The 3-question formula for profitable business ideas
Good business ideas are everywhere.
The problem isn’t scarcity. It’s recognition.
Most entrepreneurs spend months brainstorming complex solutions to problems that don’t exist. Meanwhile, profitable opportunities are hiding in plain sight.
Here’s a simple framework to uncover ideas that actually make money.
Start with three questions
Before you build anything, ask yourself:
1. Who can you help? Think about people you understand deeply. Your professional network. Communities you’re part of. Industries you’ve worked in.
2. Who cares? Not everyone with a problem wants it solved badly enough to pay for a solution. Look for people who are actively frustrated or seeking alternatives.
3. Who can buy? Having a problem and having money to solve it are different things. Target audiences with both the need and the budget.
The best business ideas live at the intersection of these three circles.
Score your ideas
Once you have potential ideas, use this criteria to evaluate them:
- Feels like play (10/10): Does working on this energize you?
- $1M+ potential (9/10): Is the market large enough?
- People want it (10/10): Are people actively seeking this solution?
- Highly scalable (10/10): Can you grow without proportional cost increases?
- You control 95% (10/10): Are you dependent on external factors?
- You love the problem (9/10): Will you stick with this when it gets hard?
- Quick to build (6/10): Can you test this quickly and cheaply?
Ideas scoring 70+ points deserve serious consideration.
Find your ikigai intersection
The most sustainable businesses combine:
- What you love doing
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs
- What people will pay for
This intersection creates businesses that are both profitable and fulfilling.
Idea generation frameworks
Try these approaches when you’re stuck:
Dream big: What would you build with unlimited resources?
Go exotic: What unique solutions exist in other industries?
Anti-something: What popular approach could you do the opposite way?
Platform plays: What existing platform could you build on top of?
SaaS everything: What manual process could become software?
Reduce uncertainty: What decisions are people struggling with?
Automate tasks: What do employees spend too much time doing?
Build for favorites: What would you create for people you genuinely love helping?
The business model bridge
Once you have a validated idea, connect it to revenue through:
- Community building around the problem
- Digital products that solve specific pain points
- Courses that teach your solution methodology
- Books that establish your expertise
- Software that automates your process
- Coaching for personalized guidance
- Agency services for done-for-you solutions
Start before you’re ready
The biggest mistake is waiting for the perfect idea.
Instead, start with a decent idea and let the market teach you what people actually want.
Your first idea probably won’t be your final idea. But it will be your first step toward finding what works.
What problem will you solve first?
