking one?
Aim to identify at least 10-20 potential ideas, then narrow down based on market size, your expertise, competition, and validation signals. Don't commit to the first idea — compare options.