In this episode, I share how to test and validate a business idea before investing time or money. This episode is for tutors and education business owners who want confidence, clarity, and sustainable business growth.
I walk you through a simple three-stage process to assess your ideas, validate demand, and protect your positioning. We cover marketing, sales confidence, client feedback, and building offers that align with how you want to work.
If you are creating a new offer, launching a group programme, or refining your tutoring services, this episode will help you make smarter, lower-risk decisions.
Enjoy :-)
Sumantha
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👋🏽 Hello! I'm Sumantha McMahon, and I've supported over 100 tutors and education business owners.
As a teacher 'dropout' turned professional tutor, combined with my 20+ years as a business owner, I'm in it with you! Yes, I'm qualified too :-)
My training leans on tried-and-tested methods that are completely tailored to our niche.
Work with me to breathe life into YOUR definition of success:
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Sometimes, I share links to resources and apps that I recommend. They are all based on my experience - if I don't love them, I don't recommend them. In some cases, I earn a small commission for my recommendation, at no cost to you.
Have you ever had a business idea that felt exciting? Maybe you even told people about it. You started planning it, maybe even building it out, only to hit a wall.
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When those doubts creep in, you start wondering if anyone will actually buy this. You get hung up on whether you are charging too much or charging too little.
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All of these doubts, we have all been there. These doubts can really stop you in your tracks before you have even given your idea a proper chance.
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In today’s episode, I want to help you quiet those doubts by showing you how to test and validate your idea before you invest time or money into it.
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Confidence in your offer often comes from more than gut instinct. It comes from knowing your clients, knowing what they want, and knowing they will pay for it.
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Whether you are building your first offer, creating a group programme, or shifting how you deliver your services, these steps will help you see if your idea has legs.
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They will also help you understand if it fits into the bigger picture of your business and gives you options for the future.
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If it is your first time here, welcome. I am Sumantha, and I help tutors and entrepreneurs build businesses that are lucrative, sustainable, and impactful.
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A huge part of this is understanding how to stress test ideas and decide whether you should move forward with them.
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Before we dive into the three stages, I want to say this. Not every idea needs to become something, and that is okay.
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Sometimes an idea is just a spark that leads to something better. Sometimes you scrap it completely, and that is still progress.
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If an idea keeps nudging at you and coming back, this episode will help you explore it with clarity and intention.
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The first stage is letting your idea sit with you. I have had many moments where I jumped straight into action because I was excited.
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Then I hit a wall because I had not actually thought it through. I had not let it marinate.
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When inspiration strikes, sometimes the best thing to do is nothing, at least not straight away.
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I let ideas sit for a week or two. If they still excite me and keep coming back, I know it is worth exploring further.
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If the excitement fades, it usually means it is not aligned with where I am heading.
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Ask yourself if the idea solves a problem for you as a business owner and whether it moves you closer to how you want to work.
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I once considered hiring tutors in my tuition business. It made sense on paper, but it did not excite me.
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On the other hand, ideas like Upgrade Your Education Business and the Cheetahs Mastermind lit me up and kept returning.
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That difference matters. One felt heavy, the other felt energising.
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The second stage is analysing the bigger picture. Where does this offer sit within your business?
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Does it complement what you already do, or does it compete with it? Will it stretch you too thin?
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I once launched a book club idea that worked well but was not sustainable. It spread me too thin and took time away from clients.
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Strategic thinking helped me set it up in a way that was easy to stop when I realised it was not right.
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This stage is about protecting your brand, your positioning, and how you want to be known.
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The third stage is testing the waters. Talk about your idea before it is perfect.
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Speak to clients, potential clients, and listen carefully to their feedback. This is where ideas get stronger.
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When I launched my mastermind, I tested it with existing clients first. That made it low risk and shaped the final offer.
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You do not need a big audience. You just need real conversations with the right people.
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To recap, sit with your idea, analyse the bigger picture, and validate it with real people before building.
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These steps give you clarity and confidence. Thank you for joining me, and I will see you on Wednesday.
