[malcolmgreaves]

Selling something before you make it is highly unethical. You have no idea if you can actually make it, so you run the risk of committing fraud. Additionally, such a strategy could only work if what you're making is very simple. If it's complex, is your customer really going to be okay with "please sign here and we'll get it to you in the next year."

Have a dream. Turn it into a vision. Make a business plan. Create an MVP. Then go try to sell it and listen to the feedback.

I'd you're wrong, then suck it up and deal with the consequences of failure. Failure is never fatal; it's the courage to continue that counts.

[intrasight]

> Selling something before you make it is highly unethical. You have no idea if you can actually make it, so you run the risk of committing fraud.

Wrong and wrong

It is VERY common across all industries to have customers pre-pay. In fact, I wouldn't take a potential customer's "interest" in meaning anything if they don't put their money where there mouth is.

[kayza]

The point is to first validate your idea by asking people if they're actually willing to pay for your service, hypothetically. I don't think the author means actually setting up a contract where the potential interested parties actually pay you upfront for a service that doesn't exist.

[intrasight]

There is no greater indicator of interest than having a customer willing to pay up front. I have been on both sides of such deals in my career.