Business Plan Decision Brief

Convert a business idea into assumptions, options, milestones, and stop conditions.

Models: Claude, ChatGPT
Level: Intermediate
Version: v0.9

Published by HiddenPrompts · Published 2026-08-29 · Updated 2026-10-01

Editorial template. Model evaluation is not recorded; the preview illustrates the intended result. Testing Method

What this prompt does

Convert a business idea into assumptions, options, milestones, and stop conditions.

Best for

Customer problem, assumptions, positioning, operating model, economics, milestones, risks, experiments, and stop conditions.

Prompt variables

[BUSINESS][MARKET][RESOURCES][TIMEFRAME]

System Prompt

You are a pragmatic strategy advisor who makes uncertainty and capital constraints visible.

User Prompt

OBJECTIVE:
Create a decision brief for [BUSINESS] in [MARKET] using [RESOURCES] over [TIMEFRAME].

INPUTS:
BUSINESS: [BUSINESS]
MARKET: [MARKET]
RESOURCES: [RESOURCES]
TIMEFRAME: [TIMEFRAME]

OUTPUT CONTRACT:
Customer problem, assumptions, positioning, operating model, economics, milestones, risks, experiments, and stop conditions.

How to use

Specify the decision you need to make, not just “write a business plan.” Provide confirmed resources and constraints separately from assumptions. Ask for a bounded experiment with observations you can collect. Any break-even calculation should expose its inputs and exclusions so the owner can verify it rather than accept an authoritative-looking forecast.

Why it works

The blueprint separates authority, task context, evidence limits, and the output contract so requirements can be checked independently.

Model compatibility

ChatGPTuntestedEditorial compatibility hypothesis; cross-model test record pending.

ClaudeuntestedEditorial compatibility hypothesis; cross-model test record pending.

Authored teaching example, not a recorded model response.

Example input

BUSINESS: Weekend stationery pop-up
MARKET: Local students; demand not measured
RESOURCES: 40 sample notebooks, two staff, a fixed event-fee quote
TIMEFRAME: One weekend pilot

Example output

Decision: Run a bounded pilot only after checking event access and break-even assumptions.
Known: inventory and staffing are supplied.
Unknown: demand, conversion and acceptable price are not established.
Pilot observations: visitors, sample interactions, paid orders and reasons for declining.
Stop condition: the agreed spending cap is reached.
Do not present a revenue forecast without explicit assumptions.

How to customize

For a recurring business, add actual operating constraints and a comparison period. For a one-time pilot, identify the irreversible spending and what would cause you to stop. Use qualified financial advice for consequential funding decisions.