The Ultimate Small Business AI Prompt Library

Running a small business in 2026 means making more decisions than ever, with less time and more tools than you know what to do with. Most AI prompt libraries are built for content creators and marketers. This one is built for something different: real small business decisions, growth opportunities, risk signals, financial clarity, and operational focus.

Everything here is structured using a consistent formula so the prompts actually work, not just sound good.

Use the section links below to jump to what you need.

Quick Navigation

• How to Write a Good AI Prompt
• 10-Prompt Starter Pack
• Business Decision-Making Prompts
• Goal-Setting Prompts
• Growth Prompts
• Risk Analysis Prompts
• Marketing Prompts
• Sales Prompts
• Finance and Cash Flow Prompts
• Reporting Prompts
• Operations Prompts
• Customer Insight Prompts
• Ecommerce Prompts
• Agency Prompts
• SaaS Prompts
• Freelancer and Consultant Prompts
• Service Business Prompts
• Common Prompt Mistakes to Avoid
• One-Page Prompt Cheat Sheet

How to Write a Good AI Prompt

Most AI prompts are too vague to be useful. The output you get reflects the quality of the input you give. A strong prompt has five elements.

Role. Tell the AI what kind of expert to be. "Act as a financial advisor for a small business" gets better results than "help me with finances."

Context. Describe your situation. What type of business? What size team? What stage? What data do you have? The more specific you are, the more relevant the output.

Goal. State clearly what you want to achieve. Not "help me grow" but "help me identify which customer segment to prioritise for the next 90 days."

Constraints. What are the limits? Budget, time, team size, tools available. This keeps the advice grounded in reality.

Output format. Tell it how to present the answer. A table, a list of five actions, a one-paragraph summary, a weekly plan. Specify this and you get structured, usable output.

The Small Business AI Prompt Formula

Use this template as a starting point for any business prompt:

Act as a [role] for a small business. Context: I run a [type of business] with [team size], currently at [revenue stage or size]. My main goal right now is to [goal]. Constraints: [budget, time, team limitations]. Output: Give me [number] prioritised [actions / insights / recommendations] with reasoning, risks, and what to measure.

Example in use:

Act as a commercial advisor for a small business. Context: I run a marketing agency with 6 people, generating around £40k per month. My main goal is to improve profit margins without losing clients. Constraints: I cannot increase team size or raise prices immediately. Output: Give me 5 prioritised actions with reasoning, risk, and what to measure.

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10-Prompt Starter Pack for Busy Owners

Start here if you are short on time. These 10 prompts cover the most common decisions small business owners face.

1. Weekly priority reset

Act as a strategic advisor for a small business. I run a [type of business] with [team size]. My current goals are [goals]. Here is my recent performance context: [context]. Identify the 5 highest-priority actions for the next 7 days. Rank by likely impact, explain why each matters, and tell me what I should ignore for now. Output: table with priority, reason, expected impact, and risk.

2. Revenue gap analysis

Act as a revenue analyst. My business targets [revenue goal] but we are currently at [current revenue]. Identify the most likely reasons for the gap using this context: [business type, channels, customer segments]. Output: 3 to 5 hypotheses ranked by likelihood, with a suggested action for each.

3. Quick risk scan

Act as a risk advisor for a small business. Here is a summary of my current business situation: [context]. Identify the top 3 risks I should be monitoring right now. For each, explain the signal to watch for, the likely impact, and one action I can take this week. Output: table with risk, signal, impact, and action.

4. Monthly focus reset

Act as a business coach. I am starting a new month and want to reset my focus. My goals for this quarter are [goals]. Last month I [what happened]. Based on this, what should I focus on this month? Output: top 3 priorities with reasoning and what I should stop doing.

5. Cash flow clarity

Act as a financial advisor for a small business. My current monthly revenue is [x], my costs are approximately [x], and my cash position is [x]. I am concerned about [specific concern]. Output: 3 actions I can take in the next 30 days to improve cash position, ranked by impact and speed.

6. Customer retention check

Act as a customer success advisor. My business sells [product or service] to [audience]. My current retention rate is [x] and my churn rate is [x]. Identify the most likely causes of churn in a business like mine and give me 3 specific actions to improve retention this month. Output: action list with expected impact and how to measure success.

7. Marketing channel audit

Act as a marketing advisor for a small business. I currently use [channels] to acquire customers. My cost per acquisition is [x] and my best-performing channel is [x]. Which channel should I prioritise for the next 90 days and why? Output: recommendation with rationale, risk of focus, and what to measure.

8. Pricing sense check

Act as a pricing strategist for a small business. I currently charge [price] for [product or service]. My costs are [x] and my main competitors charge [x]. Is my pricing appropriate? Identify any opportunity to improve margins and the risk of changing price. Output: assessment and 2 pricing scenarios with trade-offs.

9. Goal reality check

Act as a business strategist. I have set the following goal for this quarter: [goal]. My current business context is [context]. Is this goal realistic? What are the most likely blockers? Output: assessment, 3 blockers ranked by likelihood, and a revised goal if needed.

10. Decision tiebreaker

Act as a decision-making advisor. I am choosing between [option A] and [option B]. My priorities are [priorities]. My constraints are [constraints]. Help me think through this decision. Output: structured comparison table with pros, cons, risk, and a recommendation with reasoning.

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Business Decision-Making Prompts

Use these prompts when you need to make an important call with limited information. Good prompts here help you think more clearly, not just faster.

Prioritisation under pressure

Act as a strategic advisor. I have too many competing priorities and need help focusing. Here is my current task and project list: [list]. My main business goal right now is [goal]. My team size is [x]. Identify the top 3 priorities and explain what I should deprioritise and why. Output: priority list with rationale and what to defer.

Build vs buy vs partner decision

Act as a business advisor. I need to decide whether to build [capability], buy a tool or service, or find a partner. My context is [business size, budget, urgency]. Output: framework comparison table with recommendation, risks, and key questions to answer before deciding.

Evaluating a new opportunity

Act as a commercial advisor. I am considering [new product, market, or channel]. My current business is [context]. Evaluate this opportunity for me. Output: opportunity assessment covering upside, risk, cost, distraction risk, and a go/no-go recommendation with conditions.

Saying no with confidence

Act as a strategic advisor. I have been asked to [opportunity or request]. My current priorities are [priorities] and my team capacity is [x]. Help me evaluate whether to accept or decline. Output: structured reasoning with a recommendation and, if declining, a suggested response.

Quarterly strategy reset

Act as a business strategist. I am setting priorities for next quarter. My goals are [goals]. Last quarter's results were [results]. Current market conditions are [context]. Output: 3 strategic priorities with rationale, key actions for each, and what I should stop or pause.

Investment decision

Act as a financial advisor for a small business. I am considering investing [amount] in [initiative]. My expected return is [x] over [timeframe]. My current cash position is [x]. Help me evaluate this decision. Output: ROI assessment, risk factors, break-even timeline, and a recommendation.

Hiring decision

Act as a business advisor. I am deciding whether to hire [role] now or wait. My business context is [context]. Revenue is [x] and margin is [x]. Output: assessment of whether the timing is right, the risk of hiring vs not hiring, and a framework for making this decision.

Crisis response prioritisation

Act as a crisis advisor for a small business. I am dealing with [situation]. My business context is [context]. Help me prioritise my response. Output: immediate actions ranked by urgency, short-term stabilisation steps, and what to communicate to [customers, team, stakeholders].

Entering a new market

Act as a market strategy advisor. I am considering entering [market or geography]. My current business is [context]. Output: market entry assessment covering opportunity size, competition, barriers, required investment, and key risks. Recommend whether to proceed and how.

Stopping something that is not working

Act as a business advisor. I have been running [initiative or channel or product] for [time period] and results have been [results]. Help me decide whether to stop, pivot, or continue. Output: structured assessment with recommendation and the key signal that would change my mind.

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Goal-Setting Prompts

These prompts help you set goals that are grounded in reality, not wishful thinking.

Annual goal setting

Act as a business coach. I want to set my main business goals for the next 12 months. My current revenue is [x], margin is [x], team size is [x], and my biggest constraint is [x]. Output: 3 to 5 goals structured as: goal, reason it matters, target metric, how to measure it, and what would get in the way.

Quarterly OKR creation

Act as a strategy advisor. Help me create 3 OKRs for this quarter. My main business priority is [priority]. Output: 3 objectives each with 2 to 3 key results, written as measurable outcomes not activities, with suggested tracking intervals.

Goal realism check

Act as an honest business advisor. I have set this goal: [goal]. My current situation is [context]. Is this achievable? What are the most likely blockers? Output: realistic assessment, top 3 blockers with likelihood, and a revised goal if the original is too ambitious.

Setting a revenue goal

Act as a financial advisor. I want to grow revenue from [current] to [target] in [timeframe]. My current customer count is [x], average order value is [x], and growth levers are [x]. Is this realistic? Output: growth model breakdown, key assumptions, and the single highest-impact lever to pull.

Retention goal setting

Act as a customer success advisor. My current retention rate is [x]. I want to improve it to [target] in [timeframe]. My main churn reasons are [context]. Output: goal breakdown, 3 actions to hit the target, and what metric to track weekly.

Team performance goal

Act as a people advisor. I want to set a clear performance goal for my team of [size] focused on [area]. Current performance is [context]. Output: goal statement, 2 to 3 supporting metrics, how to communicate it to the team, and how to review progress monthly.

Margin improvement goal

Act as a financial advisor. My current gross margin is [x] and I want to reach [target] in [timeframe]. My main cost drivers are [context]. Output: gap analysis, 3 levers to improve margin, risks of each, and a realistic improvement timeline.

Goal breakdown into weekly actions

Act as a planning advisor. My goal for this quarter is [goal]. Break this into weekly actions for the next 12 weeks. Output: weekly action plan with the main focus, expected output, and how I will know each week is on track.

Identifying the wrong goals

Act as a business strategist. Here are the goals I am currently pursuing: [goals]. My business context is [context]. Are any of these the wrong goals to focus on right now? Output: honest assessment of each goal's relevance, any that should be dropped, and what I might be missing.

Goal post-mortem

Act as a business reviewer. I set this goal at the start of [period]: [goal]. The result was [result]. Help me understand what worked, what did not, and what I should do differently next time. Output: what went well, root causes of underperformance, and 3 lessons to carry forward.

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Growth Prompts

Use these prompts to identify growth opportunities, remove blockers, and prioritise where to focus.

Growth opportunity scan

Act as a growth advisor for a small business. My business sells [product or service] to [audience]. Revenue is [x] and I have been growing at [rate]. Identify 5 growth opportunities I might be overlooking. Output: opportunity list with description, effort required, expected upside, and recommended starting point.

Fastest path to next revenue milestone

Act as a commercial advisor. I want to go from [current revenue] to [target revenue]. My current customers, channels, and products are [context]. What is the fastest realistic path? Output: 3 routes ranked by speed and certainty, with key actions for each.

Upsell and expansion opportunity

Act as a growth advisor. I have [x] customers who currently spend [x] with me. Identify the most likely upsell and expansion opportunities based on [business type and customer profile]. Output: 3 opportunities with suggested approach, expected revenue uplift, and how to test each.

Removing a growth blocker

Act as a business advisor. My business has been stuck at around [revenue or metric] for [time period]. My context is [context]. What is most likely blocking growth? Output: top 3 probable blockers with diagnosis, test to confirm, and action to address each.

Channel diversification

Act as a growth strategist. I currently rely heavily on [channel] for new customers. Identify 3 additional channels worth testing for a business like mine. Output: channel options with rationale, cost to test, likely timeline to results, and what success looks like.

Product or service expansion

Act as a commercial advisor. I currently offer [products or services]. What adjacent offers might my customers want that I am not providing? Output: 3 to 5 ideas ranked by feasibility and revenue potential, with a suggested way to validate each.

Improving conversion

Act as a conversion advisor. My business gets [x] leads or visitors per month but converts only [x] percent. My sales process is [context]. Identify the most likely conversion drop-off points and 3 improvements to test. Output: diagnosis with improvement actions and how to measure impact.

Geographic or market expansion

Act as a market expansion advisor. I am considering expanding from [current market] into [new market or geography]. My business context is [context]. What are the key considerations? Output: opportunity assessment, top 3 risks, required investment estimate, and a recommended first step.

Partnership growth

Act as a partnership strategist. My business sells [product or service] to [audience]. Identify 5 types of businesses that could be good referral or distribution partners. Output: partner type, reason for fit, how to approach them, and what a basic partnership could look like.

Seasonal growth planning

Act as a commercial advisor. My business experiences [seasonality pattern]. I want to make the most of [upcoming peak period]. Output: 3 actions to maximise revenue during the peak, 2 actions to smooth the off-peak, and key metrics to track.

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Risk Analysis Prompts

These prompts help you spot risk before it becomes a problem. For a deeper introduction, see our guide on how to reduce business risk with data.

Top risk scan

Act as a risk advisor for a small business. Here is my current business situation: [context]. Identify the top 5 risks I should be monitoring right now. For each, describe the early warning signal, the potential impact, and one proactive action. Output: risk table with signal, impact, and action.

Revenue concentration risk

Act as a risk advisor. My top 3 clients account for [x] percent of my revenue. Assess the risk of this concentration. Output: risk level assessment, impact if one client leaves, and 3 actions to reduce concentration risk over the next 6 months.

Channel dependency risk

Act as a commercial risk advisor. I generate [x] percent of new business from [channel]. Assess the risk of this dependency. Output: risk assessment, scenarios if this channel declined by 30 or 50 percent, and 3 diversification actions.

Cash flow risk

Act as a financial risk advisor. My average cash runway is [x] months. My payment terms are [context] and my largest recurring costs are [context]. Identify my biggest cash flow risks and 3 ways to improve resilience. Output: risk list with impact and actions ranked by priority.

Hiring and people risk

Act as a people risk advisor. My business relies heavily on [role or person]. Assess the risk if this person left. Output: risk level, business impact assessment, and 3 actions to reduce dependency or prepare for succession.

Market risk assessment

Act as a market risk advisor. My business operates in [sector] serving [audience]. What are the biggest external risks I should be monitoring over the next 12 months? Output: top 5 risks with likelihood, impact, and one action I could take now to prepare.

Pricing risk

Act as a pricing advisor. My current pricing is [x] and my main competitors charge [x]. What are the risks in my current pricing strategy? Output: risk assessment covering margin compression, competitive pressure, and customer perception, with 2 scenarios if prices need to change.

Operational dependency risk

Act as an operations risk advisor. My business depends on [tools, suppliers, or systems]. What are my biggest single points of failure? Output: dependency risk list with impact if each fails and recommended mitigation for the top 3.

Reputation risk

Act as a reputation risk advisor for a small business. My business relies on [reviews, referrals, relationships]. What are the most common ways businesses like mine damage their reputation and how should I be protecting mine? Output: top 5 risks with early signals and a proactive action for each.

Scenario planning

Act as a scenario planning advisor. Help me prepare for 3 scenarios: a strong quarter, a flat quarter, and a difficult quarter. My current business context is [context]. Output: for each scenario, describe the likely cause, business impact, and what I would do differently.

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Marketing Prompts

Channel prioritisation

Act as a marketing advisor for a small business. I currently use [channels]. My budget is [x] per month and my cost per acquisition is [x]. Which channel should I focus on for the next 90 days and why? Output: recommendation with rationale, what to cut or pause, and how to measure success.

Audience clarity

Act as a positioning advisor. My business sells [product or service]. I want to get clearer on my ideal customer. Based on [business context], describe my 3 most valuable customer types. Output: customer profile for each with demographics, pain points, what they value, and where to reach them.

Campaign brief

Act as a marketing strategist. I want to run a campaign promoting [product or service] to [audience]. My goal is [goal] and my budget is [x]. Output: campaign brief with objective, target audience, key message, channels, timeline, and success metrics.

Content strategy

Act as a content marketing advisor. I want to create content that attracts [audience] and supports my goal of [goal]. My business is [context]. Output: 3-month content plan with topics, formats, channels, and the purpose of each piece.

Email marketing improvement

Act as an email marketing advisor. My current open rate is [x] and click rate is [x]. My list size is [x] and I send [frequency]. Identify 3 improvements that would most likely increase engagement. Output: improvement list with action, expected impact, and how to test each.

Brand message audit

Act as a brand strategist. Here is my current marketing message: [message]. My target audience is [audience] and my main competitor messages are [context]. Is my message differentiated and compelling? Output: honest assessment with 2 alternative message framings to test.

SEO topic prioritisation

Act as an SEO advisor for a small business. My business is [context] and my target audience searches for [topics]. Suggest 10 content topics I should prioritise for organic search. Output: topic list with search intent, difficulty estimate, and recommended content format for each.

Referral programme design

Act as a growth advisor. I want to create a referral programme for my business. My customers are [context] and my product or service is [x]. Output: referral programme design with incentive structure, how to promote it, and how to measure success.

Social media strategy

Act as a social media advisor for a small business. I want to grow my presence on [platform]. My audience is [context] and my goal is [goal]. Output: 30-day posting strategy with content types, posting frequency, engagement tactics, and how to track progress.

Reactivation campaign

Act as a marketing advisor. I have [x] customers who have not purchased in [time period]. I want to re-engage them. Output: reactivation campaign plan with message approach, sequence of 3 touchpoints, offer if any, and success metric.

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Sales Prompts

Pipeline review

Act as a sales advisor. I have [x] deals in my pipeline. My average close rate is [x] and average deal size is [x]. Here is my pipeline breakdown: [context]. Identify the 3 deals most likely to close this month and the biggest risk in each. Output: deal assessment with close probability, key action, and risk.

Objection handling

Act as a sales coach. My most common objection when selling [product or service] is [objection]. Help me prepare a confident, honest response that does not feel pushy. Output: response framework with 3 variations for different buyer styles.

Pricing conversation

Act as a sales advisor. I am in a pricing conversation with a potential client who says [concern]. My product is priced at [x] and delivers [value]. Help me respond without discounting. Output: 3 response approaches with language I can use directly.

Ideal customer profile

Act as a sales strategist. My best customers share these characteristics: [context]. Help me build an ideal customer profile to focus my sales effort. Output: ICP definition with company profile, trigger events, buying behaviour, and where to find them.

Sales process improvement

Act as a sales process advisor. My sales cycle is [x] days and my close rate is [x]. The stage where I lose most deals is [stage]. Identify 3 improvements to increase conversion at this stage. Output: improvement actions with rationale and how to test each.

Proposal improvement

Act as a sales advisor. Here is a summary of a proposal I recently lost: [context]. What might have caused the loss and what should I do differently? Output: diagnosis of likely failure reasons and 3 changes to make to my proposal approach.

Follow-up strategy

Act as a sales coach. I have [x] prospects who have gone quiet after [stage]. What is the best way to follow up without being annoying? Output: follow-up sequence with timing, message approach, and when to stop pursuing.

Cross-sell strategy

Act as a commercial advisor. My existing customers buy [product A]. What is the most natural next purchase I could offer them? My business context is [context]. Output: 2 to 3 cross-sell opportunities with rationale, how to identify the right moment, and suggested approach.

Win/loss analysis

Act as a sales advisor. Last quarter I won [x] deals and lost [x]. The main reasons I lost were [context]. Help me identify patterns and what to change. Output: pattern analysis with 3 actionable improvements and what to test first.

Cold outreach message

Act as a sales copywriter. I want to reach out to [audience] about [product or service]. They likely care about [pain points]. Write a short, honest outreach message that does not feel like a template. Output: 3 message variations for email or LinkedIn, each under 100 words.

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Finance and Cash Flow Prompts

Monthly financial review

Act as a financial advisor for a small business. Here is my monthly P&L summary: revenue [x], cost of goods [x], overheads [x], net profit [x]. What should I be paying attention to? Output: top 3 observations, 2 concerns to monitor, and 1 action to take this month.

Improving cash flow

Act as a cash flow advisor. My business has [x] months of cash runway. My payment terms are [context] and my biggest outgoings are [context]. Identify 5 ways to improve cash position over the next 60 days. Output: ranked actions with expected impact and implementation effort.

Pricing for profitability

Act as a pricing advisor. My current price is [x], cost to deliver is [x], and my target margin is [x]. Am I pricing correctly? Output: margin analysis, gap to target, and 2 scenarios for price adjustment with trade-offs.

Cost reduction review

Act as a financial advisor. My monthly costs are [breakdown]. I need to reduce costs by [x] without significantly harming operations or growth. Output: prioritised cost reduction recommendations with expected saving, risk, and implementation notes for each.

Budget planning

Act as a financial planner for a small business. I want to set a budget for the next quarter. My expected revenue is [x] and my goals are [goals]. Output: budget framework with suggested allocation across key areas, assumptions, and what to review monthly.

Forecasting revenue

Act as a financial advisor. My last 3 months of revenue were [x, x, x]. My pipeline is [context]. Help me forecast revenue for the next quarter. Output: low, medium, and high scenario forecasts with key assumptions and what would push results in each direction.

Invoice and payment terms

Act as a commercial advisor. My average debtor days are [x] and I am owed [x] in outstanding invoices. What are the most effective ways to improve payment times for a business like mine? Output: 3 to 5 practical actions with expected impact and implementation notes.

Margin by product or service

Act as a profitability advisor. I offer [products or services] with the following margins: [context]. Which should I focus on and which might I consider dropping or repricing? Output: profitability assessment with recommendation on focus, reprice, or retire for each.

Tax planning basics

Act as a financial advisor for a small business. It is [current month] and my year-end is [date]. What financial housekeeping and planning should I be doing now to be in the best position for year-end? Output: checklist of 5 to 8 actions with brief reasoning for each.

Profitability improvement plan

Act as a profitability advisor. My gross margin is [x] and my net margin is [x]. My goal is to reach [target margin] in [timeframe]. Output: gap analysis, top 3 levers to pull, risks of each, and a realistic improvement timeline.

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Reporting Prompts

Weekly business report

Act as a reporting advisor for a small business. Here is this week's data: [data summary]. Write a concise weekly business report covering what happened, what it means, and what to focus on next week. Output: structured report in 3 sections: results, insights, and priorities.

KPI dashboard design

Act as a business analytics advisor. I run a [type of business] and want to build a simple weekly dashboard. My main goals are [goals]. Output: recommended dashboard with 5 to 8 KPIs, how to calculate each, what good looks like, and the frequency to review.

Performance against goal

Act as a performance advisor. My goal for this period was [goal]. My actual result was [result]. Help me interpret this. Output: assessment of whether I am on track, root cause if not, and the single most important action to take this week.

Board or investor update

Act as a communications advisor. I need to write a monthly update for [stakeholders]. Key metrics this month: [data]. Output: concise update covering highlights, lowlights, what we are learning, and what we need, in a format that takes 3 minutes to read.

Marketing performance summary

Act as a marketing analyst. Here is my marketing performance this month: [data by channel]. Summarise what is working, what is not, and what I should change next month. Output: channel-by-channel assessment with recommendation for each.

Sales pipeline report

Act as a sales analyst. Here is my current pipeline: [stage, value, probability context]. What does this tell me about my likely revenue next month and what should I focus on to improve it? Output: pipeline health assessment with revenue forecast and top 3 actions.

Trend identification

Act as a data analyst for a small business. Here is 6 months of data: [data]. Identify any trends I should be aware of. Output: top 3 trends with description, likely cause, and whether each is positive, neutral, or a concern.

Customer metrics report

Act as a customer analytics advisor. My retention rate is [x], average customer lifetime value is [x], and acquisition cost is [x]. What does this tell me about the health of my customer base? Output: diagnosis with 3 observations and 2 priority actions.

Operational metrics summary

Act as an operations analyst. Here is a summary of my operational metrics this month: [context]. What should I be paying attention to? Output: top 3 observations, any early warning signals, and 1 recommended action.

Year-end business review

Act as a business review advisor. Here is a summary of my year: [revenue, growth, key wins, key challenges, team changes]. Help me write a clear year-end review. Output: structured review covering what we achieved, what we learned, what we would do differently, and priorities for next year.

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Operations Prompts

Process improvement

Act as an operations advisor. My team currently handles [process] like this: [description]. It takes too long and causes [problems]. Identify 3 ways to improve this process. Output: improvement options with effort to implement, expected time saving, and potential risks.

Bottleneck identification

Act as an operations advisor. My business is growing but I keep hitting the same bottleneck at [stage or process]. Help me diagnose the root cause and fix it. Output: root cause analysis with 3 potential solutions ranked by effort and impact.

Tool stack review

Act as an operations advisor. I currently use [tools] to run my business. I spend [x] per month on software. Review my tool stack and identify overlaps, gaps, or tools I might not need. Output: assessment of each tool with keep, review, or replace recommendation and reasoning.

Delegation planning

Act as a management advisor. I am the bottleneck in my business. I currently do [tasks]. I have [team size]. Help me identify what I should delegate and how to do it successfully. Output: delegation plan with task, who could take it, what they need to succeed, and how to hand over.

Hiring prioritisation

Act as a people advisor. My business needs more capacity but I can only hire one person. My biggest constraints are [areas]. Which role should I hire first and why? Output: role recommendation with rationale, key responsibilities, and what success looks like in 90 days.

Remote or hybrid team management

Act as a management advisor. I lead a [remote or hybrid] team of [size]. My biggest challenges are [context]. Identify 3 practical improvements to how I manage and communicate with the team. Output: improvement actions with implementation notes and expected impact.

SOP creation guide

Act as an operations advisor. I need to document the process for [task or workflow]. Here is how we currently do it: [description]. Help me turn this into a clear SOP. Output: step-by-step SOP with owner, inputs, steps, outputs, and what to do if something goes wrong.

Meeting efficiency

Act as a productivity advisor. My team currently has [x] regular meetings per week. I want to make them more focused and reduce unnecessary time. Output: review of meeting types, which to cut or shorten, and a suggested agenda template for the most important meeting type.

Capacity planning

Act as an operations advisor. My team currently operates at [x] percent capacity. I expect [x] percent growth in workload over the next quarter. How should I plan for this? Output: capacity assessment, options for increasing capacity, risks of each, and recommended approach.

Vendor or supplier review

Act as an operations advisor. I currently work with these suppliers: [context]. I want to review whether I am getting the best value. Output: review framework with questions to ask each supplier, signs to look for, and how to approach renegotiation.

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Customer Insight Prompts

Customer satisfaction analysis

Act as a customer experience advisor. My NPS or satisfaction score is [x]. The most common customer feedback themes are [context]. What does this tell me and what should I prioritise? Output: assessment with top 3 actions ranked by impact on satisfaction.

Understanding churn

Act as a customer retention advisor. My monthly churn rate is [x]. The most common reasons customers leave are [context]. Identify the root causes and 3 actions to reduce churn. Output: root cause analysis with action plan and expected impact of each.

Customer segmentation

Act as a customer analytics advisor. My customer base is [description]. Help me identify 3 meaningful customer segments based on [behaviour, value, or industry]. Output: segment description with profile, value to business, and suggested approach for each.

Identifying your best customers

Act as a commercial advisor. My best customers share these traits: [context]. Help me define what makes a great customer for my business so I can find more of them. Output: ideal customer profile with qualifying criteria and where to find them.

Voice of customer analysis

Act as a customer insight advisor. Here is a sample of customer feedback: [quotes or themes]. What are the most important themes and what should I do about them? Output: theme analysis with 3 key takeaways and suggested actions for each.

Post-purchase experience

Act as a customer experience advisor. My customers buy [product or service] and then [typical next experience]. How could I improve the post-purchase experience to increase retention and referrals? Output: 3 improvement ideas with rationale and how to implement each.

Customer interview questions

Act as a customer research advisor. I want to interview [x] customers to understand [topic]. Help me design 8 to 10 interview questions that will give me honest, useful insight. Output: question list with the intent behind each and what a good answer looks like.

Identifying at-risk customers

Act as a customer success advisor. My customers who are most likely to churn show these behavioural signals: [context]. Help me create a simple framework to identify at-risk customers before they leave. Output: risk scoring framework with signals, scoring method, and suggested intervention for each risk level.

Customer lifetime value improvement

Act as a commercial advisor. My average customer lifetime value is [x]. I want to increase it by [x] over the next 12 months. Output: 3 strategies to increase LTV with description, effort, and expected uplift for each.

Review and referral generation

Act as a growth advisor. I want to generate more reviews and referrals from my existing customer base. My business is [context]. Output: plan with timing, ask approach, incentive if any, and how to track results.

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Ecommerce Prompts

For more context on using AI in ecommerce, see our guide on AI for ecommerce businesses.

Cart abandonment analysis

Act as an ecommerce advisor. My cart abandonment rate is [x]. My average order value is [x] and my checkout process is [context]. Identify the most likely causes and 3 actions to improve conversion. Output: diagnosis with action list and how to test each.

Product performance review

Act as an ecommerce analyst. Here is my product performance data: [top products by revenue, margin, and return rate]. Which products should I focus on, which should I promote less, and are there any I should review or drop? Output: product assessment with recommendation for each tier.

Customer acquisition cost

Act as an ecommerce advisor. My average customer acquisition cost is [x] and my average order value is [x]. My repeat purchase rate is [x]. Is my CAC sustainable? Output: assessment, break-even analysis, and 3 ways to either reduce CAC or increase customer value.

Email sequence optimisation

Act as an ecommerce email advisor. I want to improve my post-purchase email sequence. Currently I send [context]. Output: recommended sequence with timing, purpose of each email, and key message for each stage.

Seasonal campaign planning

Act as an ecommerce marketing advisor. I want to plan a campaign for [seasonal event]. My audience is [context], my best products are [x], and my budget is [x]. Output: campaign plan with timeline, offer, channels, and success metrics.

Returns and refund reduction

Act as an ecommerce operations advisor. My return rate is [x]. The most common reasons are [context]. Identify 3 ways to reduce returns without reducing sales. Output: improvement actions with implementation notes and expected impact.

Pricing strategy review

Act as an ecommerce pricing advisor. My current pricing for [products] is [x]. My main competitors charge [x] and my margins are [x]. Is my pricing optimal? Output: pricing assessment with 2 scenarios for adjustment and trade-offs of each.

Bundle and upsell design

Act as an ecommerce growth advisor. My best-selling product is [x]. What bundles or upsell offers would be most natural for customers who buy this? Output: 3 to 5 bundle or upsell ideas with rationale, suggested pricing, and how to test each.

Subscription model feasibility

Act as a commercial advisor. I currently sell [product] as one-off purchases. Could I convert this to a subscription model? My customer purchase frequency is [context]. Output: feasibility assessment, subscription model design options, expected impact on LTV, and risks.

Marketplace vs direct strategy

Act as a commercial advisor. I currently sell through [channel]. Should I also sell on [marketplace] or focus on direct? My business context is [context]. Output: comparison of both approaches with margin impact, brand implications, and a recommendation.

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Agency Prompts

For more on this topic, see our guide on AI tools for marketing agencies.

Client performance review

Act as an agency advisor. I need to prepare for a client review. Here is the performance data: [context]. What are the most important points to cover and how should I frame any underperformance? Output: review structure with talking points, how to present challenges, and what actions to propose.

Scope creep management

Act as an agency business advisor. My project for [client] has expanded beyond the original scope. I need to address this professionally. Output: approach to the conversation, how to frame additional fees, and suggested language to use.

Agency pricing review

Act as an agency business advisor. My current pricing model is [retainer or project]. My margins are [x] and my team utilisation is [x]. Am I pricing correctly? Output: pricing assessment, comparison of model alternatives, and recommended adjustment with rationale.

Winning a new pitch

Act as a pitch strategist. I am pitching to [type of client] for [type of work]. My key differentiators are [context]. What are the most important elements of a winning pitch for this type of client? Output: pitch structure with key elements, common mistakes to avoid, and how to close confidently.

Improving client retention

Act as an agency retention advisor. My client churn rate is [x]. The most common reasons clients leave are [context]. Identify 3 actions to improve retention. Output: action plan with rationale, how to implement, and what success looks like.

Team utilisation improvement

Act as an agency operations advisor. My team of [size] is currently at [x] percent billable utilisation. My target is [x]. What are the most likely causes of low utilisation and how do I improve it? Output: diagnosis with 3 actions ranked by impact.

New service development

Act as a commercial advisor. My agency currently offers [services]. What adjacent services are my clients likely to need that I could offer? Output: 3 service ideas with rationale, how to validate demand, and what it would take to deliver.

Agency growth planning

Act as a business growth advisor. My agency is at [revenue]. I want to reach [revenue target] in [timeframe]. My current team is [x] and my margins are [x]. What is the most realistic growth path? Output: 3 growth routes with required investment, risk, and recommended sequence.

Reporting to clients

Act as an agency communications advisor. I want to improve how I report results to clients. Currently I report [context]. What would make my reporting more valuable and help retain clients? Output: recommended report structure, key sections to include, and how to frame performance in business terms.

Dealing with a difficult client

Act as a client management advisor. My client [context] is [behaviour or problem]. How should I handle this professionally without damaging the relationship or my business? Output: recommended approach, suggested language, and when to consider ending the relationship.

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SaaS Prompts

For more detail on this topic, see our guide on AI for SaaS startups.

Churn root cause analysis

Act as a SaaS advisor. My monthly churn rate is [x]. My most common cancellation reasons are [context]. Identify the root causes and 3 actions to reduce churn in the next 90 days. Output: root cause analysis with action plan and expected impact.

MRR growth planning

Act as a SaaS growth advisor. My current MRR is [x] and I want to reach [target] in [timeframe]. My current growth levers are [new customers, expansion, price]. Output: growth model breakdown, lever prioritisation, and key assumptions to validate.

Onboarding improvement

Act as a SaaS product advisor. My trial-to-paid conversion rate is [x] and my average time to activate is [x]. Identify the most likely friction points in my onboarding and 3 improvements to test. Output: diagnosis with improvement actions and how to measure impact.

Expansion revenue strategy

Act as a SaaS revenue advisor. My net revenue retention is [x]. I want to improve expansion revenue from existing customers. My pricing tiers are [context]. Output: 3 expansion strategies with rationale, how to trigger the conversation, and expected MRR uplift.

Feature prioritisation

Act as a product advisor. I have a backlog of [x] features to build. My main goal this quarter is [goal]. Help me prioritise the backlog. Output: prioritised list with reasoning tied to business impact, effort estimate, and what to defer.

Pricing model review

Act as a SaaS pricing advisor. My current pricing is [tiers and prices]. My conversion rate is [x] and average revenue per user is [x]. Is my pricing optimised? Output: pricing assessment with 2 alternative approaches and trade-offs of each.

Customer success playbook

Act as a customer success advisor. I need to build a simple playbook to proactively manage my [x] paying customers. Output: playbook outline with key touchpoints, health signals to monitor, intervention triggers, and owner for each stage.

CAC and payback period

Act as a SaaS financial advisor. My CAC is [x], my average MRR per customer is [x], and my gross margin is [x]. What is my CAC payback period and is it healthy? Output: payback calculation, benchmark assessment, and 3 ways to improve either CAC or payback speed.

Product-market fit assessment

Act as a SaaS advisor. Here is a summary of my user engagement and retention data: [context]. Do I have product-market fit? What signals suggest I do or do not? Output: honest assessment with the 3 strongest signals for and against, and what to do next.

Reducing support load

Act as a SaaS operations advisor. My support team handles [x] tickets per month. The most common issues are [context]. Identify 3 ways to reduce support volume without harming customer satisfaction. Output: improvement actions with effort, expected ticket reduction, and implementation notes.

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Freelancer and Consultant Prompts

For more on this topic, see our guide on AI for freelancers and consultants.

Client profitability review

Act as a business advisor for a freelancer or consultant. Here is a summary of my clients and revenue: [context]. Which clients are most profitable and which might I reconsider? Output: client profitability assessment with recommendation on each relationship.

Rate increase strategy

Act as a business advisor. I want to increase my rates from [current] to [target]. My context is [years of experience, client base, market]. How should I approach this? Output: step-by-step approach with how to communicate the increase, timing, and how to handle pushback.

Defining your niche

Act as a positioning advisor. I offer [services] to [types of clients]. I want to niche down to grow faster. Based on [context], what niche should I focus on and why? Output: niche recommendation with rationale, how to position it, and what to change in my messaging.

Revenue diversification

Act as a commercial advisor for a freelancer. I earn most of my income from [service type]. What are 3 ways I could diversify revenue without significantly increasing my working hours? Output: revenue stream options with effort to create, expected revenue potential, and recommended starting point.

Proposal writing guide

Act as a sales advisor for a consultant. I need to write a proposal for [type of project]. My client's goal is [goal] and my approach is [context]. Output: proposal structure with key sections, how to frame the value, and how to present pricing confidently.

Setting boundaries with clients

Act as a business advisor. My client [context] regularly asks for work outside our agreed scope. I want to address this professionally. Output: suggested approach, how to frame the conversation, and language I can use to redirect scope creep.

Finding new clients

Act as a growth advisor for a freelancer. My current clients come from [sources]. I want to find more clients consistently. My target client is [context]. Output: 3 client acquisition strategies with specific actions, realistic timelines, and how to measure progress.

Productising a service

Act as a commercial advisor. I currently offer bespoke consulting on [topic]. I want to create a more defined, packaged service. Output: productisation plan with service definition, scope, deliverables, pricing approach, and what to test first.

Retainer strategy

Act as a business advisor for a consultant. I want to move more of my work to retainer arrangements. My current project mix is [context]. How should I approach this? Output: retainer model design, how to position it, how to convert existing clients, and pricing approach.

Managing feast and famine cycles

Act as a business advisor for a freelancer. I experience significant revenue variability month to month. My context is [context]. How do I create more predictable income? Output: 3 strategies to smooth revenue with actions, timelines, and expected impact on income stability.

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Service Business Prompts

Capacity and utilisation

Act as an operations advisor for a service business. My team is at [x] percent utilisation. I am turning away work but cannot afford to hire yet. What options do I have to increase capacity without a full-time hire? Output: 3 to 5 options with pros, cons, cost estimate, and recommended approach.

Service profitability

Act as a financial advisor for a service business. Here is my service line breakdown: [services, revenue, estimated delivery time]. Which services are most profitable and which should I review? Output: profitability assessment with recommendation on focus, reprice, or retire for each.

Client onboarding improvement

Act as a client experience advisor. My current client onboarding process is [description]. Clients often feel [problem] in the first few weeks. How can I improve onboarding to increase satisfaction and retention? Output: improved onboarding plan with key milestones, owner, and what success looks like at each stage.

Moving upmarket

Act as a commercial advisor. I want to attract larger, higher-value clients than I currently work with. My current average client value is [x] and I target [context]. What needs to change in my positioning, process, and offer? Output: plan with 3 key changes and how to make each one.

Recurring revenue conversion

Act as a commercial advisor for a service business. Most of my work is project-based. I want to convert more clients to ongoing arrangements. Output: 3 retainer or subscription service models to consider, how to position each, and how to have the conversion conversation.

Service differentiation

Act as a positioning advisor. My business offers [service] but so do many competitors. How do I differentiate in a way that is genuine and compelling? Output: 3 differentiation angles with how to articulate each and what it changes about my sales conversation.

Handling difficult service delivery situations

Act as a service operations advisor. I have a project that is running over time and over budget. My client is [context]. How should I handle this? Output: recommended approach with how to communicate it, how to reset expectations, and what to do differently next time.

Seasonal demand management

Act as an operations advisor. My service business experiences a significant peak in [period]. Last year I was overwhelmed. How should I plan this year to handle demand without burning out the team? Output: capacity plan with staffing approach, process changes, and what to communicate to clients in advance.

Reviewing your service portfolio

Act as a commercial advisor. I offer [services]. I want to review which to keep, develop, or stop. My context is [revenue, team, market]. Output: portfolio review framework with recommendation for each service line and suggested priorities for the next 12 months.

Team performance in service delivery

Act as a people advisor for a service business. My team delivers [service] to clients. The quality is inconsistent. How do I improve consistency without micromanaging? Output: 3 approaches to quality consistency with implementation steps and how to measure improvement.

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Common Prompt Mistakes to Avoid

Most AI outputs disappoint because the prompt was weak. These are the most common mistakes.

Vague goal. "Help me grow my business" gives you generic advice. "Help me increase gross margin from 42 percent to 50 percent in 6 months" gives you something to work with.

No context. The AI does not know your business unless you tell it. Always include your business type, size, current performance, and the specific challenge.

No output format. If you do not specify how you want the answer, you will get an essay when you needed a table, or a table when you needed a paragraph. Always tell it what format to use.

Too many asks in one prompt. Asking for a growth strategy, a financial review, and a hiring plan in one prompt produces shallow answers to all three. Split complex tasks into separate prompts.

No constraints. "Give me marketing ideas" without specifying budget, team size, or timeline gives you ideas you cannot use. Add real constraints and you get realistic recommendations.

No examples. When you want a specific type of output, show the AI an example. "Write a client email in this style: [example]" produces far better results than "write a professional client email."

Accepting the first answer without pushing. The best prompts start a conversation. If the first answer is too generic, follow up with "make this more specific to my situation" or "what is the single highest-impact action from this list."

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One-Page Prompt Cheat Sheet

The core formula:

Act as [role]. Context: [your situation]. Goal: [what you want to achieve]. Constraints: [your limits]. Output: [format and specifics].

20 prompts to bookmark:

• Weekly priority reset: what are my top 5 actions this week and what should I ignore?
• Revenue gap: why are we behind on revenue and what should we do about it?
• Quick risk scan: what are the top 3 risks in my business right now?
• Customer churn: why are customers leaving and how do I stop it?
• Channel audit: which marketing channel should I focus on for the next 90 days?
• Pricing check: is my pricing sustainable and what is the margin impact?
• Growth blocker: what is most likely holding back my growth?
• Cost review: where can I reduce costs without harming growth?
• Goal reality check: is this goal realistic and what is most likely to block it?
• Hiring decision: should I hire now or wait and what is the risk of each?
• Cash flow improvement: how do I improve cash position in the next 60 days?
• Upsell opportunity: what is the best next offer for my existing customers?
• Retention plan: how do I keep my best customers for longer?
• Decision tiebreaker: help me choose between option A and option B.
• Partnership opportunity: who could I partner with to accelerate growth?
• Operational bottleneck: where is the biggest inefficiency in my business?
• KPI focus: which 5 metrics should I track weekly?
• Team performance: how do I improve consistency without micromanaging?
• Quarterly review: what worked, what did not, and what should I change?
• Year-end summary: write a clear review of this year and priorities for next year.

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Start Using AI for Better Business Decisions

These prompts work best when they are connected to real data. Generic context produces generic advice. The more specific you are about your numbers, your team, and your goals, the more useful the output will be.

myclever AI connects your existing business tools and uses AI to generate a weekly priority list based on your actual data, not assumptions. If you want to see how this works, explore the features or take a look at pricing to find the right plan.

You may also find these related guides useful:

• AI for decision making in small business
• Business growth strategies using AI
• How to reduce business risk with data
• KPI tracking for small business