I talk to a lot of agency owners, and this question comes up more than you’d think:

“Should I go full SaaS, or should I keep offering services too?”

It’s the SaaS vs. SWAS debate — and if you’re scratching your head wondering which model is best for you, I’ve got you covered.

I recently jumped on a Zoom session with Mario Aldayuz (Head of Partnerships at HL Pro Tools), and the convo was 🔥. We unpacked what’s working for agencies scaling inside the HighLevel ecosystem right now — and spoiler alert: the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Let’s break it down 👇

First off: What’s SWAS?

If SaaS = Software as a Service, then SWAS = Software with a Service.

So instead of just handing off a login and saying “good luck,” you’re pairing software with strategic services (like marketing, funnels, consulting, etc.) to help clients actually get results.

👉 SWAS is perfect for clients who need more hand-holding or done-for-you support.
👉 SaaS is great when your audience is DIY-friendly or you’re trying to scale lean and wide.

So… Which One Should You Build?

Here’s the truth Mario dropped that hit me like a cold plunge:

“Start small, solve one core problem for a niche, and scale from there.”

💥 That’s it. That’s the game.

Too many agency owners try to “do it all” for everyone. But when you build that way, you:

• Burn out 🤯
  
• Overpromise and underdeliver 😬
  
• End up with a Frankenstack that’s impossible to scale 🧟‍♂️

Instead, do this:

Choose a lane:

Pick a specific niche (like med spas, gyms, realtors) and solve one painful, expensive problem with software or service.

✅ Decide your delivery model:

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to be hands-on and deliver DFY results?
  
• Or do I want to be hands-off and build scalable systems that clients self-manage?

That’ll point you toward SWAS or SaaS.

✅ Don’t overbuild:

The fastest path to stuck-ville is stuffing your offer with every feature under the sun. Mario called this out hard:

“Solve the critical problem first. The rest can wait.”

💡 Pro tip: SWAS can be your stepping stone. Start with a hybrid — sell software, offer light support, and grow from there.

What Most People Get Wrong

Let’s be real: most agency owners want freedom. But they build a business that needs them in every Zoom call, Slack thread, and CRM login.

I did it too. Until I realized the key is packaging results, not hours.

That’s where snapshots, automations, and dialed-in SOPs come in — and why I started HL Pro Tools in the first place.

Want Help Building Something That Scales?

If you’re tired of duct-taping your systems together, I’ve got you.
HL Pro Tools is where I build ready-to-go, white-labeled systems that help you look like a pro and deliver like one.

👉 Check out everything at hlprotools.com — templates, automations, client portals, and more.

Cool Free Thing

Before you can help businesses with your service, you need to establish trust.

And the fastest way to earn trust? ⭐️ Testimonials.

So in the spirit of “don’t overbuild,” I’m giving you my team’s exact Testimonial Workflow — the same process we use to collect, edit, and organize client testimonials on autopilot.

📦 It’s plug-and-play
🎯 It’s insanely useful
🆓 And yep — it’s totally free👉 Grab the walkthrough here