Free business idea worksheet
Should I Build This?
Have an idea, but unsure what to do with it?
Work through 25 practical questions to understand what you know, what you need to find out, and the next step worth taking.
Fillable PDF33 pagesNo signup needed
What is inside
Each question has its own page. You get a short explanation of how to answer, a fictional example and a note on what the answer helps you decide. Below that is a large box for your own answer.
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Start with your ideaWrite down the idea, who you think would buy it and what you want to help them achieve. -
Work through 25 questionsOne question per page, with an example and plenty of room to write. -
Choose your next stepContinue, change something, investigate or set the idea aside, and write down why.
The questions are grouped in five parts
A worked example near the end shows how one person used the numbers to choose a small next step.
- 1–5Who would buy it
- 6–10What they use and how to reach them
- 11–15The offer and what you know
- 16–20Selling and making the numbers work
- 21–25What to check before the next step
Who it is for
The worksheet is for anyone thinking about a service, digital product, course, workshop or membership and wondering whether to put more time or money into it.
You can use it alongside a job search, freelance work or other commitments. Go through it in one sitting, or a few questions at a time.
- You have one idea and want to look at it more clearly.
- You have several ideas and need a way to compare them, one at a time.
- You have started something and are unsure whether to continue.
- You want a small, realistic next step instead of a big plan.
How to use it
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Open or print it
Type into the answer boxes in a PDF reader and save your answers, or print the pages and write by hand.
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Make a first pass
Answer what you can. Where you do not know, write what you need to find out, and mark guesses as guesses.
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Choose one next step
Use the last pages to pick one action, a limit on time and money, and a date to review what happened.
Questions about the worksheet
How do I fill it in and save my answers?
Open the PDF in a PDF reader, for example Adobe Acrobat Reader or the PDF viewer in your browser. Click in an answer box and type. Each box takes several lines. Then save the file.
Some browsers and phone apps only keep your answers when you choose Save or Download. If your answers are missing when you reopen the file, use a desktop PDF reader instead. You can also print the pages and write by hand.
Do I need all the answers before I start?
No. Many answers will be guesses or gaps at first. Writing down what you still need to find out is part of the work. After a first pass, choose one important gap to look into.
Will the worksheet tell me if my idea will make money?
No. It helps you sort what you know from what you are assuming, and choose a sensible next step. It cannot guarantee demand or income.
Do I need to sign up or give my email address?
No. The button downloads the PDF directly.
Are the examples real?
No. The examples, including the worked example, are fictional. They show the kind of detail that is useful to write down.
Take one idea through the questions
Start with what you know today. The worksheet helps you find the next step worth taking.
Fillable PDF33 pagesNo signup needed