I’ve been building my SaaS for about a year now. Did 30 demos, mostly while the product was still very incomplete (like 25% built). Selling it while also building it.
Two months ago, I closed my first enterprise deal ($7K). It was EXTREMELY STRESSFUL.
I wasn’t ready, product wasn't ready. Had a massive importer syndrome. As soon as they paid, I had to onboard them within a week. But features I “sold” didn’t fully exist yet, and bugs everywhere!!!
I was onboarding clients while firefighting at the same time e.g. building the product features, testing the app, writing the product documentation, creating on-boarding materials, setting up client account, running product trainings, etc etc.... ON MY OWN, SOLO FOUNDER
Extremely stressful is an UNDERSTATEMENT I would say.
After that, I have no mental bandwidth left to do another demo so I removed the demo button in my landing page and just let people self-serve.
Then I started applying for a job coz I have not much money left. I got a job offer and starting my role next week!
-- TODAY--
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through this....
A lead I demo-ed back in January came back. They’re in the final stage of choosing a vendor. They like my product the most, but they told me I’m also the most expensive (\~$9K), so they’re negotiating the price.
This is great news, right?!? I should be happy! Another client, woohoo!!!
Well, I feel nothing. Just thinking of my experience with the first client, not sure if it's something I want to deal with again. The impostor syndrome still lingers, big time. Not sure if I can pull it off. I might have gotten through the first coz it was a more simple, unsophisticated client. But this one isn't. This one has a proper IT team, exec teams, more corporate-y, etc, etc, name it...
ALSO, I am about to start a new full time job in 5 days!!! Before today, I was mentally setting my self to lay low, focus on myself, my relationships... etc... and that my new job will give me financial stability....