How to Write an MVP Spec (Template Included)

A good MVP spec fits on one page. If it doesn't, you're building too much.

The One-Page MVP Spec

1. Problem (2 sentences)

What problem are you solving? Who has it? Be specific.

2. Target User (1 sentence)

Describe one specific person. Not a segment, a person.

3. Core Flow (numbered steps)

The exact steps from sign up to value delivered. Maximum 5-7 steps.

4. Success Metric (1 number)

How will you know the MVP works? Pick one metric.

5. Out of Scope (bullet list)

What you're explicitly NOT building. This is the most important section.

Example: Invoice App

• •Problem: Freelancers waste 2 hours/week on manual invoices
• •User: Solo designer making $5k/month, 3-5 clients
• •Flow: Sign up > Create invoice > Send via email > Mark paid
• •Metric: 10 paying users in 30 days
• •Out of scope: Recurring invoices, payment processing, expense tracking

Common Mistakes

• •Writing a novel instead of a spec
• •Including nice-to-have features
• •Vague success metrics
• •No out-of-scope section
• •Multiple user types