My talk on Building Software as a Service solutions on top of WordPress for WordCamp Netherlands 2016. How to build a scalable WordPress-driven solution on a subscription-based model while catering for scalability and extensibility without limiting the business model of the startup.

1. Building SaaS With
WordPress
Mario Peshev / CEO at DevriX

2. ➔ CEO, WordPress Architect @ DevriX
➔ Former Java/PHP/Python Developer
➔ Consultant and Technical Lead for several SaaS Solutions
➔ Marketing and Project Management chops
➔ @no_fear_inc
➔ Open Source addict and Cofficer
About Me
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

3. Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

4. What is SaaS?

6. ➔ WordPress platform management – ManageWP
➔ Restaurants’ website platform – happytables
➔ Book publishing solution – Pressbooks
➔ Real estate website package – Placester
➔ Game Publishing Platform – Gamefroot
➔ Well, WordPress.com with its verticals, of course.
Applications of SaaS
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc
My 2013 WP SaaS slides

7. Plugin vs. SaaS
Model
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

8. AppPresser vs. Reactor example
Reactor AppPresser
Hosted app builder (SaaS) WordPress Plugin(s)
Push notifications and stats Not supported OOTB
Easy mobile app builder More tech skills to make it work
Native features, lighter Web browser wrapper, slow and clumsy
Offline mode Stateless
Limited support of tech features Supports custom plugins code
shortcodes rendering etc.

9. ➔ What is your business model?
➔ How does it scale?
➔ What parameters would be growing intensively
during the scaling process?
➔ What would be the main performance
bottlenecks?
➔ How would you handle roles and capabilities?
➔ How can you leverage your server stack?
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc
Single vs. Multisite

10. ➔ Distributed database structure
➔ Separate environment for each subsite
➔ Manage per-site permissions and global
administration
➔ Different plugin and theme management for
every site
➔ Domain mapping capabilities
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc
Multisite Features

11. Quick SaaS Building
Guide

12. Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

13. ➔ Install WordPress
➔ Convert it to Multisite if needed
➔ Deal with the standard setup/configuration
➔ Pick/Build a theme (or more for different sites)
➔ Build the main business logic for your SaaS
➔ Add external plugins and integrate your solution with them (or
build more)
WordPress Setup and
Development
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

14. Technical Toolkit
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc
➢ Deep technical
know-how and
professional processes
➢ Implementing Continuous
Development best
practices
➢ Profiling, debugging,
benchmarks

15. Membership Management
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

16. ➔ One-time payments
➔ Regular payments (monthly, annually)
➔ OTOs and Upsells (add-ons model)
➔ Extended plans (per user, per account, per X views)
➔ Paid updates
➔ Paid or Priority support
➔ Consulting
Pricing Options
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

17. ➔ Freemium model
➔ Dead easy sign-up process
➔ Plenty of payment options
➔ Find out your CAC and LTV
➔ Brand awareness
➔ Build your pricing plans right
➔ Customer research, case studies
➔ Testimonials
➔ Growth Hacking!
➔ Affiliate and referral programs!
➔ Cheap vs. Enterprise sales
➔ JV and Affiliate Networks
➔ payment-processors
➔ saas-business-model
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc
Boost Some Marketing
and Sales

18. JV and Affiliate Networks
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc
➔ Starter contacts and partnerships for initial leads
➔ Marketing offloading to professional Internet marketers
➔ Submissions in startup networks such as Product Hunt
➔ Beta Test submission to Beta Testers Hub

20. MySLP Case Study

21. Store Locator Service
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

22. Reactive Locations Manager
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

23. Alternative Look and Feel
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

24. Complete Hosted Management
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

25. SaaS is Already Here
Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

26. Let’s SaaS!
Questions?
Tweets as @no_fear_inc
Mario Peshev on LinkedIn
nofearinc on WordPress.org
GitHubbing like mpeshev
Blogging at DevWP.eu
CEO @ DevriX.com