Short answer: To choose a boilerplate license for your SaaS, evaluate your revenue model: MIT for maximum adoption with minimal restrictions, GPL for copyleft requirements, or a custom license for paid templates. Consider whether your code is public, private, or sold commercially.
Key takeaways
- MIT licenses are permissive and popular for open-source boilerplates.
- GPL licenses require derivative works to be open source.
- Custom licenses let you restrict commercial use and reselling.
- Your license choice directly impacts your SaaS revenue model.
- Always consult a lawyer for custom license language.
- Clearly display the license in your boilerplate’s documentation.
What you will find here
When you build and sell a SaaS boilerplate, the license you choose determines how buyers can use your code. Pick wrong, and you could lose control of your work or scare away paying customers. This guide compares the most common boilerplate licenses—MIT, GPL, and custom—and explains what each means for your revenue and obligations.
Why Your Boilerplate License Matters
A boilerplate license defines what others can do with your code. With no license, default copyright laws apply, which may be too restrictive for your target market. The right license balances protection with adoption.
Many developers think licensing is just legal overhead. It’s not. Your license directly affects how many people buy your boilerplate, how they can integrate it, and whether they’ll build competing products from it.
Think about it from a buyer’s perspective. They’re evaluating your boilerplate next to a competitor’s. If your license is unclear or overly restrictive, they’ll move on. A well-chosen license signals professionalism and reduces friction in the purchase decision.
Common License Options
MIT License
MIT is the most permissive open-source license. Buyers can use, modify, distribute, and sublicense your boilerplate, even in proprietary software. The only requirement is to include the original copyright notice.
MIT is a strong choice if you want maximum adoption. Many developers expect it and will choose an MIT-licensed boilerplate over a more restrictive one. However, you give up any control over commercial use—someone could repackage your code and sell it as their own.
Trade-off: You gain adoption but lose the ability to prevent reselling of your work. If your boilerplate is a simple starter kit with little added value, MIT might cannibalize your sales. But if you sell ongoing updates or support, MIT drives users into your ecosystem.
GNU General Public License (GPL)
GPL is a copyleft license. Anyone distributing your boilerplate—or a derivative work—must also make their source code available under GPL. This means if a buyer builds a SaaS product using your boilerplate and distributes it, they must open-source their entire product too.
GPL protects your code from being locked into proprietary systems. But it can scare off SaaS founders who want to keep their own code private. Many commercial boilerplate sellers avoid GPL for this reason.
Where GPL shines: If you’re building a boilerplate for internal tools or community-driven projects, GPL ensures improvements are shared back. If you target startups building proprietary products, GPL will be a hard no for most buyers.
Custom / Proprietary Licenses
A custom license lets you define exactly what buyers can and cannot do. You can prohibit reselling the boilerplate as-is, limit the number of projects, or require attribution. This is common for paid boilerplates sold on marketplaces.
Custom licenses give you the most control, but they also require the most work. You need clear, enforceable language. Buyers may be cautious, so you need to explain what’s allowed in plain English.
Common custom license terms: single-project use (buyer must purchase another license for a second project), no redistribution, no sublicensing, and attribution in the product footer. A typical “starts at $49 for one project” pricing works well with these terms.
How Your License Affects Revenue Models
Your choice of license should align with how you plan to make money:
| Revenue Model | Best License | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Free open-source with paid support | MIT | Maximizes adoption; support contracts generate revenue. |
| Single purchase (one-time fee) | Custom (standard EULA) | Restricts reselling and unlimited redistribution. |
| Subscription model (continuous updates) | Custom (subscription-based) | Allows you to tie access to active subscriptions. |
| Dual licensing (free + commercial) | GPL + custom commercial license | Free GPL version for community; paid license for proprietary use. |
Your license should match how buyers expect to use your boilerplate. Don’t force a GPL license on a product you expect to sell to startups building proprietary products—they’ll walk away.
Practical Steps to Choose Your License
- Define your goals. Do you want maximum adoption, or do you need to protect your revenue from reselling?
- Research competitor boilerplates. See what licenses popular boilerplates in your niche use. If you’re building a Laravel SaaS boilerplate, check what’s common in that ecosystem.
- Choose a standard license if possible. MIT and GPL are well understood by developers. Custom licenses require more legal scrutiny.
- Draft or adopt the license text. For standard licenses, copy the exact text from the official source. For custom, work with a lawyer.
- Include the license in your boilerplate’s root directory as a LICENSE file. Also mention it in your documentation and marketing pages.
- Communicate clearly. In your boilerplate’s README, write a short “What You Can and Cannot Do” section in plain English, alongside the full legal text.
When communicating, be explicit. For example: “You may use this boilerplate in unlimited commercial projects, but you may not redistribute the boilerplate code itself as a standalone product.” That removes ambiguity.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Choosing a license without understanding its implications. Many developers pick MIT because it’s popular, then later regret that buyers can resell the code unchanged.
Mistake #2: Using a custom license that’s too restrictive. If your boilerplate is for building SaaS products, don’t forbid commercial use—that defeats the purpose. Instead, restrict reselling the boilerplate itself.
Mistake #3: Forgetting to include the license file. Some buyers will use your code without a license, assuming they can do whatever they want. Protect yourself and your users by always including a license.
Mistake #4: Overcomplicating the license. A 10-page custom license with dozens of clauses can confuse buyers and create friction. Keep it simple. If you can’t explain the license in three bullet points, it’s too complex.
Mistake #5: Not updating the license as your product evolves. If you pivot from a one-time sale to a subscription model, your license needs to change. Don’t let an old license create loopholes.
When to Consult a Lawyer
If your boilerplate generates significant revenue or you plan to use a custom license, invest in a lawyer who understands software licensing. A custom license written by a non-lawyer can be unenforceable or contain unintended loopholes.
Standard licenses like MIT and GPL don’t need a lawyer—they’re tested and well-documented. But if your license prohibits certain uses (e.g., you don’t allow the boilerplate to be used in nuclear software), get legal advice.
Also consult a lawyer if you plan to offer a money-back guarantee tied to license enforcement. Poorly drafted refund policies can lead to disputes.
Final Advice
Start with a standard license unless you have a specific reason not to. MIT for maximum adoption, GPL if you want to enforce openness, and custom only if you have a unique business model. Test your license with real buyers and adjust if needed. Your boilerplate’s license is a feature—choose it as carefully as you choose your tech stack.
Remember: The best license is one that aligns with your revenue goals and doesn’t surprise your buyers. Once you pick it, own it. Mention it prominently in your sales page so buyers can see at a glance that you’ve thought about their needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the license of my boilerplate after selling it?
Changing a license only applies to future versions or new purchases, unless all existing buyers agree. You can release a new version under a different license, but existing copies remain under the original license. Always check your existing license’s terms before making changes.
What license should I use for a free SaaS boilerplate?
MIT is ideal for a free boilerplate because it encourages adoption and contributions. It allows anyone to use, modify, and distribute your code with minimal restrictions. This builds a community and can drive demand for paid add-ons or support.
Can I use an MIT-licensed boilerplate in a commercial SaaS product?
Yes, absolutely. The MIT license permits use in proprietary software without requiring you to open-source your own code. You only need to include the original copyright notice. That’s why MIT is popular for boilerplates used in commercial SaaS.
Is the GPL license suitable for a commercial boilerplate?
Generally no, because GPL requires derivative works to also be GPL-licensed. Most SaaS founders building proprietary products avoid GPL boilerplates. However, you can dual-license your boilerplate under GPL for open-source use and a commercial license for proprietary use.
What happens if I don’t include a license with my boilerplate?
Without a license, default copyright laws apply, meaning no one can legally use, modify, or distribute your code. This severely limits adoption. Always include a license to clearly state what you allow. Even a permissive license is better than none.