SaaS Founder vs Dev Job: Should Software Engineers Start a Business or Get a Great Remote Job?

Many devs today are fascinated with the idea of shipping software as solo devs and becoming small entrepreneurs.

The promise is compelling:

• Lifestyle freedom
• Unlimited scaling opportunities
• Transforming a passion for coding into a business

It sounds amazing. On the surface, at least.

But before you quit your job, let me share some hard-won perspective from actually doing it.

Browse high-paying remote dev jobs →

The Reality Check Questions

Before diving into entrepreneurship, ask yourself honestly:

Question	What Most People Think	The Reality
Time on coding?	"I'll code all day!"	Less than 20% on actual coding
Skills needed?	"Just ship good software"	Marketing, sales, legal, taxes, product, support
Distribution?	"Build it and they will come"	You must create competitive distribution channels
Timeline?	"A few months to profit"	2-3+ years to meaningful income
Risk level?	"Manageable"	High—most businesses fail

AI is awesome and it can help you build faster than ever. But as with any gold rush: beware of people selling shovels.

I wouldn't trust someone selling me tools to build SaaS to teach me about the challenges and risks of doing it. Always ask: "What are their incentives?"

My Experience as an Online Entrepreneur

I speak from experience. In the past year, I built an online business (SaaS + coaching) from scratch that kind of pays the bills.

Here's my honest reality:

Metric	My Entrepreneurship	Typical Good Dev Job
Income	Way less than my last job	€100-200k stable
Hours Worked	50%+ of weekends	40 hours/week
Vacation Days	<20 days/year (working during)	25-30 days fully off
Days Without Work	Can't remember 2-3 in a row	Every weekend
Stress Level	Constant	Bounded
Financial Predictability	Low	High

I'm not a productivity guru, and probably my approach isn't the most efficient. Still—the bar is high.

Why I Could Make It Work

I was able to grow this in a relatively short time because:

• I had a similar work-oriented lifestyle for several years before
• I gained extensive expertise before starting content creation
• I learned how to create content and build tech solo with modern tools
• I worked great jobs where I learned a lot
• I got lucky (and worked hard) growing from 1k to almost 50k on LinkedIn in one year

There's a cost to this "work-oriented lifestyle":

• Sometimes relationships suffer
• Sometimes health suffers
• Maybe hobbies disappear
• Less present in daily life

I don't think this is the most efficient path for most people chasing freedom and money through online entrepreneurship.

Why Most Devs Are Better Off With a Good Job

I believe this firmly: Most developers are better off with a good dev job than with a SaaS business.

Here's why:

1. More Actual Coding

Activity	SaaS Founder	Senior Dev Job
Coding	15-20%	60-80%
Marketing	25-30%	0%
Sales	15-20%	0%
Admin/Legal/Taxes	15-20%	0%
Customer Support	10-15%	0-5%
Product Strategy	10-15%	10-20%

Most devs like coding more than marketing, sales, business development, recruiting, taxes, and legal work. Being a founder involves, for a very large part, all of the non-tech things.

2. Better Lifestyle

If you're a good dev and know how to navigate the market, you can get really great jobs with:

• Stability — predictable income and employment
• Great work-life balance — actual weekends and vacations
• Async cultures — work on your schedule
• Fully remote positions — live anywhere
• Strong compensation — €100-200k+ is achievable

See companies offering these benefits →

3. More Money (Really)

If you think your chances of making €100-200k+ fully-remotely are higher as a founder than as a dev, reconsider.

Path	Probability of €150k+/year	Time to Get There
SaaS Founder	~5-10% succeed	3-5+ years
Senior Dev (Remote)	60-70% with right strategy	2-4 years
Staff+ Engineer	80%+ with right path	4-6 years

EuroTopTechJobs.com has literally thousands of remote dev jobs offering €100-200k+. As a dev, nothing stops you from landing such a job with a couple years of focused work—with relatively low risk, while getting paid and building a CV.

4. Risk Comparison

Factor	Dev Career	SaaS Business
Failure Rate	Low (if competent)	High (~90%)
Recovery Time	Weeks to new job	Years of lost income
Financial Buffer Needed	3-6 months	2-3+ years
Skill Transferability	High	Mixed
Network Building	Through work	Must build separately

Building and progressing in a tech career is low risk. Building a business is high risk.

5. Smarter Timelines

The worst approach: trying to create a business with zero money and zero skills.

If you're not a rich kid, avoid ending up as a broke 30-year-old with no career to fall back on.

Better approach:

Phase	Focus	Why
Phase 1	Build skills + money	Create financial runway
Phase 2	Grow network + expertise	Build distribution channels
Phase 3	Take calculated risks	Safety net in place
Phase 4	Prioritize fulfillment	Financial pressure reduced

I wrote about this approach in my article on location planning for financial independence—it's worth reading if you want to plan your career keeping money, risk, and fulfillment in mind.

Why I'm Still Doing It

After reading this, you might wonder: why don't I quit and get a good remote job?

Let me explain:

My situation is unusual:

• When I started, I didn't know much about high-paying remote jobs in Europe
• I came from the 2015-2020 "big tech wave"—my dream was a cool big tech job in Zurich (which I got)
• I stacked up money, got restless about being location-bound, and explored other options

I'm not a "regular dev" (not meant offensively—just different):

• I've always had a passion for entrepreneurship and media
• Found "pure tech environments" suboptimal for various reasons
• Always suspected I'd branch out eventually

Results so far:

• Coaching program students are finding real value (landing remote jobs, big tech positions)
• The job board is a long-term play I enjoy building
• Money-wise, I feel safe—years of runway, no kids, businesses generating income

Important: I think I perform better at this entrepreneurial thing than as a pure dev. I'm a generalist, and it's easier for me to channel all my skills in this occupation than in a dev job.

So far it's working. And since it's rare for a new business to work, I almost feel duty-bound to keep going.

Even so—when I help people land €150k+ remote jobs in my coaching program, and every week I look at hundreds of very cool jobs on the job board, I sometimes think: I should really get such a job myself.

Who knows, maybe in the future I will.

The Goal of This Article

Was to keep it 100%.

One thing that's really bad about the "online world" is that many people would literally sell their mother to make a sale. The amount of deception out there is alarming.

My honest take:

A high-paid remote dev job right now is the GOATed move—especially if you prefer building tech over marketing and sales.

If you've built enough financial safety, skills, and a good CV, and you're curious about entrepreneurship: by all means, try it! Ship fast, get feedback, iterate. Get your hands dirty and see how you like it.

But don't sleep on the top tech jobs that are out there and the opportunities they provide to live a great life.

Start exploring remote opportunities →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do SaaS founders actually make compared to employed developers?

Most SaaS founders make significantly less than employed developers, especially in the first 2-3 years. While successful founders can eventually earn €200k+, the median SaaS founder earns well below €50k annually. Meanwhile, senior remote developers in Europe consistently earn €120-180k with far less risk and effort.

What percentage of solo SaaS businesses actually succeed?

Approximately 90% of startups fail, and solo SaaS businesses face even steeper odds due to limited resources. Of those that survive, most generate modest "lifestyle business" income (€30-80k/year) rather than the €200k+ that top remote dev jobs offer. Success stories are visible precisely because they're exceptional.

Should I build a side project while keeping my dev job?

Yes, this is the smartest approach for most developers. Keep your income stable, build skills and savings, and experiment with entrepreneurship on the side. If your side project gains traction over 1-2 years, you can make an informed decision about going full-time. This de-risks the transition significantly.

What skills do I need as a SaaS founder that I won't learn as a developer?

Marketing and distribution are the biggest gaps. You'll need to learn content marketing, SEO, paid acquisition, sales conversations, copywriting, customer support, financial management, and legal compliance. Most founders report spending only 15-20% of their time coding—the rest goes to these "business" activities.

How much money should I save before trying entrepreneurship full-time?

At minimum, 2-3 years of living expenses, but 3-5 years is safer. This gives you runway to experiment, fail, iterate, and eventually succeed without financial desperation driving poor decisions. If you're earning €100-150k as a developer, saving €50-75k annually for 3-4 years before transitioning is a solid strategy.

Are there ways to combine entrepreneurship with a dev career?

Absolutely. Many developers maintain side projects, create content, or do freelance consulting alongside their main job. You can also seek roles at startups where you'll learn entrepreneurial skills while earning a salary. This hybrid approach lets you test your interest and aptitude before committing fully.