SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS (software as a service) is software you access over the internet — usually on a subscription — instead of installing it on each computer. The provider hosts it, updates it, and keeps it running, so every user is always on the current version.
Why does SaaS matter when hiring a studio?
Building a SaaS product is a long-term commitment, not a one-off deliverable. It needs accounts, billing, permissions, and infrastructure that stays healthy as users grow. Those pieces shape both cost and timeline, so it helps to name them early.
At Nabee, SaaS and platform builds start from $16,000, with one fixed number set after a scoping pass — no hourly billing surprises. Because the same team owns strategy through ship, decisions about data, hosting, and interface stay consistent instead of being handed between vendors.
A concrete example
Toree is a booking platform where teachers keep 95% of every booking. A platform like that carries the classic SaaS concerns: user accounts, scheduling, payments, and a system that has to stay reliable while more people rely on it. Getting that architecture right early is what keeps a subscription product sustainable.
What does a SaaS product need beyond the core feature?
The headline feature is usually the smallest part of the work. A SaaS product also needs sign-up and login, permission levels, billing and subscription handling, ways to recover from errors, and infrastructure that stays healthy as usage grows. It is ongoing software, not a fixed deliverable, so it also needs a plan for updates and care after launch. Naming these needs during scoping is what turns a hopeful idea into an honest fixed price rather than an estimate that keeps creeping upward.
Related terms
Common questions
- What is the difference between SaaS and a regular website?
- A website mostly presents information. SaaS is an application people log into to do ongoing work — it stores their data, has accounts, and usually charges a recurring fee.
- Do I need SaaS or just an app?
- If users pay on a recurring basis and rely on the service continuously, the SaaS model fits. A scoping pass helps decide before any code is written.
- How much does a SaaS product cost to build?
- At Nabee, SaaS and platform builds start from $16,000, fixed after one scoping pass so you know the number before work begins.
- How long does a SaaS build take?
- SaaS builds typically ship in two to three months, with a real date confirmed at scoping.