Market Research for Bootstrappers: What Actually Matters

Market research doesn't require consultants or surveys. It requires conversations.

What We Did

Talked to 50 SMEs: Asked about pain points, current tools, budget.

Shadowed 3 businesses: Watched their daily operations. Saw problems firsthand.

Tested Pricing: Asked "Would you pay X for Y?" Adjusted based on reactions.

What We Learned

Problem: Real. Businesses struggle with inventory and sales tracking.

Willingness to Pay: Yes, but price-sensitive. $50-100/month is the sweet spot.

Competition: Exists but weak. Most solutions are too complex or too expensive.

The Investment

Time. Maybe 40 hours total. Zero budget.

The Validation

Pre-sold to 3 businesses before building. That was the real validation.

The Lesson

Talk to customers before writing code. Sounds obvious. Most people skip it.