Product · Roadmap
How to build a short, flexible roadmap, with a Now, Next, Later format, first-90-day milestones and a template.
Last updated: October 2026. Written by Athar Ahmad, Certified Bubble.io Developer and Tech Architect, Simple Automation Solutions.
Quick answer
A product roadmap for an MVP is a short, flexible plan of the problems you will solve and the outcomes you want. Use a Now, Next, Later format instead of dates, define outcomes not just features, prioritise by value, effort and risk, keep Now small enough to finish, set milestones for the first 90 days such as activation, retention and first paying customers, and review monthly. The Now column becomes the scope of your first build.
Key takeaways
- Use Now, Next, Later instead of dates for early products.
- Describe outcomes, not just features.
- Keep Now small; not everything can be urgent.
- Set 90-day milestones: delivery, activation, retention, first revenue, first referral.
- Review monthly and after major learning.
In this guide
- What is a product roadmap?
- MVP roadmap vs long-term roadmap
- The Now, Next, Later format
- How to build a roadmap in six steps
- Milestones for the first 90 days
- A roadmap template
- How often should you update it?
- What mistakes should you avoid?
- How do you connect the roadmap to a build?
- Frequently asked questions
A product roadmap tells everyone where the product is heading and why. For an early-stage product it should be short, flexible and tied to outcomes, not a long wish list with dates attached. Founders who build one that is too detailed spend their time defending dates. Those who build none build whatever the last customer asked for.
This guide explains how to create a product roadmap for an MVP and the first few releases, with a simple template, a way to decide what goes where, how often to update it and mistakes to avoid.
What is a product roadmap?
A product roadmap is a high-level plan showing the direction of the product: the problems you will solve, the outcomes you want and roughly when. It is not a project plan with every task, and it is not a promise. It is a shared view of priorities that can change as you learn.
MVP roadmap vs long-term roadmap
| MVP roadmap | Long-term roadmap | |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon | Weeks to a few months | Quarters to a year or more |
| Focus | Proving the core value and learning | Growth, depth and scale |
| Detail | Specific features for the first release | Themes and outcomes |
| Certainty | Fairly firm | Directional, subject to change |
The Now, Next, Later format
Instead of dates, many early-stage teams organise the roadmap into three columns.
| Column | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Now | What is being built or tested currently | Client login, document upload and status tracking |
| Next | What is likely to follow once Now is learned from | Reminders, messaging and staff dashboard |
| Later | Ideas worth exploring, not committed | Mobile app, integrations, reporting |
This keeps focus on the present, shows direction and avoids false precision.
How to build a roadmap in six steps
- State the vision and the problem. One sentence each.
- Define outcomes, not just features. For example “clients upload documents without email” rather than “upload button”.
- List candidate items, from customer interviews, support requests and your own ideas.
- Prioritise. Decide what matters most, using value, effort and risk. See MVP feature prioritisation.
- Group into Now, Next and Later, keeping Now small enough to finish.
- Share and review. Discuss with the team and a few customers, and update regularly.
Milestones for the first 90 days
| Milestone | What it proves |
|---|---|
| First working version in users’ hands | You can deliver |
| Activation: users reach the first useful result | The product delivers value |
| Retention: users come back | The value is repeatable |
| First paying customers | People will pay |
| First referrals or case study | The product earns advocacy |
A roadmap template
Vision and goal
Vision: ________
Target customer: ________
Goal for this period: ________ (for example 10 customers using the core workflow weekly)
Now
Item: ________ Outcome: ________ Why: ________ Owner: ________
Item: ________ Outcome: ________ Why: ________ Owner: ________
Next
Item: ________ Outcome: ________ What we need to learn first: ________
Later
Idea: ________ Why it might matter: ________
Risks and assumptions
Biggest assumptions being tested: ________
Dependencies: ________
What would change the plan: ________
How often should you update it?
Review it at least monthly in the early stage, and after any significant learning, such as a series of customer interviews or a change in usage. Keep an archive of changes and the reasons, so you can see how your thinking evolved.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Dates on everything, creating false promises.
- Listing features without the problem they solve.
- Letting loud customers set the whole roadmap.
- Never saying no. Everything cannot be Now.
- Treating the roadmap as fixed.
- Keeping it private from the team.
- Ignoring security, support and maintenance work. They need room too. See what maintenance involves.
How do you connect the roadmap to a build?
The roadmap’s Now column becomes the scope of your first build, written down in a PRD. Our Discovery Sprint turns it into scope, flows, architecture and cost within 24 hours for $345, credited toward a build that starts at $3,500. See how to avoid scope creep and realistic build schedules.
Frequently asked questions
What is a product roadmap?
A high-level plan of where a product is heading, the problems it will solve and the outcomes it aims for, shared with the team and updated as you learn.
What is the Now, Next, Later roadmap?
A format that groups items by what is being worked on now, what is likely next and what is being considered later, without fixed dates.
Should an MVP roadmap have dates?
Light timing for the first release is fine, but avoid committing to dates for later items. Focus on outcomes.
How many items should be in Now?
Few enough that the team can finish them. Overloading Now guarantees nothing is completed well.
How do I decide what goes on the roadmap?
Use customer evidence, prioritise by value, effort and risk and link each item to an outcome.
Want to turn your roadmap into a scoped first build?
Email us your Now column. We will help you scope, price and plan the first release.
Athar Ahmad, Certified Bubble.io Developer and Tech Architect, Simple Automation Solutions
About Simple Automation Solutions (SA Solutions)
Simple Automation Solutions is a Bubble.io development studio led by Athar Ahmad, a Certified Bubble.io Developer and Tech Architect. It builds web and mobile apps, client portals and SaaS products for founder-led businesses such as law firms, accounting firms, boutique agencies and consultants. Services include a free 30-minute Idea Audit, a $345 Discovery Sprint (a Product Requirements Document delivered within 24 hours, credited toward the build) and builds starting at $3,500. Website: sasolutionspk.com.
