Many founders don’t struggle with building.
They struggle with choosing the right idea.
I recently came across a post on Simon’s X profile about generating SaaS ideas using n8n workflows. I think it’s a very practical process, especially for founders who want to move quickly instead of staying stuck in idea mode.
So I’m sharing it here.
Today, building a product is no longer the biggest challenge. AI and modern tools have made development significantly easier. The real challenge is choosing the right idea — and pairing it with proper distribution from day one.
Before sharing Simon’s framework, I want to add one important point about validation.
Validating an idea by checking how much people are already paying to solve the problem is one of the most effective approaches.
If someone is spending their own valuable time solving the same task repeatedly — every week or every month — that already tells you the problem is real. Time has value.
If they are hiring someone and paying $500–$1000 to solve it, the signal becomes even stronger.
In both cases, real resources are being invested to remove that pain.
Now, if you can solve the same problem in a simpler and more structured way at even 5x lower cost, there is a strong chance they will buy from you. You are not convincing them that the problem exists — they already know it does.
So when evaluating a workflow, don’t just ask, “Is this interesting?”
Ask, “Are people already paying for this?”
If you find that people are spending $500–$1000 for the current solution, and hundreds or thousands are facing the same issue, that is not just an idea. That is a business opportunity.
Below is Simon Høiberg’s original framework:
n8n is a free SaaS idea catalog.
There is an arbitrage opportunity that can take you from idea to profitable SaaS with near-zero risk and a very low budget.
Here’s how it works:
1️⃣ Browse n8n Workflows
Stop imagining what your SaaS should be about. Look for real problems people are already solving with n8n.
Search on n8n’s website.
Search on YouTube.
Find 1–2 popular workflows that are already getting attention.
2️⃣ Break It Down
An n8n workflow is essentially a problem being solved.
Break it down carefully.
Understand the core mechanism.
Understand the outcome it produces.
3️⃣ Rebuild It Simply
n8n is powerful, but it’s not user-friendly for everyone.
Recreate the workflow idea in a simpler, more structured SaaS format.
Use AI to analyze the workflow logic.
Rebuild the frontend for clarity and usability.
Recreate the backend mechanism in a more accessible way.
4️⃣ Charge
Put your solution behind a paywall using Stripe checkout.
Keep it simple.
Start charging from day one.
Then begin marketing your solution:
- Run ads
- Use social media
- Use cold outreach
Worst case: you spend a few hundred dollars and some hours of work.
Best case: you build a SaaS solving a real problem for real users paying real money.
If you’ve been stuck on how to find the right SaaS idea and haven’t started building because of that uncertainty, Simon’s framework is a very practical starting point. Combine it with the two validation factors I mentioned — especially the economic signal — and you can begin with much more clarity.
And if you’re a technical founder who wants a validated SaaS product plan with distribution built in — before writing a single line of code — that’s exactly what I design. You can book a strategic call, and we’ll explore whether your next SaaS truly deserves to be built.