When using AI to create a business plan you should very much view the process as a jumping off point. You aren’t going to be able to create something that meets all of your needs in one day and it will be an iterative process. Every business is different and there will be specific nuances you need to cover in your business plan that a particular to your market, industry and product/service. Below are a list of prompts where I have given examples of different businesses to aid in contextualising the prompt but you can of course change and adapt these to suit your needs.
You’ll find there may be other prompts you wish to use as part of this process in the other sections of this pack such as competitor analysis or product ideation that will help you to create a business plan.
<aside> 📎 Remember, you should treat AI as a personal assistant where you can ask one another questions in order to get the best outcome.
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<aside> 💡 Once you feel confident that your AI platform has enough initial context and you have asked it to confirm it has enough context to complete the task you want to layer your prompts step by step. By layering your prompts you can easily make edits and ask for changes as you go rather than the AI producing a whole business plan that is way off mark.
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You can then follow this process step-by-step giving feedback on each section of the business plan such as asking AI to add more information, make something more concise or change the tone.
<aside> 📎 Remember you can also train the model to write in your specific style by priming the model with content you have previously written. More on model priming here.
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| ID | Category | Prompt Name | Prompt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Planning & Research | Lean Canvas Workshop | "Act as my Lean Canvas mentor. I'm developing a new online subscription box service. Help me fill out a Lean Canvas by identifying key customer segments, problem statements, unique value propositions, solution ideas, revenue streams, and cost structures. Provide guidance on each area and how they interrelate." |
| 2 | Business Planning & Research | SWOT Deep-Dive | "Perform a detailed SWOT analysis for my new coffee shop concept aimed at health-conscious consumers. Identify realistic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and suggest at least three strategic initiatives based on your analysis to ensure long-term competitiveness." |
| 3 | Business Planning & Research | Competitor Feature Benchmark | "Act as a product strategy consultant. I want to benchmark my SaaS platform’s features against three main competitors. Outline a structured comparison chart and identify potential gaps or unique differentiators. Conclude with recommendations on how I can refine my product roadmap to gain a competitive edge." |
| 4 | Business Planning & Research | Remote Business Model Brainstorm | "Imagine I'm exploring a remote consultancy in digital marketing. Suggest three distinct business models (subscription-based, project-based, and hybrid). Discuss the pros and cons of each, including potential pricing strategies and operational considerations." |
| 5 | Business Planning & Research | Customer Persona Creator | "Act as a market researcher. I need to define a primary customer persona for a new eco-friendly cleaning product line. Ask me clarifying questions about target demographics, behaviours, pain points, and buying motivations. Then, summarise the persona’s profile and how to tailor marketing messages to resonate with them." |
| 6 | Business Planning & Research | Elevator Pitch Perfecter | "I have 30 seconds to pitch my new mobile app idea to potential investors. Please craft an elevator pitch that succinctly conveys the problem, solution, target market, and competitive advantage. Aim for clarity, impact, and memorability." |
| 7 | Business Planning & Research | Feasibility Study Blueprint | "Act as my business analyst. Outline the key components of a feasibility study for launching a boutique fitness studio. Include recommended financial metrics, market research approaches, operational considerations, and risk assessment strategies. Conclude with a summary on how to interpret the study’s findings." |
| 8 | Business Planning & Research | Porter’s Five Forces Evaluation | "I’m entering the organic skincare market. Perform a Porter’s Five Forces evaluation: detail each force (threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of customers, and competitive rivalry) and provide actionable tips to strengthen my position under each dimension." |
| 9 | Business Planning & Research | Mission & Vision Statement Workshop | "Help me craft a compelling mission and vision statement for a social enterprise focusing on mental health awareness. Provide guidance on tone, length, and messaging to ensure they resonate with stakeholders and reflect the company’s core purpose." |
| 10 | Business Planning & Research | SMART Goal Generator | "Act as my planning advisor. I need to create 3 SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) for a start-up fashion brand launching in six months. Help me refine each goal so it becomes actionable, trackable, and aligned with the brand’s long-term vision." |
| 11 | Business Planning & Research | Market Gap Identification | "I want to discover underserved niches within the online wellness industry. Suggest a methodical approach to identifying market gaps, including keyword analysis, competitor weaknesses, and consumer feedback loops. Then, propose at least two potential niche opportunities worth exploring further." |
| 12 | Business Planning & Research | Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Outline | "Act as a product development coach. I'm launching a new project management tool. Help me define an MVP by highlighting the core features, user flows, and metrics to measure success. Explain why these features are crucial for initial validation and how to incorporate feedback loops for improvements." |
| 13 | Business Planning & Research | Blue Ocean Strategy Brainstorm | "Apply Blue Ocean Strategy principles to a new pet grooming mobile app. Identify potential ‘blue ocean’ areas by focusing on non-customers, uncontested market space, and unique value propositions. Recommend specific product or service features that could differentiate us from established competitors." |
| 14 | Business Planning & Research | Revenue Model Comparison | "I’m unsure which revenue model fits my digital course platform best—subscription, one-time purchase, or freemium upsell. Please compare these three models and provide a recommendation based on scalability, user retention, and market trends. Include tips on how to transition between models if needed." |
| 15 | Business Planning & Research | Global Expansion Checklist | "Act as my international business advisor. I'm considering expanding a local bakery chain to two new countries. Provide a step-by-step checklist covering market research, localisation needs, regulatory compliance, supply chain considerations, and cultural adaptations for marketing campaigns." |
| 16 | Business Planning & Research | Strategic Partner Identification | "Help me identify potential strategic partners for a new fintech solution targeting freelancers. Suggest three types of partners (e.g., accounting platforms, coworking spaces, online communities) and explain how each partnership can offer mutual benefits and broader market reach." |
| 17 | Business Planning & Research | Segment Prioritisation Framework | "I have multiple customer segments for my virtual tutoring platform—university students, working professionals, and retirees seeking new skills. Suggest a framework to prioritise which segments to target first based on potential revenue, ease of acquisition, and long-term value." |
| 18 | Business Planning & Research | Customer Journey Mapping | "Act as a UX researcher. Guide me through creating a customer journey map for an e-commerce clothing brand. Explain the stages from awareness to post-purchase, key customer actions, common pain points, and opportunities to enhance the overall experience." |
| 19 | Business Planning & Research | Risk Management Action Plan | "I’m worried about various risks (operational, market, financial) for my cloud-based HR platform. Propose a risk management action plan that includes risk identification, assessment, mitigation strategies, and monitoring methods. Provide a concise template or format for ongoing risk review." |
| 20 | Business Planning & Research | Scenario Planning Exercise | "Imagine I'm running a logistics start-up. Develop a scenario planning exercise to account for best-case, worst-case, and most-likely scenarios over the next two years. Include triggers to watch for and potential strategic pivots." |
| 21 | Business Planning & Research | Disruptive Innovation Workshop | "Help me explore opportunities for disruptive innovation in the online accounting software market. Identify pain points in traditional software and propose at least two radical solutions that could reshape customer expectations and create new market segments." |
| 22 | Business Planning & Research | Go-To-Market Timeline | "Act as my go-to-market strategist. Provide a high-level timeline for a tech product launch over the next six months, including market research, beta testing, marketing outreach, and final rollout milestones. Include approximate durations and key deliverables at each stage." |
| 23 | Business Planning & Research | Cultural Sensitivity Guide | "I plan to open a chain of boutique hotels in culturally diverse regions. Advise me on how to research and integrate local cultural norms, holidays, and traditions into the hotel experience, ensuring respectful and authentic guest experiences while still maintaining a consistent brand identity." |
| 24 | Business Planning & Research | Industry Trendspotting | "Act as a trendspotter for the e-learning industry. What emerging technologies or consumer preferences might shape online education in the next 3–5 years? Provide examples of early adopters and how to incorporate these trends into a new course platform’s strategic plan." |
| 25 | Business Planning & Research | Operations Manual Outline | "I need to create an operations manual for a small-scale meal prep delivery service. Outline the key sections (kitchen procedures, staffing, quality control, logistics) and suggest best practices for maintaining consistency and efficiency." |
| 26 | Business Planning & Research | Regulatory Compliance Planner | "I’m launching a fintech app to facilitate peer-to-peer lending. Walk me through the major regulatory concerns (e.g., licensing, consumer protection, data privacy) in key markets. Provide guidelines on how to stay informed about regulatory changes and adapt the business model accordingly." |
| 27 | Business Planning & Research | Growth Metrics Dashboard | "Help me develop a growth metrics dashboard for an early-stage SaaS start-up. Which KPIs (e.g., churn rate, monthly recurring revenue, customer acquisition cost) should I track, and how can I set them up in a simple analytics tool or spreadsheet to get real-time insights?" |
| 28 | Business Planning & Research | Pre-Launch Market Testing | "I want to validate demand for a subscription-based language learning service before officially launching. Suggest 3–4 low-cost market testing methods (landing page, pilot group, online ads) and provide a quick checklist for collecting feedback and measuring success." |
| 29 | Business Planning & Research | Organisational Structure Audit | "Act as a business consultant. My small digital agency is considering whether to remain flat or adopt a more hierarchical structure. Evaluate the pros and cons of each approach and recommend which structure might best support scalability and team motivation." |
| 30 | Business Planning & Research | Intellectual Property Strategy | "I’m creating a new line of AI-based educational toys. Provide an overview of how to develop an intellectual property strategy, including trademarks, patents, and licensing agreements. Highlight key risks and typical timelines for IP protection." |
| 31 | Business Planning & Research | Turnaround Plan Scenario | "Assume I have a mid-sized retail business showing declining sales for the last 6 months. Design a turnaround plan scenario that addresses cost-cutting, merchandising shifts, marketing updates, and employee morale-boosting measures. Be specific about timelines and resource allocation." |
| 32 | Business Planning & Research | Ecosystem Mapping Exercise | "Help me map out the ecosystem for a new telehealth platform. Identify the key stakeholders (patients, providers, payers, regulators), their relationships, and mutual dependencies. Suggest areas where collaboration or strategic partnerships would offer the greatest impact." |
| 33 | Business Planning & Research | Pivot Decision Matrix | "Act as my business coach. I’m uncertain whether to pivot my online subscription box service from snacks to beauty products. Provide a decision matrix with criteria such as market demand, supply chain feasibility, brand alignment, and potential revenue. Show me how to weigh each factor logically." |
| 34 | Business Planning & Research | Ethical & Sustainable Framework | "I’m planning to set up a new fashion label emphasising sustainability and fair labour practices. Outline an ethical framework for sourcing materials, manufacturing, and marketing. Include third-party certifications I might consider and how to communicate these standards to customers." |
| 35 | Business Planning & Research | Competitive Positioning Statement | "Act as a brand strategist. I need a competitive positioning statement for my premium dog food line that differentiates it from budget-friendly and mid-tier competitors. Focus on quality, unique ingredients, and brand voice." |
| 36 | Business Planning & Research | Exit Strategy Overview | "I’m starting a tech consultancy but want to plan for an eventual exit (acquisition or merger). Provide an overview of key steps to keep in mind—legal structures, financial documentation, potential buyer identification, and brand equity building—for a smoother exit process down the line." |
| 37 | Business Planning & Research | Licensing vs. Franchising Decision | "I have a successful artisanal ice cream parlour. Should I license my brand or use a franchising model to expand nationally? Compare the financial, operational, and legal implications of both options and suggest which might be most suitable for a small but fast-growing brand." |
| 38 | Business Planning & Research | Business Model Canvas Workshop | "Guide me through creating a Business Model Canvas for a new meal kit delivery service catering to vegan families. For each canvas block (key partners, key activities, value proposition, customer segments, etc.), prompt me to consider relevant questions and fill in the details." |
| 39 | Business Planning & Research | Pilot Programme Planning | "I want to test a new B2B software feature for remote team collaboration. Help me plan a pilot programme by defining goals, participant selection criteria, success metrics, feedback loops, and a timeline for evaluation before wider rollout." |
| 40 | Business Planning & Research | Environmental Impact Assessment | "Act as a sustainability consultant. For my new organic bakery, conduct a high-level environmental impact assessment focusing on ingredient sourcing, packaging waste, and energy usage. Suggest practical methods to reduce our carbon footprint without significantly increasing costs." |
| 41 | Business Planning & Research | Value Chain Optimisation | "I’m producing artisanal cheeses and want to optimise my value chain. Identify areas from raw material sourcing to final distribution where I can reduce costs, improve quality, or shorten lead times. Outline practical steps to implement these improvements." |
| 42 | Business Planning & Research | Growth Hacking Brainstorm | "Act as my growth hacking consultant. Suggest 5 unconventional tactics to accelerate user acquisition for a niche productivity app. Focus on cost-effective, creative approaches that could quickly increase visibility and user sign-ups." |
| 43 | Business Planning & Research | Localization Strategy Guide | "My e-learning platform is expanding to multiple non-English-speaking countries. Outline a localisation strategy addressing language translation, cultural nuances, payment methods, and region-specific marketing. Provide best practices for maintaining consistent brand identity across languages." |
| 44 | Business Planning & Research | Internal Innovation Programme | "I want to foster innovation within my mid-sized software firm. Propose a structured internal programme (hackathons, idea pitches, innovation sprints) to encourage employees to develop and pitch new product ideas. Include a roadmap for evaluating and implementing the best concepts." |
| 45 | Business Planning & Research | Pricing Psychology Insights | "Act as a pricing specialist. I need insights into the psychology behind premium pricing vs. charm pricing (e.g., £99.99). Compare the perceived value in both strategies for a digital course marketplace, and recommend how to test which approach resonates best with our target audience." |
| 46 | Business Planning & Research | Resource Allocation Optimiser | "Given a limited budget and small team, I want to prioritise spending on product development, marketing, and customer support for my new subscription-based music platform. Propose a resource allocation plan with suggested percentages for each function, plus metrics to track performance." |
| 47 | Business Planning & Research | Non-Profit Business Model Draft | "I'm setting up a non-profit to support mental health initiatives. Suggest a business model that combines grants, donations, sponsorships, and revenue-generating activities (e.g., workshops). Outline how each funding source can be leveraged while maintaining mission integrity." |
| 48 | Business Planning & Research | Benchmarking & Best Practices | "Act as a benchmarking analyst. For a small digital marketing agency, recommend a process to identify and adopt industry best practices from leading agencies. Include tips on gathering benchmarking data, evaluating performance gaps, and implementing improvements." |
| 49 | Business Planning & Research | Adjacent Market Exploration | "I'm running a successful email automation tool. Which adjacent markets or verticals could I potentially expand into? Brainstorm at least 3 areas (e.g., CRM, chatbot integrations, analytics) and discuss feasibility, synergy with existing capabilities, and potential barriers to entry." |
| 50 | Business Planning & Research | Long-Term Growth Roadmap | "Help me create a 5-year growth roadmap for an AI-driven recruitment platform. Include milestones for new feature launches, global market entry, strategic partnerships, and hiring plans. Provide a brief overview of potential risks and how to pivot if needed." |
| 51 | Business Planning & Research | Role Play: 3-Year Planning Facilitator | "Act as my strategic planning facilitator for a new home décor e-commerce store. First, prompt me to share my vision and key objectives for the next three years. Then, collaboratively help me define measurable milestones (financial, operational, and brand-building). Finally, outline a quarterly roadmap with major activities. Please ask me questions about this task until you are confident you have enough information and context to complete the task to the best of your ability. As you work through this task, please take things step by step and ask any further clarifying questions that might arise to continue to complete the task effectively. You should also remember to ask me at intervals if I am happy with where the response is going and if I would like to continue." |
| 52 | Business Planning & Research | Prompt Steps: Integrated Business Plan | "Guide me through building an integrated business plan for a small café. Step 1: Outline the mission and vision. Step 2: Define target customers. Step 3: Identify startup costs and funding sources. Step 4: Develop marketing and operations strategies. Step 5: Include risk analysis and contingency plans. Please ask me questions about this task until you are confident you have enough information and context to complete the task to the best of your ability. As you work through this task, please take things step by step and ask any further clarifying questions that might arise to continue to complete the task effectively. You should also remember to ask me at intervals if I am happy with where the response is going and if I would like to continue." |
| 53 | Business Planning & Research | Chain of Thought: Phased Rollout Planning | "Help me create a phased rollout plan for a digital learning platform. Phase 1: Beta launch for early adopters. Phase 2: Gather feedback and refine features. Phase 3: Public launch with marketing campaigns. Phase 4: Expansion and scaling. For each phase, highlight key goals, success metrics, and resources needed. Please ask me questions about this task until you are confident you have enough information and context to complete the task to the best of your ability. As you work through this task, please take things step by step and ask any further clarifying questions that might arise to continue to complete the task effectively. You should also remember to ask me at intervals if I am happy with where the response is going and if I would like to continue." |
| 54 | Business Planning & Research | Role Play: Risk-Mitigation Consultant | "Act as my risk-mitigation consultant for a new travel agency start-up. Begin by prompting me to list the major uncertainties (economic fluctuations, changing travel restrictions, customer demand). Then propose strategies to address each risk—financial buffers, partnerships, insurance, or pivot options. End by summarising a short reference plan for ongoing risk management. Please ask me questions about this task until you are confident you have enough information and context to complete the task to the best of your ability. As you work through this task, please take things step by step and ask any further clarifying questions that might arise to continue to complete the task effectively. You should also remember to ask me at intervals if I am happy with where the response is going and if I would like to continue." |