Most solopreneurs ignore maintenance tech.
Sounds like something for factories, franchises, or facilities with a 12-person backend team.
But buried inside those same "boring" workflows?
Are broken systems, paper trails, and spreadsheet nightmares, still running billion-dollar industries.
That’s exactly why they’re worth a second look.
This guide unpacks 5 ops-heavy niches (including one built around CMMS software) where the tooling is dated, the pain is real, and the door is wide open for solo founders to ship a cleaner, simpler product, and charge for it.
No big dev team required. Just curiosity, a no-code tool, and the ability to solve problems other folks keep duct-taping.
Let’s get into it.
1. CMMS Add-On for Mid-Market Facilities
Most commercial facilities, think hotels, schools, light manufacturing plants, already use CMMS platforms to manage preventive maintenance, job tickets, and vendor coordination.
But here’s the catch: the people actually doing the work?
Rarely touch the system.
These tools were built for managers, not maintenance crews. So frontline teams still snap photos in WhatsApp, scribble notes on paper, or “forget” to update status at all.
That’s your in.
Build a simplified front-end UI that connects to popular CMMS software. Focus on:
- Mobile-friendly work order intake
- Easy photo uploads
- One-tap status updates (In Progress, Done, Needs Help)
You’re not replacing their system, you’re translating it for the people who use it daily.
Why it works: Facilities teams hate nagging. Managers hate chasing updates. This eliminates both.
Buildability: Airtable, Flutterflow, or Softr for the UI. Use platform APIs to sync task data in and out.
Niche Potential: The global CMMS market is projected to reach $2.5B by 2029, driven by growing adoption in healthcare, hospitality, and light manufacturing. But while enterprise clients are well-served, mid-market facilities with limited IT support remain underserved, especially at the UX layer. As more facilities digitize operations post-COVID, demand is shifting toward tools that improve technician adoption, not just manager reporting. A mobile-friendly layer that simplifies CMMS usage for frontline workers fills a pressing need and offers a fast path to value for both users and buyers.
2. Preventive Maintenance Scheduler for Landlords
Spreadsheets and sticky notes only work until your fifth unit. After that, something always slips.
Pest control gets delayed. HVAC filters go unchecked. And suddenly you’re spending your weekend dealing with leaks instead of bookings.
This app idea is dead simple:
- A mobile-first dashboard for recurring tasks (monthly, quarterly, seasonal)
- Assigns tasks to maintenance folks (or yourself)
- Sends SMS or email reminders
- Logs photos and timestamps for proof
Designed specifically for small landlords or property managers with 5–50 units, folks who don’t need a full-blown system, just a sanity-saver.
Why it works: Landlords want peace of mind and clean records, especially if they plan to scale or eventually sell.
Buildability: No-code tools like Glide or Noloco make this an easy v1. Integrate with Google Calendar or Twilio for reminders.
Niche Potential: There are over 8 million independent landlords in North America alone, and nearly half manage their properties without third-party help. As their portfolios grow beyond a few units, so do maintenance demands, and the tools to manage them haven’t kept up. Most landlords still rely on spreadsheets, calendar apps, or ad-hoc systems to schedule and track recurring tasks. A lightweight, mobile-first scheduler purpose-built for this segment fits squarely in the rising “prosumer landlord” movement. With STRs, co-living, and hybrid rental models booming, the TAM here is only expanding.
3. Warranty + Asset Tracker for Small Clinics & Labs
Dental chairs. Centrifuges. Autoclaves.
These things aren’t just expensive, they’re mission-critical. If they break down mid-procedure, it’s not just inconvenient, it’s revenue lost (and stress gained).
Now ask most small clinics how they track warranties, service contracts, or maintenance logs.
You’ll get a sheepish smile. Maybe a spreadsheet. Maybe a sticky note. Maybe nothing.
That’s your window.
This micro-SaaS idea is a plug-and-play asset tracker built for busy medical teams. Think:
- A visual register of high-value equipment
- Warranty + service expiry reminders
- Uploads for receipts, repair logs, inspection reports
- Filter by location, vendor, or priority
All in a mobile-friendly, clutter-free dashboard.
Why it works: Nobody wants to explain to a patient that the X-ray machine is down. And these small teams don’t need a complex CMMS, just something built for them.
Buildability: Airtable or SmartSuite for the backend, Glide for the interface. Add Google Calendar or email integrations for reminders.
Niche Potential: The global dental and diagnostics equipment market is growing at over 6% CAGR, with private clinics increasingly purchasing and managing high-value machines in-house. Yet most lack an efficient system for tracking warranties, service logs, or asset details. When machines fail, and they do, downtime equals lost revenue and patient dissatisfaction. A simple tracker built for the realities of small teams (not hospital-grade IT systems) addresses a niche but painful problem. With compliance and cost pressures mounting, even small clinics are now willing to invest in better asset visibility.
4. Short-Term Rental Turnover Tracker
Most Airbnb hosts live in a constant state of mild panic.
“Did the cleaner show up?”
“Were the towels restocked?”
“Did anyone fix the wobbly cabinet?”
Now multiply that by 5, 10, or 15 properties, and it’s chaos.
This tool fixes that.
A clean, mobile-first dashboard that handles the only three things STR owners actually care about:
- What needs to be cleaned
- Who’s assigned to do it
- Whether it’s done (with photo proof)
Bonus: You can track inventory (toilet paper, linens, toiletries), note repair issues, and get notified when something’s missing or broken.
Why it works: Missed turnovers lead to bad reviews. Bad reviews lead to churn. This prevents both, without turning the host into a full-time manager.
Buildability: Glide, Noloco, or Softr for the front end. Integrate with Twilio for SMS reminders. Use file uploads for before/after photos.
Niche Potential: With over 4 million hosts on Airbnb alone, the STR market has matured, but the tools to manage daily ops haven’t. Most hosts and boutique managers coordinate turnovers via SMS, spreadsheets, or scattered task lists. Cleaning mistakes or delays tank reviews and drive churn. A mobile-first task tracker with auto-notifications and timestamped proof helps protect their brand, streamline contractor coordination, and scale beyond 3–5 units. As the “Airbnb Pro” wave accelerates, there's a rising willingness to pay for software that protects margins and reputation.
5. Vehicle Fleet Upkeep Tracker (for Indie Contractors)
Every contractor knows the pain of a surprise breakdown. But when you’ve only got five vans and two crews, one missed oil change can derail your whole week.
Most small fleet operators, HVAC techs, moving teams, indie last-mile couriers, don’t run full-blown fleet management systems. They’re scribbling mileage in notebooks, setting iPhone reminders, or trusting their gut.
Which means: things get missed. Dead tires. Lapsed insurance. Expired tags.
That’s your wedge.
Build a lightweight fleet upkeep tracker that makes staying compliant (and road-ready) idiot-proof.
It should:
- Let them register each vehicle with key details (plate, VIN, odometer)
- Set recurring reminders for maintenance tasks (oil, tires, emissions)
- Notify them via SMS or email when something’s due
- Log service dates for easy reporting and peace of mind
Why it works: These folks want to stay on top of this, they just don’t have time to play calendar Tetris. You’re not adding work, you’re reducing uncertainty.
Buildability: Easily built with Glide or SmartSuite. Add Google Calendar sync, SMS alerts with Twilio, and simple mobile-first UI. Done.
Niche Potential: The U.S. has over 1 million small businesses in sectors like HVAC, moving, plumbing, and last-mile delivery, many operating fleets of 2-15 vehicles. Yet most don’t use fleet management software, citing cost and complexity. Still, compliance requirements (DOT, emissions, insurance) are rising, and downtime is increasingly expensive. A bare-bones upkeep tracker that delivers just enough structure, maintenance logs, reminders, simple reporting, fits squarely into the “minimum viable ops” category these teams need. The shift toward contractor-friendly logistics is creating fresh tailwinds for tools like this.
You Don’t Need a Unicorn Idea. Just a Useful One.
Maintenance ops might not sound sexy. But these are real, recurring problems. With real budgets behind them.
And most importantly? They’re problems that aren’t being served by glossy all-in-one tools or bloated enterprise software. That’s your advantage.
Each of the five ideas we covered:
- Solves a niche pain point
- Has clear paying users
- Can be shipped solo, with no-code or low-code tools
You don’t need VC money or a dev team. You need one problem, one clean solution, and a few paying customers to start.
Vertical SaaS isn’t about building the next Salesforce. It’s about picking an overlooked industry, listening closely, and building something that makes their Tuesday easier.
Start small. Stay useful.
And maybe your “tiny idea” becomes your first $5K MRR product.
