How to Pick the Right Micro-SaaS Idea (That People Actually Want)

Coming up with a Micro-SaaS idea is easy. Picking one that people will actually pay for? That’s the real challenge. Here's a practical guide to help you find an idea that has demand, fits your skills, and won't drain your soul.

1. Start with Pain, Not Passion

Don’t build what you want to build. Build what people need.

Ask:

What’s annoying, repetitive, or inefficient?
What do people complain about in forums, Reddit, or Twitter threads?
What are professionals duct-taping together in spreadsheets?

Real pain = real demand.

2. Look Where You Already Are

You don’t need to look far. Start with:

Problems you’ve faced at work
Issues in tools you already use
Niches you're already familiar with (devs, marketers, real estate, etc.)

Insider knowledge gives you a huge head start.

3. Hunt for Underserved Niches

You don’t need to disrupt Google. You just need 100–500 loyal customers in a small niche.

Look for:

Industries that are still stuck on Excel
Local businesses with messy workflows
SaaS tools with overkill pricing for small players

Small markets = low competition = big opportunity.

4. Validate Before You Build

Got an idea? Before writing a single line of code:

Post about the problem and solution concept
Ask people if they’d pay for a tool like this
Pre-sell or start a waitlist

You’re not looking for compliments. You’re looking for commitments.

5. Don’t Worry About Originality

The best Micro-SaaS ideas are often:

Simple
Boring
Already solved (but not always well)

It’s okay if others are doing it. In fact, that’s usually a sign there’s money in it. Just do it better, cheaper, more niche, or for a different audience.

Final Thoughts

The best micro-SaaS ideas don’t come from sudden genius they come from paying attention. Find a pain, validate it quickly, and solve it simply.

And when you’re ready to launch, submit to MicroLineup to get in front of other indie founders and early adopters 🚀