Start with the commitment
Define what is being considered: a new location, a service line, a distribution partner, or a limited pilot. Record the decision owner, time horizon, and resources at stake. Research should be proportionate to that commitment.
Make assumptions visible
List the assumptions behind the plan: accessible customers, a credible route to market, competitive differentiation, operating capacity, and relevant requirements. Identify which assumptions are established, estimated, or still untested.
Use a consistent comparison
Evaluate candidate markets against the same criteria. Public competitor offers and published project or demand indicators can help frame the comparison. Explain where information is dated, incomplete, or unsuitable for a direct comparison.
Turn gaps into next steps
Public research rarely resolves every question. Distinguish what can be answered at a desk from what requires customer interviews, operating knowledge, licensed data, or qualified advice. Set out the validation step that would reduce the most consequential uncertainty.
This guide explains a research approach. It is general information and does not assess a specific business, market, or live event.
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