Validating your business idea is the most important step before investing time or money into it. Fortunately, you don’t need a budget to find out whether your idea has real potential.

Start with talking to your target audience. Use social media, Reddit, or LinkedIn to find people in your market. Ask them about their biggest problems, and whether your solution makes sense to them. This not only helps refine your idea, but also builds future customer relationships.

Next, create a simple landing page using free platforms like Carrd or Google Sites. Explain your idea, add a call-to-action (like “Join the Waitlist” or “Sign Up for Updates”), and share it with communities or groups. If people are signing up or asking questions, that’s a green light.

Another method is posting a concept on forums or idea marketplaces like Indie Hackers, Facebook groups, or Product Hunt discussions. The feedback there is honest and often detailed.

Run polls or surveys through Google Forms and distribute them to relevant audiences. Ask questions about their pain points and what they currently use to solve those issues.

Lastly, track your responses. If people are enthusiastic, share your page, or offer to pay—even before your product exists—it’s a strong signal you’re onto something.

Validation is about proof, not perfection. If you can get genuine interest without spending a dollar, your idea has legs.