From Code to No-Code: How Better Legal Hit $1M ARR by Ditching Traditional Development
When Throwing Away 5 Years of Work Leads to 7-Figure Growth
Today, we're diving into a story that's got me more excited than a kid in a candy store.
We're talking about Better Legal, a company that's not just disrupting the legal tech space, but completely flipping the script on how we think about building and scaling SaaS businesses.
Buckle up, folks. This one's a doozy.
The Unlikely Journey of a Legal Tech Rebel
Picture this: You're running a successful SaaS company, you've spent years building out your custom code, and things are... okay.
Not great, not terrible, just okay.
Then one day, you decide to throw it all away and start over with a no-code platform. Sounds crazy, right?
Well, that's exactly what Chad Sakonchick, founder of Better Legal, did.
And spoiler alert: it paid off big time.
When I first heard about Chad's decision to move from custom code to no-code, I'll admit, I was skeptical. I mean, who in their right mind abandons years of development work?
But as I dug deeper into Better Legal's story, I realized this wasn't just a bold move – it was a stroke of genius.
The Problem: Drowning in Code and Complexity
Before we get into the juicy details of Better Legal's transformation, let's set the stage.
Better Legal helps new businesses file formation documents, get their EIN, and handle other essential startup paperwork.
It's not a sexy problem, but it's one that every new business faces.
Here's where things get interesting. Chad and his team had spent five years building out their platform with custom code.
Five years! That's longer than most startups even survive.
But despite all that work, they found themselves treading water. They were constantly battling with:
Front-end developers obsessed with minor optimizations
Packages breaking and servers crashing
A never-ending cycle of maintenance and bug fixes
Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so.
It's the kind of technical debt that keeps founders up at night, tossing and turning, as they wonder if they'll ever get ahead of the curve.
The Lightbulb Moment: Embracing No-Code
Now, here's where Chad's story takes a turn that had me sitting up in my chair.
Instead of doubling down on their custom code or bringing in more developers, they decided to scrap it all and move to Bubble, a no-code platform.
I know what you're thinking: "Willy, are you telling me they threw away five years of work?" Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying.
And here's the kicker – it turned out to be the best decision they ever made.
The No-Code Revolution: Faster, Better, Stronger
Let me break down what happened next, because it's pretty mind-blowing:
They replicated five years of custom code in just a few months.
Within a year, they had built entirely new features that were previously out of reach.
They hit $1 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).
Now, I've seen some impressive pivots in my time, but this one takes the cake.
It's like watching a heavyweight boxer suddenly become a ballet dancer – and win a championship doing it.
The Secret Sauce: Why No-Code Worked for Better Legal
As I dug into the reasons behind Better Legal's success, a few key factors stood out:
Speed of Development: With Bubble, they could iterate and deploy new features at lightning speed. No more waiting for developers to write, test, and debug code.
Focus on Business Logic: Instead of getting bogged down in technical details, the team could focus on what really mattered – solving customer problems and improving the product.
Flexibility: Bubble allowed them to quickly adapt to changing market needs without extensive refactoring.
Cost-Effectiveness: They could achieve more with fewer resources, allowing them to invest in growth rather than maintenance.
But here's the real kicker – they didn't completely abandon code.
Chad mentioned that they still use custom scripts and APIs where necessary.
It's not about being 100% no-code; it's about using the right tool for the job.
The Bubble Effect: A No-Code Platform That Packs a Punch
Now, let's talk about Bubble for a second.
It's the no-code platform that Chad and his team used to rebuild Better Legal, and honestly, it's pretty impressive.
Bubble is like a Swiss Army knife for web app development. It lets you create fully functional web apps without writing a single line of code.
Here's what makes Bubble stand out:
Visual Programming: You can design your app's interface and logic using a drag-and-drop interface. It's like playing with Lego blocks, but instead of a toy castle, you end up with a fully functional web app.
Database Management: Bubble handles all the backend stuff for you. You can create and manage databases without worrying about SQL or server configurations.
API Integrations: You can connect your Bubble app to other services using APIs. This is huge for businesses that need to integrate with existing tools or services.
Scalability: Bubble apps can handle high traffic volumes, which is crucial for growing businesses like Better Legal.
Community and Plugins: There's a whole ecosystem of plugins and a supportive community, which means you're never really starting from scratch.
The Pros and Cons of No-Code Development
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Willy, this sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?"
Well, like anything in life, no-code development has its pros and cons. Let's break it down:
Pros:
Speed: You can go from idea to MVP in weeks, not months. For startups, this can be the difference between success and failure.
Cost-effectiveness: No need to hire a team of expensive developers. This is huge for bootstrapped startups or small businesses.
Flexibility: Non-technical founders can iterate and pivot quickly. You're not at the mercy of your development team's schedule.
Focus on Business Logic: You can spend more time thinking about your product and less time worrying about technical implementation.
Rapid Prototyping: You can test ideas quickly and cheaply. If something doesn't work, you haven't sunk months of development time into it.
Cons:
Limited Customization: While platforms like Bubble are powerful, there may be some things you just can't do without custom code.
Performance: No-code apps might not be as performant as custom-built applications, especially for complex, high-load systems.
Lock-in: You're dependent on the no-code platform. If they go out of business or change their pricing, you could be in trouble.
Learning Curve: While easier than learning to code, no-code platforms still have a learning curve. It's not quite as simple as drag-and-drop.
Scalability Concerns: For some businesses, there may be concerns about whether a no-code solution can scale to meet their needs as they grow.
My Take: The Future is Flexible
I can't help but feel excited about the possibilities no-code opens up. It's democratizing tech entrepreneurship in a way we've never seen before.
But let's not get carried away. No-code isn't replacing traditional development anytime soon.
Instead, I see a future where the lines between code and no-code blur, where founders and developers alike use whatever tools best suit the job at hand.
Better Legal's story is a perfect example of this.
They use Bubble for the core of their application, but they're not afraid to inject custom code or use APIs when needed.
It's this flexible, pragmatic approach that I think will define successful tech companies in the coming years.
Wrapping Up: Lessons from Better Legal's No-Code Journey
So, what can we learn from Better Legal's bold move to no-code? Here are my key takeaways:
Don't be afraid to pivot: Sometimes, the best move is a complete 180. Be willing to question your current approach, even if you've invested heavily in it.
Focus on outcomes, not methods: Your customers don't care how you built your product. They care about the value it provides. Keep that in mind when making technical decisions.
Embrace the hybrid approach: Use no-code for rapid development and prototyping, but don't be afraid to inject custom code where it makes sense.
Stay agile: The tech landscape is always changing. Be willing to adapt and try new tools and approaches.
Prioritize business logic over technical perfection: As Chad found out, obsessing over minor technical optimizations can distract you from building features that actually matter to your customers.
Chad and Better Legal's journey from custom code to no-code is more than just a success story – it's a glimpse into the future of SaaS development.
It shows that with the right tools and a willingness to adapt, you can break free from the constraints of traditional development and build something truly remarkable.
So, here's my challenge to you: Take a hard look at your current development process.
Are you building in a way that allows you to focus on what really matters? Or are you getting bogged down in technical minutiae?
Maybe it's time to consider a no-code or low-code approach for your next feature or product.
Remember, the goal isn't to be "no-code" or "full-code" – it's to build amazing products that solve real problems.
And sometimes, that means being willing to throw out the rule book and try something completely different.
Until next time, keep building, keep learning, and never stop pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
Willy out!
P.S. Loved this deep dive into Better Legal's no-code revolution? There's plenty more where that came from!
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