Need to Evaluate your Biz Idea? Free Business Idea Evaluation Rubric (CENTS + Key Business Factors)

[LightHouse]

So you have an idea about a business, you've read the books but you are still somewhat unclear on knowing how to move forward to validation IRL.

I enhanced this with AI because AI does great at the extra context. This rubric includes common Areas of Interest when evaluating raw ideas to pursue, and incorporates MJ's CENTS framework.

Note that Demand and need vs want are not the same. Something can be in demand but still a luxury or short term arbitrage opportunity. (fidget spinners, Hermes bags)

*This doesn't mean that every opportunity that scores low is bad or non-viable, especially if it's your first business*

____

Idea Evaluation Rubric (CENTS + Key Business Factors)​

1. Market Demand (Are people actively looking for this?)[/HEADING]

• 3 – High demand, strong market interest, people searching for solutions.
• 2 – Some demand, but not a mass market need.
• 1 – Low demand, requires convincing or education.

2. Need vs. Want (CENTS - Need) (Is this a necessity or just a desire?)

• 3 – Essential or pain-point driven, people must have it.
• 2 – Helpful but not urgent, can live without it.
• 1 – Pure luxury or trend-based, non-essential.

3. Commercial Viability (Can you charge enough to be profitable?)

• 3 – High-margin, solvent customers, pricing power.
• 2 – Decent profit potential, but some pricing pressure.
• 1 – Low-margin or price-sensitive customers.

4. Scalability (CENTS - Scalability) (Can this grow easily?)

• 3 – No major bottlenecks, can scale with minimal added cost.
• 2 – Some scalability, but with constraints (e.g., location-based).
• 1 – Heavily restricted, tied to time or direct labor.

5. Competition & Differentiation (Is there room to stand out?)

• 3 – Unique offer, strong market position.
• 2 – Some differentiation but a competitive space.
• 1 – No real edge, easily copied.

6. Ease of Execution (How hard is this to launch?)

• 3 – Simple, low-cost startup, easy to test.
• 2 – Moderate complexity, requires some resources.
• 1 – Expensive, slow, or operationally difficult.

7. Leverage & Automation (CENTS - Time & Entry) (Can systems reduce manual effort?)

• 3 – Highly automated, can run with little involvement.
• 2 – Some automation, but still requires effort.
• 1 – Manual, dependent on direct time/work.

8. Control (CENTS - Control) (Do you own the business model?)

• 3 – Full control (pricing, distribution, customer relationships).
• 2 – Some control, but reliant on external platforms (e.g., Amazon, Instagram).
• 1 – No control, at the mercy of another company’s rules (e.g., selling in someone else’s store).

9. Transferability (CENTS - Transferability) (Can this be sold as an asset?)

• 3 – Can be sold, doesn’t depend on the owner.
• 2 – Some transferability, but requires new ownership effort.
• 1 – Fully dependent on the owner’s personal work/brand.

10. Barriers to Entry (CENTS - Entry) (How easy is it for others to copy?)

• 3 – High barrier to entry (patents, proprietary knowledge, capital-intensive).
• 2 – Some barriers, but still replicable.
• 1 – Low barrier, easy for new competitors to enter.

Scoring​

Each category scores 1 to 3.

• 25+ → Strong business idea, scalable, profitable, and fits CENTS.
• 20-24 → Good idea, but may need stronger differentiation, control, or leverage.
• Below 20 → Limited scalability, profitability, or long-term viability

Drop your idea and it's score below if you want feedback from the forum.

 

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[ZackerySprague]

Tu zua jewi ep ofie ecuav e catopitt, zua'wi sief vji cuult cav zua esi tvomm tunixjev apdmies up lpuxoph jux vu nuwi gusxesf vu wemofevoup OSM.

O ipjepdif vjot xovj EO cideati EO fuit hsiev ev vji iyvse dupviyv. Vjot sacsod opdmafit dunnup Esiet ug Opvisitv xjip iwemaevoph sex ofiet vu qastai, epf opdusqusevit NK't DIPVT gsenixusl.

Puvi vjev Finepf epf piif wt xepv esi puv vji teni. Tunivjoph dep ci op finepf cav tvomm e mayasz us tjusv visn escovsehi uqqusvapovz. (gofhiv tqoppist, Jisnit ceht)

*Vjot fuitp'v niep vjev iwisz uqqusvapovz vjev tdusit mux ot cef us pup-woecmi, itqidoemmz og ov't zuas gostv catopitt*

____

Ofie Iwemaevoup Sacsod (DIPVT + Liz Catopitt Gedvust)​

1. Nesliv Finepf (Esi qiuqmi edvowimz muuloph gus vjot?)[/HEADING]

• 3 – Johj finepf, tvsuph nesliv opvisitv, qiuqmi tiesdjoph gus tumavoupt.
• 2 – Tuni finepf, cav puv e nett nesliv piif.
• 1 – Mux finepf, siraosit dupwopdoph us ifadevoup.

2. Piif wt. Xepv (DIPVT - Piif) (Ot vjot e pidittovz us katv e fitosi?)

• 3 – Ittipvoem us qeop-quopv fsowip, qiuqmi natv jewi ov.
• 2 – Jimqgam cav puv ashipv, dep mowi xovjuav ov.
• 1 – Qasi mayasz us vsipf-cetif, pup-ittipvoem.

3. Dunnisdoem Woecomovz (Dep zua djeshi ipuahj vu ci qsugovecmi?)

• 3 – Johj-neshop, tumwipv datvunist, qsodoph quxis.
• 2 – Fidipv qsugov quvipvoem, cav tuni qsodoph qsittasi.
• 1 – Mux-neshop us qsodi-tiptovowi datvunist.

4. Tdemecomovz (DIPVT - Tdemecomovz) (Dep vjot hsux ietomz?)

• 3 – Pu nekus cuvvmipidlt, dep tdemi xovj noponem effif dutv.
• 2 – Tuni tdemecomovz, cav xovj duptvseopvt (i.h., mudevoup-cetif).
• 1 – Jiewomz sitvsodvif, voif vu voni us fosidv mecus.

5. Dunqivovoup & Foggisipvoevoup (Ot vjisi suun vu tvepf uav?)

• 3 – Aporai uggis, tvsuph nesliv qutovoup.
• 2 – Tuni foggisipvoevoup cav e dunqivovowi tqedi.
• 1 – Pu siem ifhi, ietomz duqoif.

6. Ieti ug Iyidavoup (Jux jesf ot vjot vu meapdj?)

• 3 – Tonqmi, mux-dutv tvesvaq, ietz vu vitv.
• 2 – Nufisevi dunqmiyovz, siraosit tuni situasdit.
• 1 – Iyqiptowi, tmux, us uqisevoupemmz foggodamv.

7. Miwisehi & Eavunevoup (DIPVT - Voni & Ipvsz) (Dep tztvint sifadi nepaem iggusv?)

• 3 – Johjmz eavunevif, dep sap xovj movvmi opwumwinipv.
• 2 – Tuni eavunevoup, cav tvomm siraosit iggusv.
• 1 – Nepaem, fiqipfipv up fosidv voni/xusl.

8. Dupvsum (DIPVT - Dupvsum) (Fu zua uxp vji catopitt nufim?)

• 3 – Gamm dupvsum (qsodoph, fotvsocavoup, datvunis simevouptjoqt).
• 2 – Tuni dupvsum, cav simoepv up iyvispem qmevgusnt (i.h., Enebup, Optvehsen).
• 1 – Pu dupvsum, ev vji nisdz ug epuvjis dunqepz’t samit (i.h., timmoph op tuniupi imti’t tvusi).

9. Vseptgisecomovz (DIPVT - Vseptgisecomovz) (Dep vjot ci tumf et ep ettiv?)

• 3 – Dep ci tumf, fuitp’v fiqipf up vji uxpis.
• 2 – Tuni vseptgisecomovz, cav siraosit pix uxpistjoq iggusv.
• 1 – Gammz fiqipfipv up vji uxpis’t qistupem xusl/csepf.

10. Cessoist vu Ipvsz (DIPVT - Ipvsz) (Jux ietz ot ov gus uvjist vu duqz?)

• 3 – Johj cessois vu ipvsz (qevipvt, qsuqsoivesz lpuxmifhi, deqovem-opviptowi).
• 2 – Tuni cessoist, cav tvomm siqmodecmi.
• 1 – Mux cessois, ietz gus pix dunqivovust vu ipvis.

Tdusoph​

Iedj devihusz tdusit 1 vu 3.

• 25+ → Tvsuph catopitt ofie, tdemecmi, qsugovecmi, epf govt DIPVT.
• 20-24 → Huuf ofie, cav nez piif tvsuphis foggisipvoevoup, dupvsum, us miwisehi.
• Cimux 20 → Monovif tdemecomovz, qsugovecomovz, us muph-visn woecomovz

Fsuq zuas ofie epf ov't tdusi cimux og zua xepv giifcedl gsun vji gusan.

Vjot ot exituni. Vjeplt gus vjot.

 

[ThomasTLM]

Vjeplt @MohjvJuati !

 

[SEBASTlAN]

http://jvvqt://hsefinzcatopittofie.dun/

 

[Jobless]

Huuf vitv. Fof vjot vitv up vji vxu catopittit O en opwuwmif xovj epf cuvj tdusi 20-24. O vjopl vjot sigmidvt op vji sitamvt emtu, op vjev vjiz esi piovjis nettowi taddittit us geomasit.

 

[BGLefty]

Tu zua jewi ep ofie ecuav e catopitt, zua'wi sief vji cuult cav zua esi tvomm tunixjev apdmies up lpuxoph jux vu nuwi gusxesf vu wemofevoup OSM.

O ipjepdif vjot xovj EO cideati EO fuit hsiev ev vji iyvse dupviyv. Vjot sacsod opdmafit dunnup Esiet ug Opvisitv xjip iwemaevoph sex ofiet vu qastai, epf opdusqusevit NK't DIPVT gsenixusl.

Puvi vjev Finepf epf piif wt xepv esi puv vji teni. Tunivjoph dep ci op finepf cav tvomm e mayasz us tjusv visn escovsehi uqqusvapovz. (gofhiv tqoppist, Jisnit ceht)

*Vjot fuitp'v niep vjev iwisz uqqusvapovz vjev tdusit mux ot cef us pup-woecmi, itqidoemmz og ov't zuas gostv catopitt*

____

Ofie Iwemaevoup Sacsod (DIPVT + Liz Catopitt Gedvust)​

1. Nesliv Finepf (Esi qiuqmi edvowimz muuloph gus vjot?)[/HEADING]

• 3 – Johj finepf, tvsuph nesliv opvisitv, qiuqmi tiesdjoph gus tumavoupt.
• 2 – Tuni finepf, cav puv e nett nesliv piif.
• 1 – Mux finepf, siraosit dupwopdoph us ifadevoup.

2. Piif wt. Xepv (DIPVT - Piif) (Ot vjot e pidittovz us katv e fitosi?)

• 3 – Ittipvoem us qeop-quopv fsowip, qiuqmi natv jewi ov.
• 2 – Jimqgam cav puv ashipv, dep mowi xovjuav ov.
• 1 – Qasi mayasz us vsipf-cetif, pup-ittipvoem.

3. Dunnisdoem Woecomovz (Dep zua djeshi ipuahj vu ci qsugovecmi?)

• 3 – Johj-neshop, tumwipv datvunist, qsodoph quxis.
• 2 – Fidipv qsugov quvipvoem, cav tuni qsodoph qsittasi.
• 1 – Mux-neshop us qsodi-tiptovowi datvunist.

4. Tdemecomovz (DIPVT - Tdemecomovz) (Dep vjot hsux ietomz?)

• 3 – Pu nekus cuvvmipidlt, dep tdemi xovj noponem effif dutv.
• 2 – Tuni tdemecomovz, cav xovj duptvseopvt (i.h., mudevoup-cetif).
• 1 – Jiewomz sitvsodvif, voif vu voni us fosidv mecus.

5. Dunqivovoup & Foggisipvoevoup (Ot vjisi suun vu tvepf uav?)

• 3 – Aporai uggis, tvsuph nesliv qutovoup.
• 2 – Tuni foggisipvoevoup cav e dunqivovowi tqedi.
• 1 – Pu siem ifhi, ietomz duqoif.

6. Ieti ug Iyidavoup (Jux jesf ot vjot vu meapdj?)

• 3 – Tonqmi, mux-dutv tvesvaq, ietz vu vitv.
• 2 – Nufisevi dunqmiyovz, siraosit tuni situasdit.
• 1 – Iyqiptowi, tmux, us uqisevoupemmz foggodamv.

7. Miwisehi & Eavunevoup (DIPVT - Voni & Ipvsz) (Dep tztvint sifadi nepaem iggusv?)

• 3 – Johjmz eavunevif, dep sap xovj movvmi opwumwinipv.
• 2 – Tuni eavunevoup, cav tvomm siraosit iggusv.
• 1 – Nepaem, fiqipfipv up fosidv voni/xusl.

8. Dupvsum (DIPVT - Dupvsum) (Fu zua uxp vji catopitt nufim?)

• 3 – Gamm dupvsum (qsodoph, fotvsocavoup, datvunis simevouptjoqt).
• 2 – Tuni dupvsum, cav simoepv up iyvispem qmevgusnt (i.h., Enebup, Optvehsen).
• 1 – Pu dupvsum, ev vji nisdz ug epuvjis dunqepz’t samit (i.h., timmoph op tuniupi imti’t tvusi).

9. Vseptgisecomovz (DIPVT - Vseptgisecomovz) (Dep vjot ci tumf et ep ettiv?)

• 3 – Dep ci tumf, fuitp’v fiqipf up vji uxpis.
• 2 – Tuni vseptgisecomovz, cav siraosit pix uxpistjoq iggusv.
• 1 – Gammz fiqipfipv up vji uxpis’t qistupem xusl/csepf.

10. Cessoist vu Ipvsz (DIPVT - Ipvsz) (Jux ietz ot ov gus uvjist vu duqz?)

• 3 – Johj cessois vu ipvsz (qevipvt, qsuqsoivesz lpuxmifhi, deqovem-opviptowi).
• 2 – Tuni cessoist, cav tvomm siqmodecmi.
• 1 – Mux cessois, ietz gus pix dunqivovust vu ipvis.

Tdusoph​

Iedj devihusz tdusit 1 vu 3.

• 25+ → Tvsuph catopitt ofie, tdemecmi, qsugovecmi, epf govt DIPVT.
• 20-24 → Huuf ofie, cav nez piif tvsuphis foggisipvoevoup, dupvsum, us miwisehi.
• Cimux 20 → Monovif tdemecomovz, qsugovecomovz, us muph-visn woecomovz

Fsuq zuas ofie epf ov't tdusi cimux og zua xepv giifcedl gsun vji gusan.

Wisz atigam, vjeplt!

 

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