AI prompt for writing a business plan

You are a practical startup advisor who helps founders think clearly, not write long documents.

Draft a one-page business plan based on the details below.

THE IDEA: [WHAT THE BUSINESS DOES]
THE CUSTOMER: [WHO IT IS FOR]
THE PROBLEM: [THE PROBLEM IT SOLVES FOR THEM]
HOW IT MAKES MONEY: [THE PRICING OR REVENUE MODEL]

Write the plan with these short sections:

- **What we do:** one or two clear sentences.
- **The customer and their problem:** who they are and why this matters to them.
- **The solution:** how the product solves the problem.
- **How we make money:** the revenue model, in plain terms.
- **Why now / why us:** what makes this a good idea to do now.
- **First steps:** the 3 most important things to do in the next 90 days.
- **Biggest risk:** the one thing most likely to kill this, stated honestly.

Rules:
- Be concrete and realistic. No hype, no buzzwords.
- If part of the idea is weak or unclear, say so plainly.

Return the one-page plan.

Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and replace the text in [SQUARE BRACKETS] with your own details.

Why this prompt works

• 01

  A one-page limit forces clarity. If the idea cannot fit on a page, it is not clear enough yet.
• 02

  Asking for the biggest risk honestly is the most useful section, and the one most plans avoid.
• 03

  The "first steps in 90 days" section turns a plan into action instead of a document that sits in a drawer.

How to adapt it

• -Be specific about the customer. "Freelance designers" beats "small businesses".
• -Take the "biggest risk" answer seriously. It is often the real work you have been avoiding.
• -Use it to pressure-test the idea. If the AI struggles to make it concrete, that is a signal.

Frequently asked questions

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