S5E9 - From Agency to SaaS: Strategies for Growing Your SaaS Side Hustle with Chris Out

Many agency owners dream of transitioning from service-based businesses to creating their own Software as a Service (SaaS) products. The appeal is undeniable: a scalable business model that generates recurring revenue and offers greater autonomy. However, making the shift from running an agency to building a SaaS isn’t a walk in the park. It demands careful strategy, meticulous planning, and a clear understanding of both the challenges and opportunities ahead.

In a recent episode of the Grow Your B2B SaaS podcast, host Joran sat down with Chris Out, author of the bestselling book Structuring for Extreme Revenue Growth and a seasoned expert in growth hacking and agency management. Chris shared his valuable insights on how agency owners can successfully pivot to SaaS, drawing from his own experience, including his exit from a growth hacking agency in 2020.

In this episode, you’ll get a deep dive into Chris’s journey and learn actionable strategies for building a SaaS business while leveraging the strengths of your existing agency. From the foundational steps to avoidable pitfalls, Chris lays out the roadmap for turning your SaaS dreams into a thriving reality.

Key Timestamps

(00:00) - Unlocking Agency Growth: A Quick Intro to Revenue Insights
(00:54) - Meet Chris Out: Growth Expert and SaaS Visionary
(01:26) - Setting Up a SaaS Empire: What Agencies Need to Know
(02:45) - The Dream of Building SaaS: Breaking Free from Hourly Billing
(03:59) - SaaS Pitfalls: What Can Go Wrong in the Transition?
(04:15) - Agency vs. Non-Agency: The SaaS Building Dilemma
(05:18) - Top Mistakes Agencies Make When Venturing Into SaaS
(06:49) - Lessons Learned: Chris Shares Personal SaaS Development Struggles
(08:18) - Foundation First: What You Need Before Launching a SaaS
(09:44) - Untouched Revenue: A Vital Metric for SaaS Success
(11:11) - Revenue Targets and Team Building: How to Set Yourself Up for SaaS Success
(12:14) - Finding the Right SaaS Fit: Does Your Agency Have the Ideal Product?
(13:19) - Dogfooding: Why Agencies Should Test Their Own SaaS First
(15:25) - Automating Services: Turning Internal Tools into SaaS Gold
(17:00) - SaaS Development Hacks: Strategies for Fast-Tracking Your Success
(18:03) - SaaS Growth Secrets: The Real Marketing and Sales Challenges
(19:20) - Ego in SaaS: Why Letting Go Is Key to Success
(20:52) - Simplifying Your Agency Services for a Smooth SaaS Transition
(21:47) - SaaS Success Stories: Real-World Examples to Inspire You
(23:00) - Co-Creation: Minimizing Risk and Maximizing SaaS Success
(24:08) - Structuring Creative Deals with Clients to Fund SaaS Projects
(25:06) - Client Relations: Proactive Communication for SaaS Success
(26:39) - Learning From Mistakes: How to Pivot and Recover in SaaS Development
(27:48) - Balancing Act: Managing Both Agency and SaaS Growth
(29:38) - Dogfooding for SaaS Growth: What Chris Learned Along the Way
(30:27) - Growing Your SaaS: Insights Beyond the Early Stages
(31:21) - Validating Your SaaS: Ensuring Customer Satisfaction Early On
(32:01) - Growth and Exit: Planning for the Long-Term Success of Your SaaS