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What Belongs in a SaaS Template and What Should Stay Product-Specific

Separate reusable platform systems from domain logic so every new product starts faster without inheriting the wrong constraints.

Published 3/6/2026 • Updated 3/6/2026

Keep the systems that compound

Reusable systems are the parts that take real time to build correctly every time: authentication, subscriptions, onboarding, observability, rate limits, and marketing attribution. They compound because the second product benefits from the same hard-won edge without reimplementation.

Delete the workflow that taught you the lesson

The domain workflow that inspired the template should not survive by default. Product-specific tables, routes, forms, and copy carry assumptions about users and jobs-to-be-done that become friction in the next company. Reset the schema, keep the infrastructure, and replace the dashboard with a neutral starter shell.

Template reset FAQ

Should migrations stay compatible with the old product?

Not if the repo is being reset as a new template. Clean first-run migrations are usually more valuable than preserving historical compatibility you no longer need.

What is the minimum growth layer worth keeping?

A file-based content system, attribution capture, and a basic event dashboard give you a working acquisition loop without committing to a heavyweight CMS on day one.

Reset the starter, keep the leverage

Use the included docs and sample pages as the baseline for your next product-specific buildout.

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