Free MVP Product Requirements Document (PRD) Template

Most startup product requirements documents (PRDs) are too long.

Founders spend weeks writing exhaustive, 50-page documents detailing every possible button click, error state, and feature variation. They hand it to a developer, get a massive $50K estimate, and the project stalls. Worse, when developers actually build from these bloated documents, they get lost in the weeds and build the wrong things.

A v1 MVP doesn't need an 80-page spec sheet. It needs a one-page roadmap that aligns everyone on the core value proposition.

Here is the exact, lean PRD template we use to scope, estimate, and build MVPs in under two weeks. Copy it, paste it into Notion or your text editor, and use it to clarify your product today.

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The Lean MVP PRD Template

# Product Name: [Insert Name]
**Target Launch Date:** [Insert Date — Aim for 2-3 weeks from start]
**Founder / Product Lead:** [Insert Name]

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## 1. The Core Hypothesis
*What is the single most important problem this product solves, and for whom?*

*   **Problem:** [e.g., Real estate agents spend 5 hours a week writing property descriptions.]
*   **Solution:** [e.g., A web app that generates optimized property listing copy from 5 photos in 60 seconds.]
*   **Target User:** [e.g., Independent real estate agents who don't hire copywriters.]

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## 2. Success Metrics for v1
*How will you prove this product is worth continuing after launch? Choose 1-2 metrics max.*

*   **Metric 1:** [e.g., 50 agents generate at least 3 descriptions in week 1.]
*   **Metric 2:** [e.g., 5 agents upgrade to a paid subscription.]

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## 3. Out of Scope (The "Not Doing" List)
*Crucial step. What features are you explicitly EXCLUDING from the MVP to save time and money?*

*   [e.g., Automated posting to social media platforms]
*   [e.g., Team/collaborator accounts]
*   [e.g., Custom PDF generation / reports]

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## 4. User Journey & Core Screens
*List the screens the user will navigate. Keep this to 3–4 screens max.*

1.  **Landing Page / Sign Up:** Basic pitch, price tier card, and Google login.
2.  **Dashboard:** List of previously generated descriptions. A large "New Description" button.
3.  **Generator Interface:** File upload dropzone for photos, 3 dropdown inputs (property type, tone, bedrooms), and a "Generate" button.
4.  **Result View:** Displays the generated copy with a "Copy to Clipboard" button and an edit field.

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## 5. Integrations & API dependencies
*What third-party tools are required to make this work?*

*   **Database & Auth:** Supabase
*   **AI Engine:** OpenAI GPT-4o API (for description generation)
*   **Hosting:** Vercel
*   **Payments:** Stripe Checkout (simple Monthly plan)

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How to Use This Template to Save $10,000+

When you fill out this template, follow these three rules to keep your developer costs low:

Rule 1: Ruthlessly Fill Out Section 3 (Out of Scope)

The easiest way to double a software estimate is to have an empty "Out of Scope" list. If a feature isn't absolutely required to test your core hypothesis, write it down in Section 3. You can build it in v2 once users have validated your product.

Rule 2: Keep the Screen Count Under 5

Every new screen requires custom layout code, responsive adjustments, routing setup, and testing. If you can combine features onto a single dashboard screen, do it.

Rule 3: Use Standard Integrations

Don't ask your developers to integrate obscure payment gateways or custom sms verification APIs in v1 unless your business absolutely depends on it. Stick to standard platforms (Stripe, Resend, Supabase Auth) that have pre-built libraries.

Conclusion

Writing a lean PRD forces you to make hard decisions about what your product actually is. Once you have filled out this template, you're ready to get an accurate budget estimate.

Need help calculating your project scope and seeing what it will cost? Use our interactive MVP Cost & Scope Calculator to get an estimate in under 60 seconds.