When I started my first business, I was completely lost. I didn’t know where to start, what to focus on, or even what questions I should be asking myself. I kept spinning my wheels, unsure whether my idea would work or if I was just wasting time and money. Sound familiar?
Over the last 10 years, I’ve built and scaled businesses, some successful and some not so much. Along the way, I discovered a simple framework that helps validate any business idea, fast. It all boils down to 3 key questions:
1. Can I Get 10,000 Visitors Monthly?
This is your marketing question. If you can’t attract visitors, there’s no one to sell to. You need to figure out how you’ll drive traffic—whether that’s through SEO, ads, social media, or partnerships. Marketing is all about visibility. If you can’t answer this question, it’s time to rethink how you’ll bring people to your business.
2. Can I Convert 0.9% of Visitors Into Paying Customers?
This is your sales question. Even a small conversion rate like 0.9% can lead to success if you’ve got enough traffic. This step is about understanding your target audience and creating an offer that resonates with them. Is your product or service solving a real problem? If your website, messaging, and offer don’t convert, it’s time to iterate.
3. Can I Make a Profit With My Business Model?
This is your finance question. Revenue minus costs equals profit. If you’re spending more than you make, the math simply doesn’t work. Your pricing needs to account for costs while leaving enough margin for growth. If your numbers aren’t adding up, you need to tweak your pricing or lower your expenses.
If you can answer YES to all three questions, congratulations—you’ve got a validated business idea.
What If You Don’t Know Your Numbers Yet?
If you’re just starting out and unsure about your numbers, I’ve created a free Business Calculator to help: Try the Business Calculator Here
This tool allows you to:
Estimate your traffic, conversion rates, and profit.
See industry examples to help you benchmark.
Answer the critical question: “How many visitors do I need daily to hit my goals?”
How to Validate Those Numbers
Having numbers is great, but how do you know they’re realistic? That’s where my simple validation plan comes in:
Define Your Business: Get crystal clear on your idea, audience, and problem you’re solving.
Generate a Website: Launch quickly with a simple website that showcases your offer.
Iterate and Improve: Test your idea, collect data, and make adjustments.
The Build, Measure, Learn Framework
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of the Build, Measure, Learn framework:
Build something simple and launch fast.
Measure its performance (traffic, conversions, engagement).
Learn from the results and apply the changes.
This process keeps you moving forward and helps you avoid perfection paralysis. You’re constantly improving your business while gaining valuable insights.
Ready to Validate Your Idea?
I’ve compiled everything I’ve learned into a free guide with step-by-step instructions, tools, and videos to help you validate your business idea: Get the Full Guide Here
Don’t waste months guessing if your idea will work. Use these questions, tools, and frameworks to start building smarter and faster.
