My Startup Was Failing Because I Was Solving a Problem That No One Would Pay For

When I talk to people thinking of working on their startup or small business I often tell them to take two days to concentrate on exactly how they will make money and to write down the reasons why they will not make money.<p>Often people don&#x27;t actually know the details of how companies make money on the internet. With out being too negative you are a better friend or acquaintance if you say to people that their idea and enthusiasm is good but it is unlikely to make money and could cost the would be entrepreneur lots of money. But again say it nicely not in an all knowing prick way!

Serious question: if your potential customers don&#x27;t feel that your solution isn&#x27;t worth paying for, how great of a &quot;problem&quot; do they really have?<p>I have an excellent solution to extract cats who have become wedged into fishbowls. Haven&#x27;t made a dime on it yet.<p>Whose fault is it if I go deep into debt trying to sell it?