Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Startup Readiness Score.
Getting Started
How long does the assessment take?
Most founders complete it in 15–20 minutes. The assessment includes 36 questions across the 6 pillars.
Do I need an LLC, product, or traction to take this?
No. The assessment adapts to your stage. It's designed for idea-stage through early operating businesses. You don't need a legal entity, built product, or revenue to benefit from it.
Is this really free?
Yes. You can take the Startup Readiness Score up to two times completely free. No credit card required. After that, you'll need a PRO subscription to continue.
Do I need to create an account?
Yes. You'll need to create a free account by signing up with your Google account to process your results and access them later.
Can I take the assessment anonymously?
No. We require an account to save your results and prevent abuse. However, your individual results are private and never shared publicly.
Understanding Your Results
What do the score ranges mean?
Overall Score (0–150):
0–50: Significant foundational gaps exist. Focus on building clarity before making major commitments.
50–100: Some foundations are in place, but critical gaps remain. Address the weakest pillars before scaling effort.
100–150: Strong foundation. You have clarity across most pillars and are positioned to move forward with confidence.
Pillar Scores (0–25 each):
0–10: Critical gap. This pillar needs immediate attention.
10–18: Needs work. Some clarity exists, but gaps remain.
18–25: Strong. This pillar supports forward movement.
Will this tell me if my startup will succeed?
No. The assessment evaluates readiness, not success. It shows whether your foundation is strong enough to advance safely, not whether your idea will work in the market.
Will this tell me if my idea is good?
No. It evaluates whether you have the clarity and evidence required to make informed decisions about your idea. A "good" idea depends on execution, market conditions, and factors the assessment doesn't predict.
How is the scoring calculated?
Each question is scored based on evidence of clarity and validation. The scoring rubric rewards concrete evidence over assumptions, customer language over founder jargon, and specific observations over vague generalizations.
What if I disagree with my score?
The assessment reflects what you've told us. If your score feels low, it may indicate gaps in your current evidence, not gaps in your potential. Use it as a signal to gather more evidence, not as a judgment.
Can I see examples of what "strong" looks like for each pillar?
Yes. The 6 Pillars page includes detailed explanations of what strong vs. weak looks like for each pillar, along with examples.
Taking the Assessment
What types of questions are asked?
Overall Score (0–150):
The assessment includes a mix of:
Self-assessment scales (1–5 ratings on clarity, validation, confidence)
Multiple choice and checkboxes (selecting from predefined options)
Short answer (describing your problem, market, customer path in your own words)
Can I save my progress and come back later?
Yes. Your answers save every time you click 'Save and Continue" and you can return to your assessment in the dashboard at any time.
Can I skip questions?
No. All questions must be answered to generate your score. If you're unsure, answer as honestly as possible based on what you know right now.
What if I haven't talked to customers yet?
Answer honestly. If you haven't validated something, say so. The assessment is designed to reveal gaps... that's the point. It's better to know what you don't know than to guess.
Can I change my answers after submitting?
No. Once submitted, your answers are locked for that assessment. However, you can retake the assessment (up to 2 times free, or 8 times per month with PRO) to update your answers as your startup evolves.
Retaking the Assessment
When should I retake the assessment?
Retake the assessment when you've addressed gaps and want to measure progress. Most founders retake every 1–3 weeks as they:
Complete customer interviews and validation work
Clarify their target market or business model
Prepare for major milestones (accelerator applications, funding conversations)
How many times can I retake it for free?
Up to 2 times total (not per month—total). After that, you'll need a PRO subscription.
Will my previous scores be saved?
Yes. All your previous scores are saved in your account. With a PRO subscription, you can view historical scores and track progress over time.
Can I compare my scores over time?
Yes, with a PRO subscription. The progress tracking dashboard shows how your scores change across retakes, so you can see which pillars are improving.
Sharing Your Results
Can I share my results with advisors, mentors, or co-founders?
Yes. Many founders use the results to make conversations with advisors more precise and evidence-focused. You can share your score summary or full breakdown however you'd like.
Can I download or print my results?
As of now, you can download a PDF of your scores only. We will be building out download features for Basic and Pro Subscribers over the next few months.
Will my results be shared publicly or with third parties?
No. Your individual results are private. We may publish aggregate, anonymized insights (e.g., "40% of founders score low on GTM clarity"), but we never share individual answers, scores, or identify specific users.
If I'm part of an accelerator, will they see my results?
Only if you were invited to take the assessment through an institutional program (accelerator, university, etc.). In that case, your results may be shared with that institution. You'll be informed at the time of sign-up if your results will be shared.
Pricing & Subscriptions
What's included in the free tier?
2 assessments (total, not per month)
Overall readiness score (0–150)
6 pillar breakdown (0–25 each)
Diagnostic summary
Clarity recommendations
What's included in PRO?
Everything in the free tier
8 assessments per month (less than $1 each)
Progress tracking dashboard
Historical score comparison
Everything in the free tier
How much does PRO cost?
$7.99/month or $79/year (save $17)
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) through Stripe, our secure payment processor.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancel anytime through our customer portal. You'll retain access to PRO features until the end of your current billing period.
Do you offer refunds?
We don't offer refunds for partial subscription periods. However, you can cancel anytime to avoid future charges.
What happens if I cancel my subscription?
You'll retain access to PRO features until the end of your current billing period. After that, you'll revert to the free tier (no additional assessments unless you resubscribe).
What happens if I use all 8 assessments in a month?
Your assessment count resets at the start of each billing cycle. If you need more, you can wait until next month or contact us about custom options.
Do unused assessments roll over to the next month?
No. Your 8 assessments reset each month. Most founders retake every 1–3 weeks, so 8/month provides plenty of flexibility.
Can I switch from monthly to annual?
Yes. You can upgrade to the annual plan anytime through your account settings.
Do you offer discounts for students or nonprofits?
Not currently, but we're open to it. Email shaun@probusinessplanning.com with your situation and we'll see what we can do.
Account & Data
How do I update my email or account information?
Your email is linked to your Google account. To change it, you'll need to sign in with a different Google account. Contact shaun@probusinessplanning.com if you need help transferring your data to a new account.
Is my data secure?
Yes. All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest. We use Google OAuth for secure authentication and we never see or store your Google password. Read our Privacy Policy for details.
What data do you collect?
Account information (name and email from your Google account)
Assessment responses and scores
Usage data (pages visited, features used)
Payment information (processed securely through Stripe. We don't store credit card numbers)
Do you sell my data?
No. We never sell personal data. We may publish aggregate, anonymized insights for research or marketing purposes, but your ideas, answers, and data will never sold or shared with third parties.
About the Assessment
Who created the assessment?
Dr. Shaun Digan, PhD in Entrepreneurship, with 15+ years coaching 500+ early-stage founders through critical decisions like accelerator applications, funding conversations, and pivots.
What is the 6 Pillars framework based on?
The framework is grounded in:
Academic research on startup failure patterns and founder decision-making
15+ years of direct coaching with early-stage founders
Pattern recognition across hundreds of founding teams at different stages
The full framework is detailed in Dr. Digan's upcoming book, Startup Ready: The Six Foundations Every Founder Must Get Right.
Is this "AI advice"?
No. The score is a diagnostic output based on structured inputs and research-backed rubrics. The purpose is clarity, not prescriptive advice or guarantees.
Does this replace talking to customers or advisors?
No. The assessment is a diagnostic tool to help you see where gaps exist. It doesn't replace customer validation, market research, or working with advisors... it helps you prioritize where to focus that work.
How often is the assessment updated?
We refine the assessment questions and scoring rubrics based on user feedback and new research. Major updates are announced via email and in the app.
Last updated: March 2026
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