My GPT Wrapper Makes $550 MRR One Year After Launch
Hey builders,
I wanted to share my journey building a micro-SaaS, CoverLetterGPT, which now earns $550/month in recurring revenue (MRR)—all while requiring minimal effort and maintenance. Here’s how I did it and why I believe small, simple SaaS apps are an underrated way to start as an indie maker.
Quick Stats:
- Built in 1 week
- Runs on autopilot
- ~$550 MRR after one year
- Minimal customer support—only 3 Stripe disputes to date
- Costs ~$15/month to operate (hosting + OpenAI API fees)
- Deployed on Railway & Netlify
BTW, I built Open SaaS, the free, open-source SaaS template based on what I learned from building and launching CoverLetterGPT.
Because Open SaaS is a community-driven project, it also benefits from community feedback and contributions, so it boasts a clean codebase and a ton of useful features. Check it out and give us a star! We’re always improving it.
Small Wins Are Worth It
Many developers think a SaaS has to be big, flashy, or wildly profitable to be worth building. I disagree. For me:
- $550/month is fantastic as side income.
- It runs itself, requiring virtually no maintenance.
- I can balance it easily alongside my full-time job.
- It’s fun and doesn’t consume my free time.
Here’s why I think you should aim for small, achievable SaaS projects instead of trying to “hit it big” from the start.
Build & Launch Fast
The most important lesson I’ve learned: speed is everything. The faster you launch, the faster you’ll know if your idea works. Here’s what worked for me:
- Avoid long, drawn-out failures: Build small, execute early.
- Use the fastest tools available: I used Wasp because it gives me all the building blocks already set up (auth, database, cron jobs, email sending), letting me focus on the business logic of the app. Paired with Chakra UI, I was able to build the app in about 1 week.
- Forget perfection: I didn’t worry about making it pretty or perfect—it just had to work.
Keep It Simple
The beauty of micro-SaaS is in its simplicity. Here’s why:
- My app does one thing well: generating cover letters based on résumés and job descriptions.
- There’s no need for a fancy landing page or marketing gimmicks. This is my 🌶 hot take.
- Users get 3 trial credits—enough to try the app and see value before paying.
One of the biggest perks of micro-SaaS is how low-maintenance it can be. With CoverLetterGPT, I rarely handle customer service thanks to its simplicity.
This means I spend my time on new ideas rather than maintaining old ones.
It’s All About Tradeoffs
While I could optimize and grow CoverLetterGPT further, I’ve chosen to keep it small and simple. For me:
- Small wins are still wins.
- I value having a side project that’s easy to manage alongside my full-time job.
- I’d rather have less stress than chase higher profits.
Links & Resources
If you’re thinking about launching your own SaaS, here are some helpful resources:
- 👨💻 CoverLetterGPT (Live App)
- 💸 Open-Source SaaS Template
- 🛠️ Framework: Wasp
- ✨ UI Components: Chakra UI
- 🛠️ Hosting: Railway & Netlify
- ✍️ My Original Reddit Post
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering building a SaaS, don’t overthink it. Start small, move fast, and treat it as an experiment. Forget the “rules” and focus on launching. Here’s what matters most:
- Keep it simple: Build an app that solves one problem well.
- Launch fast: Test your idea and iterate based on real feedback.
- Minimize effort: Aim for maximum reward with minimal maintenance.
For me, $550 MRR isn’t just “enough”—it’s amazing. It’s proof that small, focused apps can succeed, and they’re a great way to build confidence and skills as a maker.
Let’s stay in touch!
If you found this helpful, check me out on Twitter where I like to build in public and share what I’m learning and building.