Do you want to start a SAAS business but you want to go niche and be unique? If YES, here are 31 best SAAS related business ideas and opportunities.
What is a SaaS?
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is a unique method of service delivery that negates what the technical world was previously used to.
By definition, SaaS is a method of software delivery that allows data to be accessed from any device that can boast of an Internet connection and a web browser. Software vendors utilize this web-based model to host and maintain their servers, databases and codes.
Unlike traditional software which is conventionally sold as a perpetual license with an up-front cost, SaaS providers generally price applications using a subscription fee, most commonly a monthly fee or an annual fee. One good thing about this is that such services can be unsubscribed to when desired.
SaaS is one of three main categories of cloud computing, alongside infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). SaaS removes the need for organizations to install and run applications on their own computers or in their own data centers.
This eliminates the expense of hardware acquisition, provisioning and maintenance, as well as software licensing, installation and support. There are a number of benefits of SaaS to individuals using software for private purposes, or for business, and they include;
Best SaaS Business ideas
SAAS business ideas do not originate in a vacuum or out of nothing. Many entrepreneurs that have SAAS related businesses say they happened upon their businesses from a problem they once had. As such, solving a problem that frustrates you may be one of the best ways of finding an idea for your SAAS startup.
But in an event you can’t think up anything, here are some SAAS related business ideas that would hopefully get you started in the right direction.
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Become a SAAS software developer
A software developer is a person concerned with facets of the software development process, including the research, design, programming, and testing of computer software. The SaaS development lifecycle is like a traditional iterative software development process, but with additional phases added.
Software as a Service (SaaS) has now become a fairly well-established software Business model which in principle consists in delivering software applications. You can become a SAAS software developer for various platforms. The key to getting ahead is to look for loopholes and problems entrepreneurs that work in the cloud typically have.
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Run a code hosting service
A code hosting service helps developers submit patches of code in an organized fashion. Often these websites support version control, bug tracking, release management, mailing lists, and wiki-based documentation. You can build a private code hosting SaaS platform for developers that can allow writing, reviewing and deploying of code.
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Become a freelance web developer
Web developers, also called web designers or webmasters, design and maintain websites. They are programmers that specialize in the development of World Wide Web applications, or applications that are run over HTTP from a web server to a web browser.
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Launch a data integration platform
Data integration is an IT activity based on data, database and technology know-how. Data Integration helps migrate and extract value from data by bringing together capabilities of a complete Data Integration, Data Quality, and Data Governance solution into a single unified autonomous cloud based platform.
Typically, data integration platforms are purchased, managed and used by IT groups responsible for data warehousing, master data management and other data management programs. You can set up a SaaS platform that enables easy data integration between 750+apps.
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Build a CRM software
A customer relationship management software is a platform that connects the different departments of an organization, from marketing to sales to customer service, and organizes their notes, activities, and metrics into one cohesive system.
Customer relationship management is now hosted on the cloud to make for easy management. You can build and share CRM software if you want to start a business in SAAS.
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Build a SAAS a consulting/advisor company
Starting a business is tedious, much more a business that is set on the cloud. Because of its complexity, loads of startups often need some sort of guide and advice on how to process and make money out of the venture. If you have good experience in setting up and running a SAAS related business to profitability, you can start SAAS consulting or advisory company to help others.
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Become an ethical hacker
An ethical hacker is a computer and networking expert who systematically attempts to penetrate a computer system or network on behalf of its owners for the purpose of finding security vulnerabilities that a malicious hacker could potentially exploit.
This type of business can be done utilizing SAAS. You can train to be an ethical hacker if you don’t already have the necessary training, and then set up your business.
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Become a programmer
A computer programmer is a skilled professional who codes, tests, debugs, and maintains the comprehensive instructions known as computer programs that devices should follow to execute their function.
Programming is one of the areas in SAAS development as every single software that is being used on the cloud is programmed. You can write programmes for organizations that contract your service, or you can write the programmes and sell.
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Become an app developer
An application developer is someone who creates tests and programs applications software for computers. It is their responsibility to maintain and develop programs for use in business. This is another area you can branch off to if you want to start a SAAS related business.
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Create SAAS training courses
Employees need to be trained and retrained on emerging trends. If you are an expert in cloud computing and related SAAS issues, you can put together courses that can be used to train both organizational employees and individuals on the trend.
Being that a lot still needs to be discovered about the SAAS platform, whatever training courses you give out would be most appreciated. You can offer your training courses up for sell on your website. Furthermore, you can contact organizations in the SAAS line and offer to train their employees for them.
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Start a web hosting company
A web hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web.
A web host provides space on its server, so that other computers around the world can access your website by means of a network or modem. Because big companies tend to generate huge piles of data frequently, so they need to host their data on frameworks that can carry them.
As a dedicated web hosting company, you can provide your clients with business packages that include unlimited disk space, high volume storage email accounts and monthly data transfer. Though it might be financially intensive to set up a web hosting company, but the business is easily scalable and quite profitable.
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Build a sales tracking software
Any company concerned with sales needs to perform sales tracking every day. Manually tracking sales can be quite cumbersome and ineffective, which is why you need a software for that. A sales tracking software helps users to automate sales tasks and processes, and also provides performance tracking and reporting tools. You can build sales tracking software and make them available to sales business.
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Build cloud-based email apps
The conventional email has changed from what it used to be and has gotten broader. Right now, there are email apps that can automatically sort incoming messages into appropriate groups; such as messages that contain tracking numbers for shipping, those pertaining to subscriptions, and receipts.
You can continue improving on these new email inventions in order to create a comfortable SAAS business for yourself. This service would be beneficial to businesses and as such they would form the bulk of your target market.
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Open a Virtual Data Centre (VDC)
A virtual data center is a pool or collection of cloud infrastructure resources specifically designed for enterprise business needs. It provides public cloud infrastructure but with dedicated network free-of-charge, making it private by design. You can create and run a virtual data center.
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Create a Software license manager
Software license management refers to the software tools or processes used by an organization to control and document where and how the company’s software products are able to run in order to enforce and ensure compliance with software licenses.
A license manager is a tool that facilitates effective software management between end users and software vendors. Since companies often forget to renew their software licenses you can create these managers for them.
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Open a SAAS blog
In the same way you can talk about almost anything in a blog, you can also talk about SAAS applications. You can set up a blog that talks about IT, enterprise technology, Internet of Things, cloud, data, VoIP, management, SaaS, CIO/CTO strategy, or other high tech subjects.
You should also update your readers on latest businesses relating to SAAS and every latest invention. You can get to establish yourself in the industry as the go-to blog for things relating to cloud technology. You can make money from your blog through Google AdSense or you can help people advertise their cloud software and other creations for a fee.
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Become a Sales Reps for a SaaS Company
Yes, companies that have SAAS related inventions would still have to get them to the attention of the public. If you are a technically inclined sales person, you can offer your services to companies with SAAS related services.
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Become a headhunter for SAAS companies
SAAS companies are always looking out for staff to fill in one position or the other. If you are a recruiter, you can start recruiting staff for SAAS and software related companies. Note that you would need to be technically inclined in order to be able to get the best staff for your clients.
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Become a SAAS Scrum Master
Scrum is a methodology that allows a team to self-organize and make changes quickly, in accordance with agile principles, and a scrum master is the facilitator for an agile development team. The scrum master manages the process for how information is exchanged.
Scrum Masters do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values. If you have the required training, you can become a scrum master.
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Become a backend engineer
Backend engineers or developers focus on the inner workings of web applications, and they help companies improve their backend infrastructure.
Backend Developers create, code, and improve the server, server-side applications, and databases that, when combined with front-end codes, help create a functional, seamless experience for the end-user. The job of a backend engineer is also SAAS related.
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Build universal payment gateway
A payment gateway is a merchant service that is provided by an e-commerce application service provider that authorizes credit card or direct payments processing for e-businesses, online retailers, bricks and clicks, or traditional brick and mortar businesses.
This business niche is still upcoming and you can build a universal payment gateway that not only supports credit/debit card processing and bank transfers but also alternative payment methods like mobile carrier billing and prepaid cards.
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Become a cloud architect
A cloud architect is an IT professional who is responsible for overseeing a company’s cloud computing strategy. This includes cloud adoption plans, cloud application design, and cloud management and monitoring. You can set up a business as a cloud architect and offer your services business to those that want to transition to the cloud. It definitely pays you more as a stand-alone cloud architect than to work for a company.
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Start a cloud security firm
Cloud computing security or, more simply, cloud security refers to a broad set of policies, technologies, and controls deployed to protect data, applications, and the associated infrastructure of cloud computing.
Major threats to cloud security include data breaches, data loss, account hijacking, service traffic hijacking, insecure application program interfaces (APIs), poor choice of cloud storage providers, and shared technology that can compromise cloud security.
You can start a business that gets to take care of these security concerns for organisation who cannot afford their cloud accounts to be hacked.
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Start a legal records management, digitization, archival, retrieval business
Law firms have always dealt with a lot of papers and forms, and even presently, they are vast masses of paper archives sitting at law firms, waiting to be digitized, and archived in meaningful ways along with efficient retrieval capabilities.
You can set up a business that provides efficient cloud solutions for law firms who are looking for cloud solutions that include security, disaster recovery, and other goodies. You can go around the various law firms offering your services to them.
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Start a cloud monitoring service
As companies rely on applications, networking, public, private and hybrid clouds, monitoring becomes an important component of cloud operations.
Vendors such as CloudHealth Technologies, Datadog Inc., and Verismic Software Inc. are already providing a range of monitoring and management capabilities. You can join up and set up a service that monitors the cloud environment to ensure efficient usage. The ability to automate workloads and analytics are important features when it comes to cloud monitoring.
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Create and sell Data management software
Data management software is software that merges files from several databases, extracts, filters, and summarizes the data without loss of integrity and without interference, and presents it in an easy to use format. This software would enable organizations to better analyze and interpret their data without maybe needing external help. With everything data being at the front burner now, you would surely get big bucks for your software.
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Start an advanced analytics company
Advanced analytics refers to a broad range of analytics that are intended to give businesses greater insight into their data than they could ordinarily. Some of these techniques include machine learning, data mining, predictive analytics, location analytics, big data analytics and location intelligence.
These technologies are widely used in industries including marketing, healthcare, risk management and economics. You can start an advanced data analytics company that would specialize on one or more of these fields.
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Start a personal data protection agency
Personal data means data relating to a living individual who is or can be identified either from the data or from the data in conjunction with other information that is in, or is likely to come into, the possession of the data controller.
In many countries, data privacy is not highly regulated, so by extension there are no strict data protection laws in those countries. Even though this trend is gradually changing, but you can still take advantage of it to set up you own personal data protection agency.
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Build and sell self-sufficient data mining and analytics tools
Data mining is a popular technological innovation that converts piles of data into useful knowledge that can help the data owners/users make informed choices and take smart actions for their own benefit.
The elements of data mining include extraction, transformation, and loading of data onto the data warehouse system, managing data in a multidimensional database system, providing access to business analysts and IT experts, analyzing the data by tools, and presenting the data in a useful format, such as a graph or table.
You can create data mining and analysis tools that can make data mining easy even for a non-professional. You can create technologies and tools such as OLAP, data cubes, pivot tables, and other advanced algorithms.
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Start a text mining business
Text mining can be used to determine what the original author was trying to say or to learn something completely new. Typically, the goal is to identify the topics or categories in the text such as products, service problems, etc. Taking it a step further, it’s also possible to use “sentiment analysis” to determine whether written text has a positive, negative, or neutral tone.
Other sources of text feedback include call center agent logs, transcripts from recorded phone calls, mobile (SMS) text messages, email messages, chat sessions and posts on discussion forums or blogs.
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Start a machine learning, data science and artificial intelligence training
Modern technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and big data have become the buzzwords which everybody talks about but no one fully understands. They indeed seem very complex to a layman. People often get confused by words like AI, ML and data science.
If you are an expert in this area, you can start training people in this area because data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence is now the in-thing in business.