ZAM

Kill Subscriptions

Replace rented SaaS with owned software

I've spent years helping owner-operators like myself rebuild their businesses from the ground up, tearing out rented SaaS tools and replacing them with custom-built operating systems that actually fit how they work. It's a painful process, but the payoff is worth it: $0 ongoing cost, and a system that adapts to your needs instead of the other way around.

When I start working with a new client, the first question I always get is: where do I even start? Which subscriptions should I replace first? It's a daunting task, especially when you're looking at a laundry list of 21 SaaS tools like one of my recent clients was.

Identify the Bottlenecks

For me, it always starts with identifying the bottlenecks in the business. Where are the pain points that are causing the most headaches for the team? Is it a clunky project management tool that's slowing down collaboration, or a customer support platform that's making it hard to resolve issues quickly?

I've found that the best place to start is usually with the tools that are causing the most friction. In one business I worked with, it was a SaaS tool that was supposed to streamline their sales process, but was actually causing more problems than it was solving. By replacing it with a custom-built solution, we were able to simplify the process and free up more time for the sales team to focus on what mattered.

  • Look for tools that are causing friction or slowing down your team
  • Identify areas where you're spending too much time or money on workarounds
  • Consider the tools that are most critical to your business operations

Build Around Your Workflow

Once you've identified the bottlenecks, it's time to start building a custom solution that's tailored to your workflow. This is where most businesses go wrong: they try to shoehorn their processes into a generic SaaS tool, instead of building a tool that fits their unique needs.

I've seen it time and time again: a business will try to use a popular project management tool, only to find that it's not quite the right fit. They'll spend hours customizing it, trying to make it work, and still end up with a system that's clunky and inefficient. By building a custom solution from the ground up, you can avoid all that hassle and get a system that actually works for you.

Adding AI and Automation

One of the biggest advantages of building a custom operating system is the ability to add AI and automation where it makes sense. With 25+ AI agents working behind the scenes, one of my clients was able to automate a huge portion of their workflow, freeing up their team to focus on higher-level tasks.

It's not about replacing human workers with AI, but about using automation to augment their abilities and make their jobs easier. By identifying areas where AI can add value, you can create a more efficient and effective workflow that gets better results.

Conclusion

Killing subscriptions and replacing them with a custom-built operating system isn't easy, but it's worth it. By identifying bottlenecks, building around your workflow, and adding AI and automation where it makes sense, you can create a system that actually works for your business, instead of against it. It's a journey, not a destination – and one that I'm happy to help owner-operators like myself navigate.