Plain-English definition
What SaaS (Software as a Service) means.
SaaS is the subscription model most modern business software uses. You pay monthly or annually to access the software through a web browser, and the vendor handles hosting, updates, and maintenance. Examples include ServiceTitan, QuickBooks Online, HubSpot, and Slack. The trade-off is convenience versus control: SaaS is easy to start but hard to customize, and your data lives on someone else's servers.
Why operators care
Where it shows up in the business.
Most SMBs accumulate 5-10 SaaS subscriptions over time, using a fraction of each. The combined cost adds up, nothing integrates well, and canceling one tool can break your workflow. Understanding this pattern is the first step toward a cleaner stack.