"There HAS to be a better way to do this."

I see this frustrated phrase constantly while scrolling through r/smallbusiness.

As a content marketing manager who works with dozens of small businesses, I started cataloguing these pain points to understand what tools and services are missing from the market.

After months of tracking posts, I've identified a goldmine: small business owners are desperately describing problems that have no existing solutions — and they're revealing exactly what they'd pay to fix them.

The pattern is remarkable.

These aren't complaints about pricing or features of existing tools. These are detailed descriptions of workflow problems, compliance nightmares, and operational bottlenecks that no company is addressing.

1. "I Need Software That Tracks Employee Hours Across Multiple Job Sites"

"I run a landscaping company with crews at 15+ locations daily. Current time tracking apps don't work when there's no cell service, and GPS tracking drains phone batteries. I'm paying $3,000/month for a custom solution that barely works. There has to be something better."

Why This Problem Exists:

• Existing time tracking focuses on office workers
• Construction/landscaping crews work in areas with poor connectivity
• Current solutions drain battery life with constant GPS tracking
• Integration with payroll systems is clunky or non-existent

The Gap Nobody's Filling: Time tracking is specifically designed for field crews with offline capability, long battery life, and job site-specific features.

Market Validation:

• 450+ comments describing identical problems
• Industries affected: landscaping, construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC
• Current solutions mentioned: Excel spreadsheets, paper timesheets, expensive custom builds

Revenue Opportunity:

• Target market: 500,000+ field service companies in the US
• Current spend: 100−100−2,000/month on inadequate solutions
• Willingness to pay: 300−300−800/month for a proper solution
• Market size: $2.4B annually for field service software

The Solution Blueprint:

• Offline-first mobile app that syncs when connectivity returns
• Low-power GPS tracking optimized for battery life
• Photo verification of job site arrival/departure
• Integration with major payroll systems (QuickBooks, ADP, Paychex)
• Job costing and material tracking features

Why Nobody's Built This:

• Requires a deep understanding of field service operations
• Complex offline synchronization technology
• Integration challenges with legacy payroll systems
• A niche market that big software companies ignore

2. "I Need a Way to Automatically Handle Sales Tax Across Multiple States"

"I sell products online to all 50 states. After the Wayfair decision, I'm supposed to collect sales tax in 32 states where I have economic nexus. I'm paying my accountant $4,000/month to manually calculate and file returns. This is bankrupting my small business."

The Compliance Nightmare:

• 45 states have different sales tax rules
• Economic nexus thresholds vary by state (100K−100K−500K in sales)
• Product classifications affect tax rates
• Manual compliance costs 2K−10K/month for multi-state sellers

Current "Solutions" That Don't Work:

• TaxJar: Expensive (99−99−999/month) and complex setup
• Avalara: Designed for enterprise, too expensive for small businesses
• Manual spreadsheets: Time-consuming and error-prone
• Local accountants: Don't understand multi-state nexus rules

The Market Gap: Affordable, automated sales tax compliance specifically for small e-commerce businesses with simple product catalogs.

Revenue Model:

• Basic plan: $199/month for up to 10 states
• Growth plan: $399/month for up to 25 states
• Enterprise plan: $699/month for all states + audit protection
• Setup fees: 500−500−2,000 per state for initial registration

Market Opportunity:

• 2.14 million e-commerce businesses in the US
• 68% sell to multiple states
• Average compliance cost: $3,600/month
• Total addressable market: $8.7B annually

Why This Hasn't Been Solved:

• Requires legal expertise in all 50 states
• Complex integration with e-commerce platforms
• Constant regulatory changes require ongoing maintenance
• Insurance and liability concerns for tax advice

3. "I Need Customer Scheduling That Works for Service Businesses"

"I run a mobile dog grooming business. Calendly doesn't work because I need to factor in drive time between appointments. Acuity doesn't handle service areas or travel fees. I'm still using a paper calendar and losing customers because I can't offer online booking."

Why Existing Solutions Fail:

• Designed for office-based appointments, not mobile services
• Don't calculate travel time between locations
• Can't handle service area restrictions
• No integration with route optimization
• Don't support dynamic pricing based on location

Industries Affected:

• Mobile services: pet grooming, auto detailing, home cleaning
• Field services: appliance repair, HVAC, plumbing
• Home services: massage therapy, personal training, tutoring

The Missing Features:

• Automatic travel time calculation between appointments
• Service area mapping with drive time restrictions
• Dynamic pricing based on location and travel distance
• Route optimization for daily schedules
• Customer communication with real-time arrival estimates

Revenue Opportunity:

• Target market: 1.2 million mobile service businesses
• Current pain: Lost bookings due to scheduling complexity
• Willingness to pay: 150−150−500/month for a comprehensive solution
• Market size: $1.8B for mobile service software

The Business Model:

• Basic plan: $149/month for single-person mobile services
• Team plan: $299/month for multi-person operations
• Enterprise plan: $499/month with advanced routing and analytics
• Transaction fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per online booking

4. "I Need Inventory Management That Handles Consignment"

"I run a consignment shop with 200+ consigners. I need to track what belongs to whom, calculate splits, and generate monthly payout reports. Every inventory system I've tried treats consignment items like regular inventory. I'm using Excel, and it's a nightmare."

The Unique Challenges:

• Items belong to consigners, not the business
• Need to track consigner information and payout percentages
• Split calculations vary by item category and consigner agreement
• Monthly payout reports with detailed item-by-item breakdowns
• Consigner communication and performance tracking

Industries Needing This:

• Consignment clothing stores
• Vintage and antique shops
• Art galleries with consigned pieces
• Used book stores
• Specialty collectibles shops

Current Workarounds:

• Excel spreadsheets (error-prone and time-consuming)
• General inventory software (doesn't handle consignment splits)
• Custom databases (expensive and inflexible)
• Paper tracking systems (completely manual)

The Solution Requirements:

• Consigner profile management with custom split percentages
• Automatic payout calculations and reporting
• Item lifecycle tracking (received, priced, sold, paid out)
• Integration with POS systems
• Consigner portal for real-time sales updates

Market Opportunity:

• 15,000+ consignment stores in the US
• Average revenue: 300K−300K−800K annually
• Current spend on inventory management: 0−0−200/month (mostly Excel)
• Willingness to pay for proper solution: 200−200−600/month

5. "I Need Project Management for Custom Manufacturing"

"I run a custom cabinet shop. Every project is different with unique materials, timelines, and specifications. Standard project management tools don't handle material ordering, shop floor scheduling, or customer approvals. I need something built for custom manufacturing."

Why Generic PM Tools Fail:

• Don't integrate with material ordering and inventory
• Can't handle shop floor resource scheduling (machines, workstations)
• No customer approval workflows for custom specifications
• Don't track material costs vs. labor costs separately
• Can't generate accurate job costing reports

Industries Affected:

• Custom woodworking and cabinetry
• Metal fabrication shops
• Custom furniture makers
• Specialty manufacturing (signs, displays, etc.)
• Prototype and small-batch manufacturers

The Missing Functionality:

• Material requirement planning integrated with project timelines
• Shop floor scheduling with machine and workspace capacity
• Customer approval workflows with photo documentation
• Real-time job costing with material and labor tracking
• Integration with suppliers for automated ordering

Revenue Model:

• Startup plan: $299/month for single-shop operations
• Growth plan: $599/month for multi-location or larger shops
• Enterprise plan: $999/month with advanced analytics and integrations
• Setup and training: 2,000−2,000−5,000 one-time fee

Market Size:

• 250,000+ custom manufacturing businesses in the US
• Average annual revenue: 500K−500K−2M
• Current spend on project management: 0−300/month (mostly inadequate)
• Market opportunity: $3.6B annually

6. "I Need Payroll Software That Handles Tips and Commissions"

"I own 3 hair salons. My stylists work on commission plus tips, and we have different commission rates for different services. Payroll companies either can't handle the complexity or charge $800/month per location. I'm doing payroll manually, and it takes 12 hours every two weeks."

The Complexity Problem:

• Commission rates vary by service type and experience level
• Credit card tips need to be allocated correctly
• Cash tips require manual entry and tracking
• Different tax implications for tips vs. commissions
• State regulations vary for tip reporting

Industries Struggling:

• Hair salons and spas
• Restaurants with tipping
• Auto dealerships (sales commissions)
• Real estate offices
• Retail with commission-based sales

Current Inadequate Solutions:

• ADP/Paychex: 400−400−800/month and still requires manual calculations
• QuickBooks Payroll: Can't handle complex commission structures
• Excel spreadsheets: Time-consuming and error-prone
• Local payroll companies: Expensive and often make mistakes

The Missing Features:

• Flexible commission rate structures by employee and service
• Automatic tip allocation from POS systems
• Tax compliance for tip reporting requirements
• Integration with scheduling software to track services performed
• Employee self-service portal for tip and commission tracking

Revenue Opportunity:

• Target market: 180,000+ service businesses with tipping/commissions
• Current spend: 200−200−1,000/month on inadequate solutions
• Willingness to pay: 150−150−400/month for complete solution
• Market size: $4.3B annually for service industry payroll

The Business Model:

• Basic plan: 99/month+99/month+8/employee for simple commission structures
• Professional plan: 199/month+199/month+12/employee for complex tip/commission combinations
• Enterprise plan: 399/month+399/month+15/employee with advanced reporting and integrations

7. "I Need Customer Communication That Tracks Contractor Relationships"

"I'm a general contractor working with 15+ subcontractors per project. I need to communicate with homeowners, coordinate between subs, and track who said what when. Email chains are a disaster, and nothing tracks the three-way communication between me, subs, and customers."

The Three-Way Communication Problem:

• Homeowners want updates but don't need technical details
• Subcontractors need project specs and scheduling coordination
• General contractors need to manage both relationships simultaneously
• Documentation is needed for liability and change order disputes

Why CRM Systems Don't Work:

• Designed for single customer relationships, not contractor networks
• Don't handle project-based communication workflows
• Can't segment communication by role (homeowner vs. subcontractor)
• No integration with project timelines and scheduling

The Missing Solution: A Communication platform specifically designed for construction project management with role-based messaging, document sharing, and progress tracking.

Key Features Needed:

• Role-based communication (homeowner, GC, subcontractor views)
• Photo documentation with automatic project timeline integration
• Change order approval workflows with cost impact tracking
• Schedule coordination with automatic delay notifications
• Document library with permission-based access

Market Opportunity:

• 710,000+ construction contractors in the US
• An average project involves 3–8 subcontractors
• Communication issues cause 70% of project delays
• Current spend: 0−0−200/month (mostly inadequate email/phone)

Revenue Model:

• Solo contractor: $149/month for up to 3 active projects
• Small team: $299/month for up to 10 active projects
• Growing business: $599/month for unlimited projects + advanced features

8. "I Need Compliance Tracking for Multi-Location Food Businesses"

"I own 4 restaurants across 2 states. Each location has different health department requirements, and I can't keep track of all the inspections, certifications, and training requirements. I got fined $2,000 last month because a food handler certification expired. There has to be software for this."

The Compliance Complexity:

• Health department requirements vary by county/state
• Food handler certifications expire on different schedules
• Equipment inspections and calibrations are required
• HACCP documentation and temperature logs
• Allergen training and documentation requirements

Current Broken System:

• Excel spreadsheets with manual tracking
• Paper files are scattered across locations
• Manager's responsibility with no system backup
• Reactive compliance (wait for violations, then fix)

Industries Affected:

• Multi-location restaurants
• Food trucks and mobile vendors
• Catering companies
• Grocery stores and delis
• School and hospital food service

The Solution Requirements:

• Automated certification expiration tracking with alerts
• Location-specific compliance requirement databases
• Mobile inspection checklists with photo documentation
• Training schedule management and completion tracking
• Regulatory update notifications for changing requirements

Market Size:

• 200,000+ food service businesses with multiple locations
• Average compliance cost: 15K−15K−50K annually in fines and management time
• Willingness to pay: 200−200−800/month to avoid violations
• Total addressable market: $2.1B annually

9. "I Need Pricing Software for Custom Service Businesses"

"I do custom landscaping projects. Every job is different — different plants, soil conditions, labor requirements. I'm terrible at pricing and either lose money on jobs or price myself out of work. I need software that helps me price custom projects accurately."

Why This Is Universal:

• Service businesses struggle with custom project pricing
• Underpricing leads to losses, and overpricing loses customers
• Inexperienced business owners have no pricing framework
• Market rates vary significantly by location and season

Industries Desperately Needing This:

• Landscaping and lawn care
• Home remodeling and renovation
• Cleaning services (residential and commercial)
• Photography and videography
• Consulting and professional services

The Pricing Challenge:

• Material costs fluctuate frequently
• Labor time estimates are often inaccurate
• Overhead allocation is unclear
• Profit margins aren't calculated properly
• Competitive pricing data isn't available

The Missing Solution: Industry-specific pricing software that combines cost databases, time estimation tools, and local market data to generate accurate quotes.

Key Features Needed:

• Industry-specific material cost databases with real-time pricing
• Time estimation templates based on historical job data
• Overhead calculator with business-specific inputs
• Profit margin optimization suggestions
• Local market rate comparison data
• Integration with estimating and invoicing systems

Revenue Opportunity:

• Target market: 2.3 million custom service businesses in US
• Current problem: 65% struggle with consistent profitable pricing
• Lost revenue: 50K−50K−200K annually per business due to poor pricing
• Willingness to pay: 100−100−500/month for accurate pricing tools

The Business Model:

• Basic plan: $149/month for single-trade pricing tools
• Professional plan: $299/month for multi-service businesses
• Enterprise plan: $599/month with team features and advanced analytics
• Industry add-ons: $49/month per additional trade specialty

The Million-Dollar Pattern Behind These Pain Points

After analyzing thousands of small business complaints, here's what makes these problems so valuable:

1. Existing Solutions Don't Fit

Every pain point involves small businesses trying to force-fit enterprise software or consumer tools into their specific workflows. The solutions exist for big companies or simple use cases, but nothing serves the messy middle market.

2. High Willingness to Pay

When small business owners mention specific dollar amounts, they're not negotiating — they're revealing their desperation level. These aren't "nice to have" features, they're "business-critical" needs.

3. Recurring Revenue Potential

Each problem represents ongoing operational challenges, not one-time issues. Solutions naturally lead to monthly subscription models with high retention rates.

4. Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Small business owners in the same industry talk to each other constantly. Build a solution that works for one landscaper, and they'll recommend it to 20 others.

5. Low Competition

Big software companies ignore these niche markets because they seem too small. Independent developers don't understand the industry-specific requirements. This creates massive opportunity gaps.

Why These Opportunities Exist Right Now

Small business software is going through a massive shift:

• Vertical SaaS is replacing horizontal solutions
• Industry-specific tools are outperforming general-purpose software
• Simple, focused solutions are beating feature-bloated platforms
• Small markets are proving more profitable than broad markets

The businesses that win in the next decade will be the ones that solve specific problems for specific industries, not the ones trying to be everything to everyone.

The First-Mover Advantage Window

Here's why timing matters: These pain points are fresh.

Most of these problems emerged in the past 2–3 years due to:

• Regulatory changes (like sales tax nexus rules)
• Technology adoption (mobile workforce tools)
• Economic shifts (gig economy and contractor relationships)
• Industry evolution (increased compliance requirements)

The entrepreneurs who move first will establish market dominance before larger companies notice these opportunities.

The Risk-Reward Reality Check

Low Risk Factors:

• Pre-validated demand with specific budget ranges
• Small initial investment compared to broad-market software
• Ability to start with an MVP and iterate based on customer feedback
• Word-of-mouth marketing reduces customer acquisition costs

High Reward Potential:

• Recurring revenue with high customer lifetime value
• Premium pricing due to specialized functionality
• Market leadership opportunity in underserved niches
• Potential acquisition targets for larger software companies

The Risk-Adjusted ROI is exceptional compared to competing in crowded, general-purpose software markets.

The Million-Dollar Question

You have two choices:

1. Build another project management tool and compete with 500+ existing solutions for a tiny market share
2. Solve consignment inventory management and own 80% of a market where customers are already budgeting $300–800/month for a solution

The mathematics is clear. The customer validation is documented. The only question is whether you'll act on it.

Bottom Line

Pick one pain point that resonates with your experience or interests. Spend this week reaching out to 10 business owners who've expressed this exact frustration on Reddit.

Don't pitch them anything.

Just listen.

Understand their current workarounds, their budget constraints, and their must-have features.

The business owners posting these pain points are your future customers. They've already told you what they need and what they'll pay for it.

The only thing missing is someone willing to build it.