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Building · Explainer

Don't build the paywall first

You don't need Stripe. You need one person who'll pay. A one-page guide to validating before you build.

PDF · 3 pages · Letterupdated October 9, 2026by Ben Pollock
Page one of Don't build the paywall first

What's in it

Three steps, in order. How to ask questions that get you the truth instead of encouragement, where to look for proof that people already pay for this, and the cheapest thing you can do to get a real yes before you build anything.

Who it's for

Anyone who has opened a Stripe account for a product that doesn't exist yet. Anyone whose mum thinks the idea is wonderful. Anyone about to spend three months building before one stranger has said a word about it.

Test yourself

There's a companion quiz skill for Claude Code. Install it, then run /quiz-validation and it'll ask you eight questions one at a time and score you at the end — quiz-validation.

Print it

Three Letter pages. Stick it above the desk and read step one again the next time you catch yourself asking "would you use this?"

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