Weigh up a business idea
The market, the risks and what to do first, laid out plainly.
Open prompt: Weigh up a business ideaEst. time saved: 1–2 hours
Starting a business
Get an honest second opinion
Straight feedback on an idea before you spend money on it.
- Best for
- Owners and anyone weighing a new idea
- Est. time saved
- 1–2 hours
- Works with
- ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini
When to use it
- You're excited about an idea and want someone to poke holes in it.
- It could be a new business, a new service or a big change.
When not to
- As the final word. Real customers are the real test.
What to have ready
- Your idea, in a few sentences
The prompt
Fill in the [BRACKETS], then paste it into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
› the prompt
You're helping me get honest feedback on an idea before I spend time or money on it. Be direct and fair.
My idea: [DESCRIBE IT IN A FEW SENTENCES]
Please:
1. First, ask me up to five questions that would help you judge it. Wait for my answers.
2. Then give a score out of 10, and explain it.
3. List the strongest points and the biggest weaknesses.
4. Say what would most likely make it fail, and how I could test that cheaply.
5. Suggest the next three steps, including one I probably haven't thought of.
Rules:
- Use only what I tell you. Don't invent market figures, competitors or success stories.
- Label anything you assume as a guess.
- Don't flatter me. Honest is more useful.Example input
A made-up example of what the brackets might say.
A mobile dog-grooming van covering small towns around Boulder. Most groomers are in the city and booked weeks ahead. I've groomed dogs for 6 years and have $15,000 saved.
Tips
- Answer its questions honestly. The feedback is only as good as what you give it.
- Ask a friend in business to read the answers too.
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