SaaS Checklist: Critical Tech Specs for Selecting SaaS Tools
The 12 specs to check before you pick a SaaS tool, each as a question to ask the vendor and the answer that should worry you. Building your own SaaS instead? The 54-point build checklist is below.
Updated October 1, 2026
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Critical tech specs for SaaS tool selection
Quick answer: before you sign, check security (an audit report, single sign-on, two-factor login), your data (full export, API, backups, audit log), reliability (a written uptime commitment), privacy (data location and a data processing agreement), and the commercial terms (pricing limits and exit terms). Data export matters most: if you can take everything out yourself, you can always leave.
A SaaS tool selection checklist is the list of technical and contract questions you put to every vendor on your shortlist, so you compare them on the same terms before you commit your team and your data.
| Spec | What to ask the vendor | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| 01Security audit report | AskCan we see your latest SOC 2 Type II report or ISO/IEC 27001 certificate? | Red flagA "SOC 2 compliant" badge, but no report they will share under NDA. |
| 02Single sign-on (SSO) | AskDo you support SAML or OpenID Connect SSO, and SCIM to add and remove users? | Red flagSSO only on the top pricing tier, or not at all. |
| 03Login security and roles | AskCan we require two-factor login for everyone and limit what each role can see and change? | Red flagEvery user is an admin, or two-factor login is optional per user. |
| 04Data export | AskCan we export all of our data, in CSV or JSON, ourselves, at any time, including after we cancel? | Red flagExport only by support ticket, only in a proprietary format, or only some records. |
| 05API and webhooks | AskIs there a documented API with published rate limits, and webhooks when records change? | Red flagNo public API docs, or API access sold as an add-on. |
| 06Integrations | AskDoes it connect natively to the tools we already run (accounting, CRM, calendar, email)? | Red flagEvery connection depends on a third-party automation tool you pay for separately. |
| 07Uptime commitment | AskIs uptime in the contract, with service credits if it is missed, and is there a public status page? | Red flagNo written uptime commitment and no incident history you can read. |
| 08Data location and privacy | AskWhere is our data stored, will you sign a data processing agreement, and who are your subprocessors? | Red flagThey cannot say which country the data is in, or will not sign a DPA. |
| 09Backups and recovery | AskHow often do you back up, how long would a restore take, and can you restore one deleted record? | Red flagNo stated backup schedule, or restores only of the whole account. |
| 10Audit log | AskIs there a log of who changed what and when, and can we export it? | Red flagNo log, or one that only the vendor can see. |
| 11Pricing model and limits | AskIs it per seat or per use, what happens when we go over a limit, and how much can the price rise at renewal? | Red flagOverage charges or renewal increases that are not written down. |
| 12Exit terms | AskWhat is the contract term, how do we cancel, and when is our data deleted after we leave? | Red flagAuto-renewing multi-year terms, or no stated deletion date. |
Want a second pair of eyes on your shortlist?
Bring the tools you are choosing between to a free 30-minute call. We will go through them against these specs and tell you which answers to push back on. Already running software you had built? A Ship Check ($299) is a written read of your codebase that tells you honestly what it needs.
Building your own? Where SaaS builds go wrong
The 54-point SaaS build checklist
For building your own SaaS product: six phases from planning to after launch.
Phase 1: Pre-Development Planning
Don't write a single line of code until you can check these off.
Market Research & Target Customer
- Defined Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)
- Conducted 10+ problem discovery interviews
- Identified 3-5 direct competitors and their pricing
Problem Validation
- Validated the "hair on fire" problem exists
- Secured 5-10 pre-launch signups or LOIs
Business Model
- Defined revenue model (subscription, usage, etc.)
- Set initial pricing hypothesis
- Calculated LTV vs. CAC targets
Success Metrics
- Defined "North Star Metric"
- Set KPI targets for Launch Month (e.g., 10 paid users)
Budget & Runway
- Set a written budget for the first version, with money held back for after launch
- Secured 6-12 months of operating runway
- Decided on funding strategy (Bootstrap vs. Fundraise)
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Phase 2: Tech Stack Selection
Choose boring technology. Innovation points don't pay bills.
Platform Strategy
- Decided: Web App vs. Mobile App (Start with Web for B2B)
- Verified technical feasibility of core features
Frontend Framework
- Selected standard framework (e.g., Next.js/React)
- Confirmed component library usage (e.g., Tailwind UI) to save time
Backend & Database
- Selected database (PostgreSQL is usually best default)
- Chosen backend language (Node.js, Python, etc.)
- Validated scalability for Day 1 needs
Auth & Infrastructure
- Selected auth provider (Clerk, Supabase, NextAuth)
- Selected hosting provider (Vercel, AWS)
- Set up CI/CD pipeline for automated deployment
Phase 3: MVP Feature Prioritization
If it's not essential for the core problem, cut it.
Scope Definition
- Mapped out core user workflow (The "Happy Path")
- Identified the "One Key Feature" that solves the problem
The "Cut" List
- Moved "Nice-to-have" features to Post-Launch roadmap
- Simplified admin dashboard requirements
UX & Data
- Created low-fidelity wireframes
- Written user stories & acceptance criteria
- Designed initial database schema
Risk Management
- Identified biggest technical risks
- Created backup plan for critical dependencies
Phase 4: Development Milestones
Manage the build to ensure quality and speed.
Sprint Planning
- Broke project into 1-2 week sprints
- Set hard deadline for "Code Freeze"
Design & Code
- Finalized high-fidelity UI designs
- Staging and Production environments configured
- Automated database backups configured
Quality Assurance
- Established code review process
- Set up linting/formatting (Eslint/Prettier)
- Performed manual end-to-end testing of core flows
Phase 5: Launch Preparation
The build is done. Now get ready for the world.
Analytics & Tracking
- Installed Google Analytics 4 (or Plausible)
- Set up PostHog/FullStory for session replay
- Defined conversion events (Sign Up, Subscribe)
Legal & Support
- Terms of Service & Privacy Policy pages created
- Cookie consent banner installed (if needed)
- Set up support email & Help Center
Marketing Assets
- Landing page optimized for conversion
- SEO meta tags configured (Title, Description, OG Images)
Phase 6: Post-Launch Optimization
Launch is Day 1. The real work starts now.
Feedback Loop
- Set up automated "Welcome" email sequence
- Created system for collecting user feedback/bugs
Performance & Growth
- Ran Lighthouse performance audit
- Optimized image sizes and database queries
- Analyzed signup funnel drop-off
- Prioritized next features based on actual data
Need help executing this?
Book a free 30-minute callFrequently Asked Questions
What are the critical tech specs to check when selecting a SaaS tool?
Check twelve things before you sign: a security audit report (SOC 2 Type II or ISO/IEC 27001), single sign-on (SAML or OpenID Connect, plus SCIM), enforced two-factor login and roles, full data export in CSV or JSON, a documented API and webhooks, native integrations with the tools you already run, a written uptime commitment with a status page, data location and a data processing agreement, backups and record-level restore, an audit log, the pricing model and renewal limits, and exit terms including when your data is deleted.
What is a SOC 2 Type II report?
It is a report from an independent auditor on whether a company’s security controls worked as described over a period of time, not just on one day. A vendor that holds one can usually share it under NDA. A badge on a website is not the report.
Which spec matters most for a small business?
Data export. If you can take all of your data out yourself, in a standard format, at any time, you can always leave a tool that stops working for you. Check it before you check anything else.
Who is this checklist for?
Business owners and operators choosing software for their team, and anyone planning to build their own SaaS product. The tool-selection specs come first; the build checklist below covers planning, stack, scope, build, launch and after launch.
Do I need technical knowledge to use this?
No. Each spec is written as a plain question you can send to a vendor, with the answer that should worry you. If a vendor’s answers are hard to judge, book a free 30-minute call and we will go through your shortlist with you.
What format is the checklist?
It is this page. Use Print / Save as PDF to keep a copy with every phase of the build checklist included. Saving it asks for your email and adds you to our newsletter, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.
Need more than a checklist?
The checklist gets you started. If you need the software built, our fixed-price MVP Build starts at from $15,000, and if you already have an app, a Ship Check tells you honestly what it needs.