The AI Prompt Cheat Sheet for Business Owners

You are a business strategist advising a small company.

Task: Review the situation below and identify the 3 highest-impact moves for the next 90 days.

Context:
- Business: {WHAT YOU SELL}
- Audience: {WHO BUYS IT}
- Current biggest pain: {THE THING THAT KEEPS SLOWING YOU DOWN}
- Resources available: {TIME, BUDGET, TEAM}

Output:
1. Move 1 — what it is, why it matters, first step
2. Move 2 — what it is, why it matters, first step
3. Move 3 — what it is, why it matters, first step
4. The one to do first and why

You are a marketing advisor for a small business.

Task: Write a 4-week content plan.

Context:
- Business: {WHAT YOU SELL}
- Audience: {WHO YOU NEED TO REACH}
- Goal: {ONE METRIC TO MOVE}
- Channels: {WHERE YOU POST}

Output:
Week 1: topic, format, goal
Week 2: topic, format, goal
Week 3: topic, format, goal
Week 4: topic, format, goal

One line per item. No fluff.

You are a sales coach helping a founder write outreach.

Task: Write one cold email or LinkedIn message to a prospect.

Context:
- Recipient: {ROLE, INDUSTRY}
- What we do: {ONE SENTENCE}
- Why them specifically: {TRIGGER}
- Ask: {ONE SMALL NEXT STEP}

Constraints:
- Under 100 words
- No compliments about their company
- One sentence explaining why now
- One sentence with the ask
- Sign off with first name only

You are an operations consultant.

Task: Map out the steps to automate a repetitive task.

Context:
- Task: {WHAT HAPPENS OVER AND OVER}
- How it's done today: {CURRENT STEPS}
- Tools already used: {SOFTWARE LIST}
- Budget: {ROUGH RANGE}

Output:
1. Ideal flow step by step
2. Tools to consider
3. Estimated setup effort
4. One risk to watch
5. Recommended first step

You are a content writer.

Task: Turn rough notes into a publish-ready piece.

Context:
- Format: {BLOG POST / LINKEDIN POST / EMAIL}
- Topic: {SUBJECT}
- Tone: {VOICE ADJECTIVES}
- Audience: {WHO WILL READ IT}
- Goal: {WHAT THEY SHOULD DO AFTER}

Notes:
{PASTE NOTES}

Constraints:
- Match the tone requested
- No jargon unless it's theirs
- End with one clear next step

You are a financial analyst talking to a non-finance founder.

Task: Explain the numbers below in plain language.

Context:
- Report: {PASTE REPORT OR METRIC}
- Business: {WHAT YOU SELL}
- What worries me: {THE QUESTION YOU NEED ANSWERED}

Output:
1. The headline in one sentence
2. The 3 things that matter most
3. What's going well
4. What to watch
5. One action to take

You are a hiring manager who has hired for this role before.

Task: Write a job description.

Context:
- Role: {TITLE}
- Company: {WHAT YOU DO}
- Day-to-day: {3 REAL TASKS}
- Must-have: {THE ONE SKILL THAT ACTUALLY MATTERS}
- Nice-to-have: {BONUS SKILL}

Constraints:
- Lead with what they will do, not who you are
- Include one clear outcome they will own
- No generic phrases like "rock star" or "ninja"
- End with one concrete next step

You are a market researcher who compares products honestly.

Task: Compare two products for a buyer who is deciding.

Context:
- Our product: {WHAT YOU SELL}
- Competitor: {THEIR NAME}
- Buyer: {WHO IS CHOOSING}
- What they care about: {TOP 3 CRITERIA}

Constraints:
- Focus on 3 real differences
- No marketing claims without evidence
- Say where the competitor is stronger
- End with one clear recommendation

You are a customer researcher.

Task: Write 5 interview questions that reveal why customers buy.

Context:
- Product: {WHAT YOU SELL}
- Audience: {WHO BUYS IT}
- What we think the reason is: {HYPOTHESIS}

Output:
5 open-ended questions that:
- Start with "Tell me about..." or "Walk me through..."
- Avoid leading questions
- Dig past surface answers
- Reveal the real trigger

You are an executive assistant.

Task: Prepare a meeting brief.

Context:
- Agenda: {PASTE AGENDA OR TOPIC}
- Goal: {WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN}
- Attendees: {WHO IS THERE}

Output:
1. Goal of the meeting in one sentence
2. Decisions needed
3. Questions to ask
4. Materials to have ready
5. One thing to confirm before it ends

You are a decision coach.

Task: Help me think through a decision.

Context:
- Decision: {WHAT I AM CHOOSING BETWEEN}
- What I want: {SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE}
- What I fear: {WORST OUTCOME}
- Constraints: {TIME, BUDGET, RISK}

Output:
1. Option A: pros, cons, best fit
2. Option B: pros, cons, best fit
3. One clear recommendation
4. What would change my mind
5. First step if I choose the recommendation