What I built
A simple waitlist page — sometimes called a pre-launch email capture. Visitors land on a page that tells them what's coming, and if they're interested, they drop their email address. That email goes straight to a Google Sheet (or Formspree, if you prefer). That's the entire thing: one page, one form field, one list of people who want to hear from you.
No app to download. No login. No monthly fee. It's one HTML file hosted for free on Netlify, and it does the same job that half a dozen SaaS tools charge real money for.
What it replaces (and what those tools actually cost)
There's a whole category of "launch page" and "waitlist" software that exists to solve this problem. They all do roughly the same thing — collect an email before you launch — and they all charge monthly for it:
| Tool | Typical cost | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| LaunchRock | $49–$149/mo $588–$1,788/year |
Overkill for a simple email capture; built for VC-backed startups, priced like it |
| Waitlist.me | $20–$60/mo $240–$720/year |
Designed for physical queue management; email capture is a side feature |
| KickoffLabs | $29–$99/mo $348–$1,188/year |
Referral contest engine you probably don't need; contact list locked in their platform |
| Carrd (yearly) | $9–$49/year | Cheapest option, but still rented — templates, their domain, their rules |
| Build your own | $0/mo on Netlify (~$12/yr if you want a custom domain) |
Nothing. You own the page, the list, and every email address on it. |
For a local business testing one new idea, paying $29–$149 a month for a page that collects emails is a hard sell. Especially when the free version takes an afternoon to set up and does the same job.
Why it matters for a local business
A waitlist isn't just for tech startups raising a seed round. If you're opening a second location, launching a new service, adding seasonal availability, or testing an idea you're not sure about yet — a waitlist does three concrete things for you:
- Validates demand before you commit. If you put up a waitlist for your new catering menu and nobody signs up after two weeks of sharing the link, that's useful information. It doesn't mean the idea is dead, but it tells you something needs to change — the offer, the audience, or the timing. Better to learn that before you print menus and hire staff.
- Builds a warm lead list you own. Every person who drops their email is raising their hand and saying "yes, tell me when this is ready." That's not a cold list you bought. That's not a social media follower who might see your post if the algorithm cooperates. That's a person who asked to hear from you, sitting in a spreadsheet you control.
- Gives you a rollout order. When you're ready to launch, you don't have to go wide and hope. You email your waitlist first. They try it, they give you feedback, you fix the rough edges — and then you open it up to everyone. It's a built-in soft launch.
How it actually works
The whole thing is four pieces, none of which cost money:
- One HTML page. A headline that tells people what's coming, a short pitch for why it matters, and an email form. That's the page.
- Formspree (or a Google Sheet). When someone submits the form, the email goes to Formspree (free for up to 50 submissions a month) or directly into a Google Sheet via a simple Apps Script. Either way, you end up with a list.
- Netlify. Free hosting. Watches your GitHub repo and pushes changes live automatically. No server to manage, no cPanel to learn.
- Cursor. The editor I use. You describe what you want changed in plain English — "swap the headline," "change the launch date" — and it edits the file for you. No code to learn.
Once it's live, updating the page is a 30-second job. And when you're ready to actually launch the thing you were waitlisting for, you already have a list of real people who want it.
Real examples for local businesses
Trades contractor expanding to a new county
You're a plumber in Oakland County thinking about taking jobs in Genesee County. Before you commit to a new service area, put up a waitlist: "We're coming to Genesee County — drop your email to be first on our schedule." If 30 people sign up in two weeks, you've got a pipeline before you've spent a dollar on ads.
Salon adding a new service
You're adding keratin treatments or a new coloring technique. A waitlist lets your existing clients claim early spots, and it gives you a read on how much demand there actually is before you invest in training and supplies.
Restaurant testing a catering menu
You've been getting asked about catering for office lunches and graduation parties. Instead of printing a catering menu and hoping, put up a waitlist: "Catering menu coming soon — sign up and we'll reach out when we're booking." Now you know who's interested and you can start with a manageable number of orders.
Gym launching a new class format
You want to add a 6 AM boot camp but you're not sure anyone will show up at that hour. A waitlist tells you exactly how many people would commit — and those are the people you invite to the first week, so day one isn't empty.
Want me to build it for you?
A waitlist is a natural first step — and it's the kind of thing that fits perfectly into the 7-Day Liftoff. You get a live page collecting emails within the first week, plus the rest of your site built out alongside it. Everything you own, nothing you rent.
If you're not sure what you need yet, book a free 30-minute conversation and I'll tell you straight whether a waitlist makes sense for your situation — or if there's something better to start with.