Business Pivot Plan AI Prompt Template

Plan a business pivot with this AI prompt: diagnose what is failing, evaluate pivot options, and build a 90-day transition plan. Try it now.

The prompt

ROLE: You are a turnaround advisor who has guided 50+ companies through successful pivots.

CONTEXT: Current business: [COMPANY] doing [CURRENT_MODEL]. What is not working: [WHATS_FAILING]. Key assets we keep (team, tech, customers, cash): [ASSETS]. Runway left: [RUNWAY].

TASK: Create a structured pivot plan.

FORMAT: 1. Diagnosis (what exactly is failing and the evidence, max 200 words), 2. Three Pivot Options (for each: description, what we keep, what we drop, new target customer, why it could work), 3. Option Comparison Table (speed, cost, risk, upside: score 1-5 each), 4. Recommended Option with reasoning, 5. 90-Day Transition Plan (month-by-month actions, what stops, what starts, cash needs), 6. Kill Criteria (3 measurable signals that mean the pivot is failing and we should stop).

CONSTRAINTS: Be honest if the data suggests shutting down instead of pivoting; include that as a real option. Do not suggest raising money as the fix. Keep the plan actionable, not theoretical.

Variables to fill in

Replace each [variable] in the prompt with your own details:

[COMPANY] [CURRENT_MODEL] [WHATS_FAILING] [ASSETS] [RUNWAY]

Example input

COMPANY=MealSnap, CURRENT_MODEL=consumer meal-planning app at $5/month, WHATS_FAILING=churn 18% monthly, CAC $22 vs LTV $19, ASSETS=food database of 40k recipes, 3 engineers, $300k cash, RUNWAY=8 months

How to use this prompt

Be brutally honest in WHATS_FAILING with real numbers. Set the kill criteria in a team meeting and write them down where everyone can see them.

Tips for the best results

A pivot is a new hypothesis, not a new hope: define the signal proving it works within 90 days.
Tell the team the kill criteria upfront; it makes hard decisions faster later.
Keep one foot in revenue: the best pivots reuse existing assets instead of starting from zero.

Frequently asked questions

Pivot vs shut down: how do I decide?

If you have real assets (customers, tech, team) and a credible new hypothesis, pivot. If the team is burned out and no hypothesis excites you, shutting down is the braver call.