Building a Next.js SaaS Boilerplate: The Complete Checklist
Next.jsSaaSBoilerplate
Why SaaS Boilerplates Exist
Every SaaS app needs the same foundation: authentication, a database, payments, email, and an admin panel. Building this from scratch takes 2–4 weeks before you write a single line of business logic.
A good boilerplate gives you that foundation in an afternoon.
The Essential Checklist
Authentication
☐Email + password with bcrypt hashing
☐OAuth providers (Google, GitHub minimum)
☐Magic link / passwordless login
☐Email verification flow
☐Password reset flow
☐Session management
☐Role-based access control (RBAC)
Database
☐ORM setup (Prisma is the standard for TypeScript)
☐PostgreSQL connection with connection pooling
☐Migration system
☐Seed scripts for development
☐Database-level indexes on frequently queried fields
Payments
☐Stripe Checkout integration
☐Webhook handling for payment events
☐Subscription management (if applicable)
☐Invoice generation
☐Refund handling
☐Transactional email provider (Resend, SendGrid, or Postmark)
☐Email templates for: welcome, verification, password reset, purchase confirmation
☐Email queue for reliability
Admin Dashboard
☐User management (view, edit roles, disable)
☐Content moderation tools
☐Analytics overview (revenue, signups, activity)
☐System health monitoring
Developer Experience
☐TypeScript throughout
☐ESLint + Prettier configuration
☐Tailwind CSS with design tokens
☐Environment variable validation (Zod)
☐CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions)
☐Docker setup for local development
Production Readiness
☐Error tracking (Sentry)
☐Logging system
☐Rate limiting on API routes
☐CORS configuration
☐Security headers
☐SEO meta tags and OpenGraph
☐Sitemap generation
The Stack We Recommend
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Framework | Next.js 14+ (App Router) |
| Language | TypeScript |
| Styling | Tailwind CSS |
| Database | PostgreSQL |
| ORM | Prisma |
| Auth | NextAuth.js or Lucia |
| Payments | Stripe |
| Resend | |
| Hosting | Vercel, Railway, or Render |
Buy or Build?
If you're building a SaaS product, your competitive advantage isn't the auth system or the payment flow. It's your core product.
Skip the 2–4 weeks of boilerplate setup. Browse production-ready Next.js SaaS starters on CodeCudos — every one is quality-scored so you know what you're getting.