What Features Should Your MVP Have

Most founders put too much in their MVP. Here's how to decide what actually belongs.

The One-One-One Framework

• •One user: who exactly are you building for?
• •One flow: what's the single path from problem to solution?
• •One outcome: what's the measurable result that proves it works?

Every feature in your MVP should serve this framework. If it doesn't, cut it.

Must-Have Features

These are non-negotiable for most MVPs:

• •User authentication (sign up, log in)
• •The ONE core feature that solves the problem
• •A way to collect payment or commitment
• •Basic error handling
• •Mobile-friendly design

Nice-to-Have (Cut These)

These feel important but can wait:

• •Social login (email/password is fine)
• •User profiles and settings
• •Notifications and emails
• •Admin dashboard
• •Analytics and reporting
• •Multiple user roles
• •Integrations with other tools

The Feature Test

For each feature, ask these questions:

• •Can users get value without this? If yes, cut it.
• •Will this help us learn faster? If no, cut it.
• •Is this solving a real problem or an imagined one?
• •Would we bet money that users need this?

Example: Invoice App MVP

Include:

• •Create an invoice
• •Send to client via email
• •Mark as paid

Cut for later:

• •Recurring invoices
• •Multiple currencies
• •Payment reminders
• •Client portal
• •Expense tracking