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Business Idea Validation Checklist: 10 Simple Questions

By the Glaral team · Published 19 September 2026 · 3 min read

How to use this checklist

Write your answer to each question. Be honest. Where you do not know the answer, write "I don't know". Those are the things to test first.

Give yourself one point for each question you can answer with real evidence, not just a feeling.

The 10 questions

1. Who has this problem? Name a real type of person, not "everyone".
2. How often does the problem happen? Daily problems are easier to sell than rare ones.
3. What do people do today? Every problem already has a workaround, even if it is a bad one.
4. Why is the workaround not good enough? This is where your idea can win.
5. Would they pay? Ask for a small pre-order, not an opinion.
6. How much would they pay? Compare it to what they spend on the workaround.
7. How will you reach them? Name the exact place, group or channel.
8. Can you build a small version in weeks, not months? If not, cut the idea down.
9. Why are you the right person? Skills, experience or access to the customers all count.
10. What would make you stop? Decide now, for example: "If fewer than 3 of 10 people say yes."

How to read your score

• 8 to 10: strong. Build a small version and find your first customers.
• 5 to 7: promising. Test the weak points first.
• 0 to 4: too early. Talk to more people before you do anything else.

What to do with the answers you don't have

Turn each "I don't know" into a small test. If you do not know if people will pay, ask five people to pre-order. If you do not know how to reach them, join two groups where they spend time and watch what they talk about.

You can also post your idea on Glaral and see how people vote. It is a quick way to check interest for free.

A worked example: scoring one idea

This is a made-up example. Idea: a phone repair service that comes to your home.

• Who has the problem? People with cracked screens who cannot spare a day. Yes, with evidence (5 of 8 people had a broken phone in the last year).
• What do they do today? Visit a shop and wait. Yes.
• Would they pay more for home service? Unknown. No evidence yet.
• Can you reach them? Local groups and apartment societies. Yes.
• Can you build a small version? Yes, one repair person and a phone number. Yes.

The score is not perfect, and that is fine. The biggest unknown is whether people will pay extra for home service. So the first test is a simple one: ask 5 people to book a home repair at a fixed price.

Red-flag answers

Watch out if you catch yourself writing any of these:

• "Everyone needs this." (Nobody is a real customer.)
• "There is no competition." (There is always a workaround.)
• "They will love it once they see it." (That is a hope, not evidence.)
• "I will figure out marketing later." (Reaching customers is half of the business.)

How often should you use the checklist?

Use it once before you start, and again after each round of tests. Your score should go up as you learn. If it does not move after two rounds, the idea may need a big change.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions should I answer yes to?

Aim for at least 7 out of 10 with real evidence. Fewer than that means you should test more before you build.

What if I do not know the answers?

That is normal. Turn each unknown into a small test, like a poll, five interviews, or a pre-order.

Should I share my idea to get answers?

Sharing a short version is usually fine and helps you learn. Do not share private data or secrets you cannot risk losing.