Coming up with a new business idea can be exciting. But turning that idea into something real? That’s where most people can get stuck.
And it’s usually not because they don’t want it badly enough, it’s because they’re overwhelmed.
People usually think…Do I need a full business plan? Should I build a website first? What if no one wants this? What if I fail? These are all questions that everyone has before they start a business.
But here’s the truth: you don’t need a fancy business plan.
You just need a simple structure. A plan of action that helps you go from vague idea to real action.
And with the right ChatGPT prompts, you can build a solid business plan in less than an hour!
Here’s how to do it, step-by-step with AI prompts.
1: Define Your Idea
Most people’s business ideas start like this:
“I want to sell something online… maybe digital products… to people who work from home…”
Which is okay to start with, but you need to be clearer.
So the first thing you want to do is get your idea down in one or two sentences that clearly describe:
- What you’re offering
- Who it’s for
- Why it’s useful
Prompt:
“I want to start a business selling [type of product/service] to [target audience]. Can you summarise this idea into 1–2 clear sentences that I can use as the basis of a business plan?”
For example:
“I want to start a business selling simple, customisable budgeting templates to UK millennials who are struggling to manage their money and want a low-tech solution that works.”
ChatGPT will polish it into something usable, then that becomes the foundation of everything else.
2: Get to Know Your Ideal Customer
This is where most businesses succeed or fail. You need to know exactly who you’re helping, what their day looks like, what they struggle with, and what they already buy.
Prompt:
“Based on my idea, can you describe my ideal customer in detail? Include their age, location, struggles, goals, and where they spend time online.”
This helps you make your offer feel tailor-made. For example:
“Your ideal customer is a 25–35 year old professional in the UK who feels stressed about money and wants a better system for managing it. They’re active on Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit. They care about design and want quick wins, not complex budgeting systems.”
No you have a real person in mind and not just a vague idea of “everyone.”
3: Clarify Your Offer and Value
You’re not just selling a product or service — you’re offering a solution. What will your customer gain from buying what you’re selling?
Ask ChatGPT to break this down:
Prompt:
“Can you outline the key benefits of this product or service? Explain how it solves the customer’s problems or improves their life.”
Using the budgeting template example, ChatGPT might say:
- Gives users a clear overview of income and spending in under 10 minutes
- Helps reduce stress and guilt around money
- Makes saving feel achievable with visual trackers
- Requires no apps, logins or subscriptions, just Google Sheets
- Includes motivational prompts to stay on track
That becomes the language you can use on your product page, in your emails, on social media, etc.
4: Choose a Simple Way to Make Money
Here’s where a lot of people overcomplicate things. You don’t need multiple streams of income from day one. You just need one way to get paid, almost like a proof of concept, just to test the waters.
Prompt:
“What are 3 simple ways I could start earning money from this idea, even if I don’t have an audience yet?”
ChatGPT might suggest something like:
- Sell on Etsy or Gumroad (great for digital products)
- Offer a low-cost service via Fiverr or LinkedIn
- Bundle your product with a freebie to start growing your email list
From here, you can pick the path that feels easiest for you right for you. You can always evolve it or expand later on.
5: Build a Simple Marketing Plan
Believe it or not, this is the hardest part! But, it really doesn’t have to be too complicated.
Marketing is simply three things –
1. Who am I trying to reach?
2. Where do they already spend time?
3. How can I show up there with something helpful or interesting?
Here’s how to build a beginner-friendly plan with ChatGPT.
Prompt:
“Based on my product and target customer, can you suggest a simple 3 step marketing plan using free or low-cost methods?”
Here’s what you might get back:
Example Marketing Plan:
Step 1: Show up where your audience already is
Create content that speaks to their pain points. This could be:
- Short videos on TikTok or Instagram Reels
- Pinterest pins that drive traffic to your store
- Helpful threads on X (Twitter) about budgeting tips
- Paid ads on social media
Example prompt for content ideas:
“Give me 10 content ideas for TikTok or Reels that would help my audience discover my budgeting template and see its value.”
Step 2: Offer a freebie to start building trust
You don’t need a full-blown website, just something useful your audience can grab in exchange for their email.
This could be:
- A 1-page cheat sheet
- A free version of your template
- A checklist or tutorial
You can host this on Dropbox, ConvertKit, Systeme, or even Notion.
Step 3: Use email to nurture and sell
Once someone downloads your freebie, send 3–5 short emails that:
- Share quick wins
- Tell your story
- Highlight the problem your product solves
- End with a clear offer or discount
Prompt for help with emails:
“Can you write a 5 email welcome series that builds trust with new subscribers and promotes my budgeting template?”
This isn’t about going viral…it’s about consistency.
Pick one channel. Commit to showing up once or twice a week. Share tips, small wins, and examples. That’s more than enough to start building traction.
6: Ask ChatGPT to Summarise It All Into a One-Page Plan
Once you’ve gone through the steps, you’ve now got a clear offer, a customer profile, a revenue plan, and a marketing strategy.
Now bring it all together.
Final prompt:
“Based on all the above, can you summarise this into a one-page business plan that’s easy to follow? Include my offer, customer, pricing, marketing plan, and next steps.”
ChatGPT will create a neatly structured plan you can copy into Notion, Google Docs, or your favourite planning tool.
Final Thought
You don’t need a fancy marketing degree or a 40-page business plan.
You just need clarity on who you’re helping, how you’re helping them, and how they’ll find you.
AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t just for writing emails or brainstorming content. Used well, they’re like having a startup coach in your back pocket.
And the best part? You don’t need to do it all at once.
Even one clear step today is progress.
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