The Startup Ideas Podcast
The best businesses are built at the intersection of emerging technology, community, and real human needs.
Charge From Day One
Always implement payment processing and charge customers from the very first version of your MicroSaaS, even if you lack confidence in the product
Decision Rule
If you're unsure about pricing, start with payment enabled and offer discounts later rather than starting free and adding payment later
How It Works
Charging validates real demand, attracts serious users, generates cash flow for improvements, and avoids the difficult transition from free to paid
Failure Modes
Setting price too high and getting no customers
Setting price too low and leaving money on the table
Not offering any trial or free tier to demonstrate value
Charging without delivering sufficient value
Example Decision
“A founder building a PDF conversion tool charges $19/month from launch day instead of starting free, even though the tool is basic, attracting 10 paying customers who provide feedback and validate the market”