SaaS Launch Checklist: Everything You Need Before Going Live

Launching a SaaS product is exciting but overwhelming. This comprehensive checklist ensures you don't miss critical steps. Use this guide to confidently launch your web app and set yourself up for success.

Before We Begin

Mindset check:

• Done is better than perfect
• You can improve after launch
• User feedback beats your assumptions
• Launch sooner than feels comfortable

This checklist covers:

• Product readiness
• Technical setup
• Marketing preparation
• Legal and security
• Launch day execution

1. Product Readiness

Core Functionality

• MVP features complete - Core value proposition works
• User flows tested - Main paths work smoothly
• No blocking bugs - Critical features work reliably
• Performance acceptable - Pages load in under 3 seconds
• Mobile responsive - Works on phone screens

User Experience

• Onboarding flow - New users understand what to do
• Empty states - Helpful when no data exists
• Loading states - Clear feedback during operations
• Error messages - Helpful, not technical jargon
• Success feedback - Confirm actions completed

Authentication & User Management

• Sign up works - Can create new accounts
• Login works - Can access existing accounts
• Password reset - Email-based recovery
• Email verification - Confirm user emails
• User profiles - Basic account management

Data & Security

• Data validation - Prevent bad inputs
• SQL injection protection - Using parameterized queries
• XSS prevention - Sanitize user inputs
• CSRF protection - Token-based verification
• Rate limiting - Prevent abuse

2. Technical Infrastructure

Domain & Hosting

• Domain registered - Own your domain name
• SSL certificate - HTTPS enabled
• DNS configured - Domain points to app
• Email domain - Professional email setup
• CDN setup - Fast global delivery

Database

• Backups automated - Daily at minimum
• Backup restoration tested - Verify you can recover
• Database monitoring - Track performance
• Connection pooling - Efficient connections
• Indexes optimized - Fast queries

Monitoring & Logging

• Error tracking - Sentry, Rollbar, or similar
• Application monitoring - Server health
• Database monitoring - Query performance
• Uptime monitoring - Know when you're down
• Log aggregation - Centralized logs

Analytics

• Google Analytics - Traffic tracking
• Event tracking - User actions
• Conversion funnels - Sign-up flow
• User behavior - Heatmaps, recordings
• Performance monitoring - Core Web Vitals

Email Infrastructure

• Transactional emails - SendGrid, Postmark, etc.
• Welcome email - Sent on sign-up
• Password reset email - Working flow
• SPF/DKIM/DMARC - Deliverability setup
• Unsubscribe option - Legal requirement

3. Business Setup

Payment Processing

• Stripe/PayPal setup - Accept payments
• Pricing tiers defined - Clear offerings
• Free trial configured - If offering one
• Payment success flow - Smooth upgrade
• Payment failure handling - Retry logic
• Invoicing automated - Receipt generation
• Webhook handling - Process payment events

Legal Protection

• Terms of Service - Legal agreement
• Privacy Policy - GDPR compliant
• Cookie consent - EU requirement
• GDPR compliance - If serving EU users
• Data export - Allow users to download data
• Account deletion - Users can delete accounts

Business Entities

• Company registered - LLC, Corp, or similar
• Bank account - Business banking
• Accounting setup - Track revenue/expenses
• Tax setup - Sales tax if required
• Insurance - Consider liability coverage

4. Marketing Preparation

Brand Assets

• Logo created - Professional design
• Color palette - Consistent branding
• Typography - Defined fonts
• Icon set - Consistent icons
• Brand guidelines - Document standards

Website & Landing Page

• Clear value proposition - Above the fold
• Feature highlights - Key benefits
• Screenshots - Product in action
• Pricing page - Transparent costs
• FAQ section - Answer common questions
• Contact information - Easy to reach you
• CTA buttons - Clear next steps

Content

• Blog set up - Content platform
• Launch announcement - Blog post ready
• About page - Your story
• Documentation - Help articles
• Tutorial videos - Getting started
• Email templates - Onboarding sequence

Social Media

• X (Twitter) account - Active presence
• LinkedIn page - Professional network
• Product Hunt profile - Ready to launch
• Social media images - Branded graphics
• Launch posts drafted - Ready to share

SEO Setup

• Meta titles optimized - Relevant keywords
• Meta descriptions - Compelling copy
• Open Graph tags - Social sharing
• Sitemap generated - XML sitemap
• Robots.txt - Allow indexing
• Google Search Console - Site verified
• Structured data - Schema markup

5. Support & Communication

Customer Support

• Support email - help@yourdomain.com
• Support ticket system - If needed
• Knowledge base - Self-service help
• Response templates - Common answers
• Support hours - Set expectations

Communication Channels

• Changelog - Document updates
• Status page - Uptime transparency
• Community - Discord, Slack, or forum
• Feedback system - Collect suggestions
• Bug reporting - Easy to report issues

6. Pre-Launch Testing

Functionality Testing

• Sign-up flow - Complete from scratch
• Main user journey - Start to finish
• Payment flow - Test transaction
• Email triggers - All emails send
• Mobile testing - iOS and Android

Browser Testing

• Chrome - Desktop and mobile
• Safari - Desktop and mobile
• Firefox - Desktop version
• Edge - Windows users

Performance Testing

• Page speed - Google PageSpeed Insights
• Load testing - Simulate traffic
• Database queries - Check for N+1 problems
• Image optimization - Compressed assets
• Caching setup - Faster load times

Security Audit

• Penetration testing - Basic security check
• Dependencies updated - No known vulnerabilities
• API keys secured - Not in client code
• Environment variables - Sensitive data protected
• HTTPS everywhere - No mixed content

7. Launch Day Preparation

Accounts & Access

• Product Hunt account - Ready to post
• Hacker News account - Old enough to post
• Reddit accounts - Active in communities
• All passwords secure - Use password manager
• Two-factor auth - On critical accounts

Launch Posts

• Product Hunt post - Title, tagline, description
• Hacker News post - "Show HN" format
• Reddit posts - Customized per subreddit
• X thread - Announcement chain
• LinkedIn post - Professional announcement
• Blog post - Launch story

Email & Outreach

• Email to waitlist - If you have one
• Friends and family - Ask for support
• Press list - Relevant journalists
• Influencer outreach - Prepared messages
• Partnership contacts - Notify partners

Directory Submissions

• Rapid App Store - Submit your app
• Product Hunt - Schedule launch
• BetaList - If in beta
• Indie Hackers - Create project
• AlternativeTo - List as alternative

8. Launch Day Execution

Morning (Start Early)

• Final systems check - Everything working
• Support ready - Respond quickly
• Launch on Product Hunt - First thing AM PST
• Share on X - Tag relevant accounts
• Post in communities - Where appropriate

Midday

• Hacker News post - "Show HN" format
• Monitor all channels - Respond to comments
• Fix urgent issues - Be ready to deploy
• Share milestones - User count, upvotes

Afternoon/Evening

• Reddit posts - Relevant subreddits
• LinkedIn update - Professional network
• Email launch announcement - To subscribers
• Thank supporters - Respond to everyone
• Document learnings - Notes for next time

9. Post-Launch (First Week)

Immediate Follow-Up

• Submit to more directories - Expand reach
• Engage with all feedback - Respond quickly
• Fix critical bugs - Deploy patches
• Send thank you emails - To supporters
• Share launch metrics - Build in public

Content & Communication

• Launch recap blog post - Share learnings
• Respond to reviews - Thank users
• Update social media - Keep momentum
• Start email nurture - Onboard new users
• Plan next features - Based on feedback

Analysis

• Review analytics - What worked?
• Check conversion rates - Sign-ups, trials
• Analyze traffic sources - Best channels
• Read all feedback - Look for patterns
• Calculate CAC - Cost per customer

10. Tools & Resources

Essential Tools

Development:

• VS Code or Cursor
• GitHub/GitLab
• Vercel/Netlify
• Supabase/Firebase

Marketing:

• Buffer/Hootsuite
• Canva
• Google Analytics
• Mailchimp/ConvertKit

Monitoring:

• Sentry
• UptimeRobot
• Google Search Console
• Hotjar

Payment:

• Stripe
• PayPal
• Lemon Squeezy

Helpful Resources

• Rapid App Store - List your app
• Product Hunt - Launch platform
• Indie Hackers - Community support
• r/SideProject - Reddit feedback
• Hacker News - Tech community

Final Pre-Launch Questions

Ask yourself:

1. Can users complete the core action? - Main value works
2. Is it secure enough? - Basic security in place
3. Can I handle support? - Ready for questions
4. Is payment working? - Can collect money
5. Do I have analytics? - Can measure success

If yes to all: You're ready to launch!

Conclusion

Launching a SaaS product is a major milestone. Remember:

• Launch is just the beginning - Real work starts after
• You'll never feel 100% ready - That's normal
• Users will surprise you - Expect the unexpected
• Iterate quickly - Improve based on feedback
• Celebrate milestones - Acknowledge progress

Ready to launch? Submit your SaaS to Rapid App Store today and get in front of thousands of potential users.

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What's Next?

• How to Promote Your App - Post-launch marketing
• Indie App Marketing - Growth strategies
• Best App Directories - Where to list