checklist
MVP Scope Checklist For Solo App Builders
A checklist for cutting an app idea down to the smallest paid version a stranger could use.
Use this before you start coding.
The smallest paid version
Write one sentence:
A user can pay because this helps them [do one job] at [one moment].
If you need three sentences, the MVP is too wide.
Cut these first
- dashboards no one needs before the first output
- team permissions
- social features
- “AI chat” if the output can be a button
- integrations that only matter after retention exists
- settings screens for preferences you can hardcode
Keep these
- one clear input
- one useful output
- one save/export/share path
- one price
- one first-user channel
- one reason not to build
The stranger test
Would a stranger understand the value from one screenshot?
If not, cut again.