Use this tool to remove emotion from your decision-making. Grade your business idea against a brutal, honest, and objective set of criteria. A high score is not a guarantee of success, but a low score is a clear warning sign.

Instructions

Review each question below. If the answer is a clear and confident "Yes," check the box. Each checked box is worth one point. Tally your total score at the end.

Category 1: Market Potential (Score: __/5)

• [ ] Demand: Is there existing, verifiable demand for this? Are people already spending money to solve this problem?
• [ ] Audience: Can I easily identify and reach a specific target audience?
• [ ] Size: Is the market large enough to support my financial goals? (Is it a pond or an ocean?)
• [ ] Timing: Is the market ready for this solution right now? (Not too early, not too late).
• [ ] Growth: Is the market growing, stable, or shrinking?

Category 2: Product & Viability (Score: __/5)

• [ ] Problem: Does this solve a real, urgent, or expensive problem?
• [ ] Clarity: Can I explain the core offer and its value in a single, clear sentence?
• [ ] Unfair Advantage: Do I have a unique advantage (skill, audience, insight, access) that is hard to copy?
• [ ] Simplicity: Can I deliver an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) of this within 90 days?
• [ ] Differentiation: Is my offer clearly different and superior to existing alternatives in a meaningful way?

Category 3: Monetization & Financials (Score: __/5)

• [ ] Revenue Model: Is the path to revenue direct, simple, and obvious?
• [ ] Pricing Power: Can I price this based on the value it creates, not just the time it takes to deliver?
• [ ] Profit Margin: Are the potential profit margins high (e.g., >50%)?