The earlier posts were theory. Here we show how it works in the real world. We break down the launch of a SaaS CRM (like Nexus or THIIA) in 8 weeks with Lovable. It is possible — we have seen it. Here is how, step by step.
The product — strategy
The 8-week timeline
- Weeks 1-2 — Discovery & architecture (20 h)MVP scoping, stack decisions, infrastructure setup.
- Weeks 3-4 — Core MVP (80 h)Auth, client dashboard, client detail, documents, multi-tenant isolation.
- Weeks 5-6 — Features & polish (60 h)Contracts, activity timeline, search, responsive, analytics.
- Weeks 7-8 — Beta & launch (40 h)Beta users, fast iterations, onboarding, landing page, soft launch.
Weeks 1-2 — Discovery & architecture (20 h)
Days 1-2: scope the MVP
Days 3-5: architecture
| Layer | Choice |
|---|---|
| Frontend | React with Lovable |
| Backend | Node.js API (server functions) |
| Database | PostgreSQL (multi-tenant schema) |
| Auth | Clerk |
| File storage | Managed object storage |
Days 6-10: infrastructure setup
- Database project: 30 minutes
- Hosting (Vercel): 20 minutes
- GitHub repository: 15 minutes
Outcome: you are ready to build.
Weeks 3-4 — Core MVP (80 h)
Note: with Lovable's AI agent, one developer delivers what normally required 2-3 people.
- Auth flow (sign up, login, password reset)
- Client dashboard (table, search, filters)
- Client detail page (profile, portfolio, notes)
- Document upload and storage
- Multi-tenant isolation
Weeks 5-6 — Features & polish (60 h)
- Contract management (upload, tagging, reminder dates)
- Activity timeline (notes, calls, meetings, email log)
- Full-text search across clients and documents
- Mobile responsive version
- Analytics dashboard (client count, total portfolio, activity trend)
Weeks 7-8 — Beta & launch (40 h)
- Invite 5-10 beta users (your consultant network)
- Collect feedback and iterate fast
- Refine onboarding
- Prepare the landing page
- Soft launch to 50 prospects (email, LinkedIn)
Resources — the real costs
Development
| Option | Cost | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 1 dev + Lovable agent | €10k-15k (200 h × €50-75/h) | Full MVP |
| Traditional agency | €30k-50k | Same scope |
Infrastructure (year 1)
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lovable workspace | €150/mo |
| Database & storage | €50/mo |
| Hosting (Vercel) | €20/mo |
| Auth (Clerk) | €0 (free ≤ 10k MAU) |
| Domain + email | €10/mo |
| Total | €230/mo |
The traps we avoided
| Trap | ❌ Mistake | ✅ Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Scope creep | “Let's add AI prediction” in week 8 | Stay on the MVP. AI ships in Q2 |
| Over-perfectionism | “The UI must be pixel-perfect” | The MVP must be functional. Polish comes later |
| Early integrations | “Let's add Salesforce sync” | Salesforce is post-MVP, once customers ask |
Key lessons
- Scope a genuinely small MVP80% of the value for 20% of the work.
- Lovable mainly accelerates the frontendA complex backend still needs a Node.js developer thinking about architecture.
- Bugs in year 1 are normalYour first customers will find edge cases. Budget 10% of the time for fixes.
- Pricing and positioning before the build€99 or €299/mo? It changes the target customer, and therefore the feature set.
Coming next: Post 6 — Budget & ROI. How much to really invest, and what return to expect.
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