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Lesson 1 of 10 12 min

Finding Problems Worth Solving

Great businesses start with a real problem, not a cool idea.

Written by Mateo LermaLast reviewed 1 sourceEditorial standards

All lessons in Entrepreneurship

Step 1: The lesson

How do you find a business idea worth pursuing?

Most new businesses fail because they make something nobody needs enough to pay for. The fix is to start with a problem, not a product.

An idea is "I want to make an app for students." A problem is "Students lose track of assignment deadlines and it costs them grades." Problems point you toward customers; ideas often point you toward yourself.

Good problems tend to pass a few tests:

  • Frequent: it happens often, not once a year.
  • Painful: it costs people time, money, stress, or status.
  • Already patched: people use clumsy workarounds or pay for imperfect fixes — proof they care.
  • Reachable: you can actually get in front of the people who have it.

Where to look

Listen for complaints — yours and other people's. "I wish…", "Why is it so hard to…", and "I always have to…" are clues.

Step 2: See it

Four tests for a problem worth solving

A problem worth solving is frequent, painful, already being patched with workarounds, and reachable — you can find the people who have it.

  1. Frequent

    It happens again and again.

  2. Painful

    It costs time, money, stress, or status.

  3. Already patched

    People use workarounds or pay for imperfect fixes.

  4. Reachable

    You can find and talk to the people who have it.

Step 3: Real-world example

Marcus and the dirty sneakers

Marcus notices that classmates' white sneakers get scuffed fast — and that people care, especially before games, dances, and photos.

  • Frequent: shoes get dirty every week.
  • Painful: sneakers are expensive, and dirty ones feel embarrassing.
  • Already patched: people scrub them with toothbrushes, ruin them in washing machines, or pay a shop across town.
  • Reachable: his customers are in his hallways every day.

Marcus doesn't have a business yet. He has a problem that passes all four tests — a much better starting point than a random idea.

Step 4: Knowledge check

Quiz: Finding Problems Worth Solving (3 questions)

Answer each question, then check your answer to see the explanation. Retake it as many times as you like.

Question 1 of 3

Multiple choiceWhich is a problem rather than an idea?

Choose an answer.

Step 5: Summary

Summary: Finding Problems Worth Solving

Strong businesses start with real problems, not cool ideas. Good problems are frequent, painful, already being patched with workarounds, and reachable. Listen for complaints to find them.

Step 6: What you should remember

Key takeaways: Finding Problems Worth Solving

  • Start with a problem, not a product.
  • Frequent, painful, already patched, reachable.
  • Workarounds are proof people care.
  • Complaints are clues.

Finished the lesson?

Mark it complete to track your progress.

Sources and further reading

Rules, rates, and official figures in this lesson are based on these sources. People and numbers in examples are hypothetical.

  1. 1.
    Plan your business (opens in a new tab)

    U.S. Small Business Administration · sba.gov

Cite this lesson

Financial Literacy Club. (2026, September). Finding problems worth solving. https://learnwithflc.org/courses/entrepreneurship/problems-worth-solving

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