The Six-Month Struggle with SSL and Custom Domains: Is This a Common Challenge for SaaS Providers?

Running a SaaS platform often comes with unique technical hurdles, especially when it comes to supporting custom domains for your users. I recently experienced a particularly taxing journey and wanted to share my story—perhaps it resonates with others in the developer community or SaaS entrepreneurs.

In developing a tailored solution for a business client, a key requirement was enabling their customers to use personalized vanity domains, such as app.customerwebsite.com, instead of relying on a subdomain provided by our platform. On the surface, this seemed straightforward, but the reality was far more complex.

Over a span of six months as a solo developer, I tackled the intricate process of configuring DNS validation, automating SSL certificate issuance, and managing renewals across dozens of client domains. The effort involved navigating numerous technical challenges, ultimately pulling attention away from core product development. It was a grueling experience that highlighted how demanding domain management can be.

This ordeal has led me to wonder: Is this a widespread pain point among SaaS businesses? Do many face similar struggles with custom domain setup and SSL management, and if so, what solutions are you currently using?

Some questions I’m curious about:

• How do you handle custom domain integration and SSL certificates for your users?
• What are the biggest obstacles you’ve encountered?
• Have you tried building your own management system, and what hurdles prevented or delayed that effort?
• Would a fully automated, self-service portal that manages domain validation and SSL renewal ease your operational burden?

I’d love to hear your experiences—whether this challenge sounds familiar, and if you see potential value in streamlining this process. Sharing insights could help us all overcome this common SaaS hurdle more efficiently.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your thoughts!