Find the work that needs doing
Cannabis and hemp businesses operate in a broad ecosystem. Alongside licensed operators are firms supplying software, packaging, professional services and other support. A category label tells you very little about whether a particular service is useful. Begin with a specific customer, the task they struggle to complete, and the alternative they use today. An interview about the last difficult order or delayed payment is usually more revealing than asking whether someone likes a business idea.
Turn observations into a test
Separate direct observations from assumptions. Record what a customer actually said, what you inferred, and what remains unknown. A small demonstration or sample service can test one assumption without committing to a full launch. Define what evidence would cause you to change the idea. Sector participation does not remove the need to check which activities, customers and locations your business can lawfully serve.
A short working checklist
- Describe one customer and one recurring problem.
- Compare the current alternative with your proposed service.
- Write down the evidence that would change your plan.
Further reading
General educational material. Requirements depend on the actual activity and jurisdiction.