Is there a real need for your business idea?

Validating your business idea with real-world research.

An overview of Chapter 4 of our free downloadable eBook: Explore. A Solo Entrepreneur’s Guide to Market Research & Business Feasibility.

At Seed and Sage, we’re passionate about helping startups start smarter, that means going beyond intuition and diving into real-world validation.

One of the biggest reasons new businesses struggle isn’t a lack of passion or effort, it’s launching something people don’t actually need, or offering a product or service in a way that doesn’t meet your target market’s preferences.

That’s why Chapter 4 of our free eBook, “Explore: A Solo Entrepreneur’s Guide to Market Research & Business Feasibility,” is focused on one key question:

Is there a real need for what you’re offering?

In this blog post, we’re highlighting this question and showing you exactly how to test whether your business idea has legs, before you invest time and money building it.

Download the full eBook here if you want to take a deeper dive into market research and business feasibility.

Define the Problem You’re Solving.

Every successful business is built on the back of a clear and specific solution to a problem or need. It’s simple, if you can’t define the pain point your product or service addresses, your audience won’t either. That’s why it’s important to start with these three questions:

1. What exact problem are you solving? Get as specific as possible, this will not only give you a better understanding of your solution but will also allow you to be able to communicate it clearly to your audience.
2. Who are you solving it for? Think deeply about your target customer. You need to think in terms of their needs, frustrations, and past attempts to fix the issue.
3. Why does this matter now? Is there enough urgency? Are there competitors out there that offer the same solution? Shifts in trends and technology happen constantly. This needs to be taken into account and you’ll need to be confident that your offering is entering the market at the right time.

If your answers feel shaky and a little ungrounded, that’s okay. It doesn’t mean your idea’s a bust, it just means it needs refinement. This is where research becomes your best friend.

Before you go all in, it would be a good idea to test your idea from every angle possible, with the resources you have at your disposal. Doing a quick feasibility study is a good place to start. There’s a deep dive of the points below in our eBook: Explore: A Solo Entrepreneur’s Guide to Market Research & Business Feasibility.

Download here.

Market Feasibility:

• Is there demand?
• Who’s your ideal customer?
• What are competitors missing that you could provide?

Technical Feasibility:

• Do you have the skills, tools, and resources to deliver?
• Can you build a MVP (Minimum Viable Product) or service prototype affordably?

Financial Feasibility:

• What are your startup costs?
• How quickly could you break even?
• What would revenue need to look like?

Legal Feasibility:

• Are there any licenses, industry regulations, or risks to be aware of?

You don’t need all the answers right away, just a clear starting point and a plan to fill in the gaps.

A practical process for getting clarity:

Here’s how we break it down in Chapter 4 of our eBook:

1. Define Your Audience - Be specific. The more detailed your customer profile, the more targeted your solution can be.
2. Explore Trends and Demand - Use tools like Google Trends to spot market momentum. Are people actively searching for related solutions?
3. Estimate Market Size - You don’t need to be too precise, just get a sense of whether you’re addressing a niche market or a broader market opportunity.
4. Align with Market Needs - Try the Value Proposition Canvas to ensure your offer speaks directly to what your audience values most.
5. Run a Quick Financial Forecast - What’s your pricing? How many sales do you need to break even? What’s your minimum viable income?
6. Stay Adaptable - Markets change. Feedback evolves. Be ready to pivot, it’s a strength, not a setback.

We get it, this can feel overwhelming. But doing the groundwork now is what sets sustainable businesses apart from short-lived side projects.

Clarity here will save you thousands of dollars, months of second-guessing, and help you avoid launching into a void.

Get the full framework in our free eBook: Download the free eBook here and take the first confident step toward launching your business with purpose.

Seed and Sage exists to support founders like you. The ones who want to build something meaningful, aligned, and market-ready. If you’re in the “I’ve got this idea” stage, this is your sign to explore it with depth. Feel free to reach out to us if you need our expertise.

Let’s get grounded, then grow.