Why Startups Ask About Price Before Explaining Their Product

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A design and development professional has outlined the ten most common requests made by startup founders during initial agency enquiries, noting they follow a remarkably consistent pattern regardless of industry or stage. The most frequent opening question is about the cheapest available option, often raised before the founder has even described what their product does. The author argues this is not really about price but about risk management, as founders with limited funds seek the smallest viable investment to test whether their idea has demand. CB Insights data on startup failures shows 38% ran out of money and 35% found no market need, underscoring why cost caution is rational rather than miserly. The piece distinguishes between 'configured' sites built on existing platforms and fully 'developed' custom builds, advising founders to clarify which they are purchasing before signing any agreement.

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