START A BUSINESS

101 Questions to Ask Before Starting a Business (Most People Skip These!)

Whether you're building a tech startup, a coaching brand, or a brick-and-mortar shop, asking the right questions before you begin can save you time, money, and heartache down the road.

Jeff Hammer, Mindset Architect

— 4 min read
101 Questions to Ask Before Starting a Business (Most People Skip These!)
To help you get laser-focused, anticipate obstacles, and lay the foundation for a thriving business.

Unlock Clarity, Confidence & Strategy Before You Launch

Starting a business can be one of the most rewarding adventures of your life—but it’s also one of the most challenging. Whether you're building a tech startup, a coaching brand, or a brick-and-mortar shop, asking the right questions before you begin can save you time, money, and heartache down the road.

Here’s a list of 101 essential questions to help you get laser-focused, anticipate obstacles, and lay the foundation for a thriving business.

💡 Clarity & Purpose

  1. Why do I want to start this business?
  2. What problem am I solving?
  3. Who exactly am I serving?
  4. What is my personal mission?
  5. What legacy do I want this business to leave?
  6. Does this idea align with my long-term goals?
  7. Is this something I’m passionate about—or just chasing money?
  8. Would I still pursue this if it didn’t make money right away?
  9. Who do I want to become through this business?
  10. What does success really look like for me?

📈 Market Research & Demand

  1. Is there proven demand for my product/service?
  2. Who are my competitors?
  3. What sets me apart (USP)?
  4. What trends are happening in my industry?
  5. Can I carve out a niche within a saturated market?
  6. How do people currently solve this problem?
  7. Is my market growing or shrinking?
  8. Are there underserved audiences I can target?
  9. Will my product/service still be relevant in 5 years?
  10. What are customers complaining about in my niche?

💵 Financial Planning

  1. How much money do I need to get started?
  2. Do I have savings to cover 6–12 months of expenses?
  3. What’s my pricing strategy?
  4. What are my fixed vs variable costs?
  5. When do I expect to break even?
  6. What’s my monthly burn rate?
  7. Will I bootstrap, seek investors, or apply for loans?
  8. What are the tax implications of my business structure?
  9. Do I need a bookkeeper or accountant?
  10. What’s my financial exit strategy?

🧠 Mindset & Readiness

  1. Am I mentally prepared for failure—and persistence?
  2. How do I handle stress and uncertainty?
  3. Am I disciplined enough to work without a boss?
  4. Do I have the energy and bandwidth to commit fully?
  5. Who can I turn to for support or mentorship?
  6. Am I open to learning and unlearning?
  7. How will I handle rejection or criticism?
  8. Do I believe in myself and my vision?
  9. Am I willing to make sacrifices in the short term?
  10. What motivates me to keep going?

🛠 Business Operations

  1. What legal structure will I use (LLC, S-Corp, etc.)?
  2. Do I need a business license or permits?
  3. What tools or platforms will I use?
  4. What tasks can be automated or outsourced?
  5. How will I handle customer service?
  6. Will I work from home, rent space, or go remote?
  7. What systems will I use for tracking sales, leads, and projects?
  8. Do I need employees, freelancers, or a partner?
  9. What hours will I work?
  10. What tasks will I do vs delegate?

🎯 Branding & Marketing

  1. What is my brand personality and tone?
  2. What’s my brand story?
  3. What colors, fonts, and logo best reflect my identity?
  4. How will people discover my business?
  5. What social platforms will I focus on?
  6. What’s my content strategy?
  7. Who will create my marketing materials?
  8. Will I use email marketing?
  9. What marketing budget do I need?
  10. How will I measure marketing ROI?

👥 Ideal Customer

  1. Who is my dream client or customer?
  2. What are their pain points?
  3. What do they deeply desire?
  4. Where do they hang out online and offline?
  5. What language or messaging resonates with them?
  6. What objections will they have?
  7. How do they make purchasing decisions?
  8. Can I create a customer avatar or profile?
  9. What do they expect from a business like mine?
  10. How can I exceed their expectations?

🚀 Growth & Scaling

  1. What does growth look like in year 1, 3, and 5?
  2. Do I want to stay small or scale big?
  3. What systems need to be in place to grow?
  4. What will I outsource first as I scale?
  5. Will I expand into new products, markets, or locations?
  6. What tech can support scalability?
  7. Do I need funding to scale?
  8. How will I maintain quality during growth?
  9. What metrics define success for me?
  10. Who do I need on my team to grow?

📚 Learning & Development

  1. What skills do I need to sharpen?
  2. Who are the best mentors, books, or podcasts in my industry?
  3. How much time will I dedicate to learning?
  4. Am I attending workshops or conferences?
  5. Do I need certifications or formal training?
  6. What mindset blocks do I need to overcome?
  7. How will I stay on the cutting edge?
  8. Am I learning from my competitors?
  9. How will I turn failures into lessons?
  10. What’s my plan for continuous improvement?
  1. What are the biggest risks I face?
  2. What insurance do I need (liability, product, etc.)?
  3. How will I protect customer data and privacy?
  4. Am I using contracts and agreements for vendors/clients?
  5. What legal advice do I need before launching?
  6. Are there trademark or copyright issues to consider?
  7. What’s my emergency plan if things go south?
  8. How will I resolve conflicts or disputes?
  9. Am I keeping business and personal finances separate?
  10. How will I protect my intellectual property?

🧭 The Final Check-In

  1. If I had to bet everything I have on this business working, would I still do it?

✨ Final Thoughts

Starting a business isn’t just about making money—it’s about creating something meaningful, solving real problems, and stepping fully into your potential. Use these 101 questions as a roadmap, a gut check, and a strategy guide to help you launch not just a business, but a business you love.

🔥 Your Challenge:
Choose 10 questions from the list above and journal your answers today. Don’t just think—write them down. Clarity creates momentum.

📣 Over to You:
Which of these questions hit hardest for you? Let me know in the comments or share this post with someone who’s thinking about starting their own business.

Jeff Hammer is a Mindset Architect and success strategist dedicated to helping individuals break through limiting beliefs, shift their mindset, and unlock their full potential. With decades of entrepreneurial experience, Jeff has built and sold successful businesses, proving firsthand the power of mindset in achieving extraordinary results.


As the founder of DominatingEdge.com, Jeff provides transformational insights, guiding people to reprogram their thinking, overcome self-doubt, and take bold action toward their dreams. His approach blends practical wisdom with high-performance strategies, empowering individuals to create lasting success in business, wealth, and personal growth.


Jeff’s mission is simple: help others master their mindset so they can master their lives.

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