10 Step Playbook for SaaS Apps That Make $

How One Founder Built 5 Boring SaaS Apps That Make $200K/Month—Guaranteed

Mike, a founder from Australia, doesn’t chase flashy AI startups or viral trends. Instead, he’s quietly built five “boring” SaaS businesses—Curator.io, Juno.co, Frill.co, Fluke.co, and SoonSmile.co—that together generate over $200,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR). And here’s the kicker: he guarantees every app he builds will succeed. How? By following a ruthless, repeatable 10-step playbook designed to eliminate failure before it even has a chance to happen. In a recent interview on Starter Story, Mike revealed his entire system—from idea selection to launch, growth, and profit extraction—without raising a dime or hiring a bloated team. What follows is a distilled breakdown of his proven framework, designed for founders who want predictable success over gambling on the next big thing.

The Core Philosophy: Minimize Risk, Maximize Certainty

Mike’s entire approach revolves around one principle: build ideas that can’t fail. That means avoiding unproven markets, platform-dependent tools (like AI APIs he doesn’t control), and anything “sexy” that might vanish in six months. Instead, he targets existing problems with proven demand—even if the current solutions are clunky or overpriced.

His secret weapon? A fixed team structure: four co-founders (front-end dev, back-end dev, designer, and a product lead—usually himself), each owning 25% equity. This minimizes founder fallout, ensures cross-functional thinking, and keeps design at the forefront. “Good design sells,” Mike insists.

The 10-Step Playbook (Followed to the Letter)

1. Pick an idea that’s been done before. Proven demand = lower risk.
2. Define a “good enough” MVP based on competitor weaknesses.
3. Launch with a Lifetime Deal (LTD)—e.g., $59 one-time payment.
4. Never offer free accounts. Paying users = engaged users + honest feedback.
5. Sell your LTD privately in Reddit groups, Facebook communities, and X (Twitter).
6. Start writing content immediately—landing pages, “vs. competitor” posts, blogs.
7. Launch on AppSumo to access their massive email list and generate quick capital.
8. Run one final LTD to create urgency—“never available again.”
9. Get honest reviews from LTD buyers on Trustpilot, G2, etc.—they become your early ambassadors.
10. Engage authentically on Reddit—answer questions about competitors, provide value, no spam.

Avoid “Shiny Objects”—Especially AI

Mike refuses to build AI-native businesses: “Too much risk. You don’t control the API.” Instead, he looks for underserved, enduring needs—like better documentation tools or B2B group eCards. His apps solve real, boring problems for real customers… and make serious money doing it.

Tech Stack & Team Culture

Tech varies by team comfort (Vue, React, Laravel, PHP), but tools like Framer (for websites), V0 by Vercel (for prototyping), and Grain (for meeting notes) keep things lean. Most importantly: “Work with people you enjoy—people you’d grab a beer with. If it’s not fun, what’s the point?”

Mike’s story is a masterclass in disciplined, founder-friendly SaaS building. No hype. No funding. Just a system that turns boring ideas into $200K/month businesses—one guaranteed win at a time.

Meet Mike, a founder from Australia who has cracked the code on building successful SaaS businesses. He currently runs five different apps that collectively generate over $200,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR). What's his secret? A repeatable framework that he guarantees will make every app successful. In this blog post, we break down Mike’s exact 10-step playbook for building apps that can’t fail.

The Portfolio: Five Apps, $200k MRR

Mike’s current businesses include:

• Curator.io: A social media aggregator for websites and events.
• Frill.co: A customer feedback tool for collecting feedback and roadmap planning.
• Juno.co: A digital signage platform for cafes, gyms, schools, and shops.
• Fluke.co: A no-code tours platform for building onboarding experiences.
• Smile.co: A B2B group e-cards tool (launching soon).

Together, these apps bring in just over $200,000 per month. Mike is fully bootstrapped and has used the same playbook to launch each one. His goal is to reach $1 million MRR within five years with a lean team and no outside funding.

The Philosophy: Minimizing Risk

Mike’s approach is built around one core principle: minimizing risk. He only builds ideas that have already been validated in the market. By focusing on existing solutions with poor user experiences, he knows there’s demand—he just needs to build a better product.

He also structures his founding teams carefully. Each project starts with four co-founders: a front-end developer, a back-end developer, a designer, and someone like Mike who handles product management. This setup minimizes founder fallout and ensures everyone is invested in the user experience. Equity is split equally (25% each), and the team doesn’t take salaries until the app hits $10,000 MRR.

The 10-Step Playbook for Success

Here’s the exact playbook Mike uses to launch each of his apps:

1. Pick an idea that’s been done before. Avoid unproven concepts. If others are already successful, you know there’s demand.
2. Decide what’s a good enough MVP. Study competitors and build only the features customers want most.
3. Offer a lifetime deal (LTD). Price it at $59-$100 to generate early revenue and user feedback.
4. Never give away accounts for free. Charging users ensures they’re committed and more likely to provide valuable feedback.
5. Sell a private LTD. Use Reddit, Facebook groups, and X to promote your LTD. Mike raised $30k for Frill this way.
6. Start writing content immediately. Create landing pages, blog posts, and competitor comparison pages to boost SEO.
7. Launch on AppSumo. Leverage their large audience to gain more users and capital. Aim to raise $100k from LTDs.
8. Run one last private LTD. Increase prices slightly and market it as the final chance to get a lifetime deal.
9. Collect honest reviews. Ask LTD customers to leave reviews on Trustpilot and G2 to build credibility.
10. Engage on Reddit. Find questions about your competitors and authentically recommend your solution.

What Ideas to Avoid

Mike stays away from trends that carry too much risk. For example, he avoids AI-focused businesses because they often rely on APIs he can’t control. Instead, he looks for underserved markets with outdated UX—like documentation tools, which he believes are either inadequate or overpriced.

Mike’s Tech Stack

While the tech stack varies by team, here’s what Mike currently uses:

• Frontend: Vue or React
• Backend: PHP with Laravel
• Tools: Willow Voice for voice typing, Granola for meeting notes, Slack, Framer for websites, and VO for prototyping.

Final Advice from Mike

When asked what advice he’d give his younger self, Mike emphasized the importance of enjoying the journey:

“Work with people you enjoy working with. I go to work every day with my mates. Don’t just create something customers want—create something you love building.”

Mike’s story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to chase shiny, trendy ideas to build a successful business. Sometimes, the “boring” products are the ones that crush it.