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🚀 Prompt guide

Use AI to Start or Grow Your Small Business

Thinking about starting a business — or already running one and feeling overwhelmed? These prompts help you think through your idea, get set up the right way, find customers, and use AI as your always-available business advisor.

🚀 6 topics covered 💬 20+ ready-to-use prompts ✅ No business experience needed
Section 1

💡 Is My Business Idea Actually a Good One?

Most people with a business idea never start because they're not sure if it'll work. AI can help you stress-test your idea honestly — before you spend a dime. Use these prompts to find out if you're onto something real.

Prompt — test your idea
"I have an idea for a small business: [describe your idea in a sentence or two]. My target customers would be [who you want to sell to]. Can you help me figure out if this is a viable business idea — what would make it work, what could go wrong, and what I should find out before I invest any money or time into it?"
Prompt — who is my competition?
"My business idea is [describe it]. Can you help me understand who my main competitors would be, what they're already doing well, and where there might be a gap I could fill — something they're not doing that customers actually want?"
↳ Want to know more? Try these follow-up questions
"What questions should I be asking potential customers before I launch — to make sure people actually want what I'm selling?"
"How do I figure out if there's enough demand for my product or service in my area or online?"
"What's the difference between a hobby business and a real business — and how do I know which one I'm building?"
Section 2

📝 Do I Need a Business Plan — and How Do I Write One?

A business plan sounds intimidating but it doesn't have to be a 40-page document. Even a simple one-page plan helps you think clearly and stay on track. AI can help you write it — even if you've never done it before.

Prompt — write a simple business plan
"I want to start a [type of business]. My target customers are [who they are]. I plan to make money by [how you'll charge — products, services, subscriptions, etc.]. I have about [amount or 'very little'] to start with. Can you help me write a simple one-page business plan that covers the basics — what I'm selling, who I'm selling to, how I'll reach them, and how I'll make a profit?"
Prompt — figure out your pricing
"I'm starting a [type of business] and I'm not sure what to charge. My costs per [product / hour / job] are roughly [amount]. Can you help me figure out a fair price, explain how most businesses in this type of industry set their prices, and tell me what I should consider so I'm not undercharging?"
↳ Want to know more? Try these follow-up questions
"How much money do I actually need to start my business? Can you help me build a simple startup cost list for a [type of business]?"
"What's a break-even point and how do I figure out when my business will start making money instead of losing it?"
"I need to apply for a small business loan. What does a bank or lender typically want to see in a business plan?"
Section 3

📋 How Do I Make It Official and Set It Up Right?

Before you start taking money from customers, there are a few legal and tax things you need to get in order. It sounds complicated but most of it is straightforward — and AI can walk you through what applies to your situation.

Prompt — what business structure do I need?
"I'm starting a [type of business] in [your state]. I'll be [working alone / with a partner]. Can you explain the difference between a sole proprietorship, an LLC, and an S-corp in plain English — including how each one affects my taxes and how much I'm personally on the hook if something goes wrong?"
Prompt — what licenses or permits do I need?
"I want to start a [type of business] in [city and state]. What licenses, permits, or registrations do I typically need to operate legally? Are there any industry-specific requirements I should know about for this type of business?"
↳ Want to know more? Try these follow-up questions
"Do I need a separate business bank account, and why does it matter if I just use my personal one?"
"What is an EIN number, do I need one, and how do I get it?"
"If I hire even one person to help me, what do I need to know about paying them legally — like payroll taxes and worker's comp?"
Section 4

💵 How Do I Keep Track of My Business Money?

One of the biggest reasons small businesses fail is losing track of money — not because they weren't making sales, but because they didn't know where their money was going. These prompts help you get a handle on the basics without needing an accounting degree.

Prompt — set up simple bookkeeping
"I just started a [type of business] and I have no idea how to track my income and expenses. I'm not an accountant. Can you explain the simplest way to keep my books organized, what I absolutely need to track from day one, and whether I need software or if a spreadsheet will do for now?"
Prompt — understand my business finances
"My business brought in [amount] last month. My expenses were [amount]. But after paying myself [amount] and paying [taxes / supplies / other costs], I feel like I have nothing left. Can you help me understand where the money is going and what a healthy profit margin looks like for a [type of business]?"
↳ Want to know more? Try these follow-up questions
"What business expenses can I deduct on my taxes? I run a [type of business] from [home / a small office / online]."
"Do I need to pay estimated quarterly taxes as a self-employed business owner and how do I figure out how much to pay?"
"What's the difference between revenue, profit, and cash flow — and which one should I be paying the most attention to?"
Section 5

📣 How Do I Get My First Customers?

You can have the best product in the world and still struggle if nobody knows about it. These prompts help you figure out where your customers are, what to say to them, and how to start getting the word out — even on a shoestring budget.

Prompt — build a simple marketing plan
"I run a [type of business] and my ideal customer is [describe them — age, location, what they need]. I have a budget of about [amount or 'very little'] for marketing. Can you suggest the most effective low-cost ways to reach my target customers and get my first sales or bookings?"
Prompt — write my elevator pitch
"I need a short, clear way to explain what my business does when someone asks. My business is [describe it]. My customers are [who they are] and the main problem I solve for them is [what problem]. Can you write me a simple 2-3 sentence elevator pitch I can use when talking to people or putting on my website?"
↳ Want to know more? Try these follow-up questions
"I don't have a website yet. Do I actually need one, or can I start getting customers without one?"
"What should I post on social media to promote my [type of business]? I'm not good at coming up with content ideas."
"How do I get good reviews and referrals from my existing customers — and why does that matter so much for a small business?"
"I want to set up a Google Business Profile so I show up in local search results. Can you walk me through what that is and why it matters?"
Section 6

🤖 How Can AI Help Me Run My Business Day to Day?

AI isn't just for answering questions — it can actually do work for you. Writing emails, creating content, answering customer questions, making graphics, building spreadsheets. These prompts show you what's possible so you can work smarter, not harder.

Prompt — find out what AI can do for your business
"I run a [type of business] and I do most things myself. My biggest time drains are [list 2 or 3 things: writing emails, creating social media posts, answering the same customer questions, making quotes or invoices, etc.]. Can you tell me specifically how AI tools could help me with each of those, and what free or low-cost tools I should look at?"
Prompt — write business emails and messages
"I need to write a [follow-up email to a potential customer / response to a complaint / quote or estimate / thank-you note] for my [type of business]. Can you write a professional but friendly version I can send? Here's the situation: [describe what happened or what you need to say]."
↳ Want to know more? Try these follow-up questions
"Can you write 5 social media post ideas for my [type of business] that would appeal to [my target customer]?"
"I need a simple FAQ page for my website. My business is [describe it]. What are the 8 questions customers most commonly ask businesses like mine?"
"What free AI tools are most useful for a small business owner who isn't very tech-savvy — for things like writing, images, and organizing work?"
"Can you act as a business coach and help me think through a problem I'm having with my business right now? Here's the situation: [describe it]."

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