Must-Have vs. Nice-to-Have: How to Build Your Tech Product Without Wasting Money

Picture this: You have an amazing idea for an app. You're excited! Your head is spinning with all the cool features it could have. But here's the thing - if you try to build everything at once, you might run out of money before you even launch.

So how do you decide what to build first? Let's break it down into must-haves and nice-to-haves.

What's the Difference?

Must-haves are the features your product absolutely needs to work and solve your users' main problem. Without these, your product doesn't really... well, exist!

Nice-to-haves are the extra bells and whistles that make your product more fun or easier to use, but aren't necessary for solving the core problem.

How to Figure Out Your Must-Haves

1. Find Your Core Problem

What big problem does your app actually fix? Write this down in one simple sentence.

For example: "My app helps dog owners find last-minute pet sitters in their neighborhood."

Every must-have feature should directly help solve this core problem. If it doesn't, it might be a nice-to-have (or maybe not needed at all).

2. Create Your MVP

Your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) should only include must-have features. This is the simplest version of your product that actually works.

For our dog-sitting example, must-haves might include:

• User profiles for pet owners and sitters
• A way to search for available sitters
• Messaging between owners and sitters
• Basic booking system

3. Test With Real Users

Once you've built only the must-haves, get it into the hands of real users. They'll tell you if you're on the right track! Include analytics from day one so you can see how people actually use your app.

Common Nice-to-Haves That Can Wait

These features often seem important but can usually wait until after your first launch:

1. Fancy Sign-Up Process

One founder spent $80,000 building a super cool AI chat sign-up process... before creating any of their core features! Don't be that person. A simple form works fine for version one.

2. Advanced Search Filters

Start with basic search that solves the main problem. You can add all those fancy filters later when you know which ones users actually want.

3. Detailed Dashboards and Reports

These are helpful, but not essential for most products at launch. Simple stats are usually enough to start.

4. Multiple Payment Options

Start with one reliable payment method. You can add more options later when you're actually making money!

5. Personalized Recommendations

Fancy recommendation engines are cool but complex. See if users even want your basic product first.

When Nice-to-Haves Become Must-Haves

Sometimes what seems like a nice-to-have is actually essential for your specific product. For example:

• If your app is for doctors, strong privacy features aren't just nice - they're legally required
• If your users are older adults, easier onboarding might be a must-have
• If you're in a crowded market, a standout feature might be necessary to compete

Avoiding the "Shiny Object" Trap

Many founders get distracted by cool new ideas during development. Every time you consider adding a feature, ask yourself:

1. Does this directly solve our core problem?
2. Can we launch successfully without it?
3. Will adding this delay our launch by more than 2 weeks?

If it doesn't solve your core problem and will delay your launch, it's probably a nice-to-have that can wait.

The Secret Weapon: A Proper Roadmap

Create a clear roadmap that separates features into:

• Must-haves for initial launch
• Nice-to-haves for version 2
• Future ideas for later versions

Pro tip: Use a tool like Canny to create a public roadmap that lets users vote on which features they want most. This takes the guesswork out of what to build next and makes your users feel heard!

This helps keep everyone focused and prevents your tech stack from getting too complicated too quickly.

Finding the Right Balance

Building a tech product is like making a sandwich - you need the bread and fillings (must-haves) before worrying about fancy condiments (nice-to-haves).

Start simple, get real feedback, then add the extras that users actually want. This approach saves money, gets your product to market faster, and prevents you from building features nobody uses.

Need help figuring out your must-haves from your nice-to-haves? Get in touch with us for all your software development and fractional CTO needs.