Читать книгу Find. Build. Sell. - Stephen J. Hunt - Страница 26

1 Is what you love relevant to other people? Do people love what you have? I happen to love pubs, and people love pubs, so it's a good match. People need to want what you have.

2 Will the customer pay you for what you have? What problem do you solve? You'll get paid if you help people solve their problem. In my world, people will always pay for a pint, a parma, a punt or a party.

3 If everyone else is already doing it, can you do it differently? Beware of unwarranted optimism — that is, believing that just because you offer it, people will come. You need to have a clear point of difference and the ability to communicate that to a market who value that difference.

4 Can you find a customer? You don't need hundreds of customers to validate your business idea. You need one. The minute someone pays you for what you have (at market rates) you have a business idea worth exploring.

5 Is it profitable? Selling it for a fee is one thing. Making a profit is another. If it costs so much to make it that you can't make a profit, you need to find a cheaper way to make it or find a different business model.

If you don't want to lose money (like I nearly did) by making a poor decision, think carefully before you buy or launch a business. I didn't, and I nearly lost my entire life's savings. Fortunately, I was able to turn it around, but many can't, or don't, and what starts out as exciting can quickly become overwhelming or downright terrifying. Don't let this happen to you.