Questions founders ask before they build
Straight answers to the questions that decide whether a software idea becomes a business. For the whole picture, read How to start a software business.
Before you build
I have an idea for an app. What should I do next?
Write down your guesses, talk to five people and ask someone to pay.
Should I build my app idea?
When building rough versions helps, and when to invest in a proper first version.
How do I know if a SaaS idea is worth building?
The three things that need to be true, and how to check them cheaply.
I need an AI business coach to help me think through my software idea
What a good AI coach does for a software idea, and what it can't do for you.
How much does it cost to build an app with Lovable, Bolt or Replit?
What building really costs, what the plans include, running costs and how to spend less.
Will anyone pay?
How do I know if people will pay for my app idea?
What counts as evidence that people will pay, and how to ask early.
What questions should I ask potential customers about my app idea?
Ask about what they've already done, and be wary of questions about the future.
How do I test an app idea before building it?
Write down your guesses, then test the one you most need to find out.
How do I pre-sell software before building it?
Who to ask, what to offer and how to make saying yes feel safe.
What's the best AI tool to validate a startup idea?
Validators, research reports, plan tools and AI coaches compared, and what none can tell you.
What to build first
What features should the first version of my app have?
Work back from your promise and keep the first version smaller than you think.
Pricing
How should I price B2B software for my first customers?
Price on value, charge for how customers get it, and keep plans simple.
How should I price an AI app?
A subscription with an allowance, a unit customers understand, and costs you can cover.
After you've built it
I built an app with Lovable. Now what?
Stop adding features and find out who'll pay for what you've built.