How to Validate a Business Idea Before You Build It

Validation is not asking people whether they like your idea. Almost everyone says yes to that, and the answer predicts nothing. A useful test makes someone spend something real: time, attention, an email address or money. The more it costs them, the more their answer means.

Work through the methods in order of cost. Start with evidence that already exists, like search behaviour and public demand signals, because it is free and fast. Then talk to people who have the problem. Then put a fake door or a landing page in front of real traffic. Pre-selling comes last, because it is the strongest signal and the hardest one to earn.

Decide in advance what result would make you stop. A test without a kill threshold is just a way to feel busy.