The business in one offer
Who it serves
Small SaaS companies and online shops with a key flow, such as signup or checkout, that seems to lose users. Founders and product managers know there is a problem but lack time or staff to analyze it, and they will pay for a clear list of fixes.
What to sell first
A focused UX audit of one flow: review of up to 12 screens, heuristic analysis, basic accessibility checks, a prioritized list of issues with screenshots and suggested fixes, and a 45-minute walkthrough call. Excluded: full redesign, user testing with recruited participants, code changes, analytics setup and legal accessibility compliance audits.
Limiting the audit to one flow keeps the scope tight and the price clear. Clients get fast, actionable feedback, and you can reuse your audit checklist and templates for each client.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Screen recording and annotation tools, three months | $90.00 |
| Accessibility testing tools and browser extensions | $60.00 |
| Website with sample audit report | $160.00 |
| Service agreement review | $300.00 |
| Professional liability insurance quote allowance | $400.00 |
| Example total | $1,010.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
Assumes you already have UX experience and a computer with current browsers and devices for testing. Excludes user testing incentives, office space, owner pay and local license fees. Tool and insurance prices vary; get current quotes.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $1,200.00 per flow audit and $20.00 in direct costs, contribution is $1,180.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 14 all-in working hours per unit, that is $84.29 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $90.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 140 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Audit a public flow from a well-known product and publish a short sample report with screenshots, focusing on clear issues rather than criticism of the company.
- Reach out to founders in local startup communities and offer a 20-minute review of one screen to show how you think, followed by a quote for the full audit.
- Partner with web developers who build sites but do not offer UX reviews, proposing that you audit before or after their builds.
- Track every audit's issues and which ones clients fix first. Use the patterns to improve your sales page and checklist.
What to validate before spending more
- Run a pilot audit for a friendly company and time each step from kickoff to report. If it takes more than 16 hours, simplify the report format or adjust price.
- Ask the pilot client which recommendations they actually implemented and why. Use this feedback to prioritize fixes in future audits.
- Clarify in your contract that your audit is not a legal accessibility compliance review, and suggest clients consult specialists for legal requirements.
- Check whether your state collects sales tax on consulting or digital services and record the answer.
The operational catch
Clients sometimes expect an audit to boost conversions or prove legal compliance. If results do not follow, they may feel misled. Make it clear that the audit identifies issues and suggests fixes, not guarantees, and recommend testing changes with real users or analytics after implementation.
A practical way to fund the first step
Charge 50 percent up front and the balance when the report is delivered. Use free accessibility tools to start and add paid tools only when you see a clear need.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
Do I need user testing for an audit?
Not for a basic audit. A heuristic review can find many issues, but user testing adds evidence. Offer testing as an add-on if clients need deeper insights.
How detailed should the report be?
Keep it practical: issue, screenshot, why it matters and a suggested fix. Long reports often go unread, so prioritize the top issues clearly.
Should I include accessibility checks?
Yes, at least basic checks such as contrast, keyboard navigation and labels. Explain that full compliance requires a specialized audit.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
ADA.gov explains that the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of public life. ADA.gov: Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
CISA's small business guidance recommends basic cybersecurity practices such as multifactor authentication and regular software updates. CISA: Cyber Guidance for Small Businesses.
- Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities ActADA.gov · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Cyber Guidance for Small BusinessesCISA · Reference checked September 8, 2026
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